Retail Express announces ‘Retail’s Journey to AI’ – a critical guide to assist retailers in shaping a strategic roadmap towards the future of data-driven intelligent merchandising powered by AI
Retail Express, a leading provider of merchandising solutions and services for retail, has released a new whitepaper to help retailers chart a path to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in retail. Titled ‘Retail’s Journey To AI’, the guide offers a detailed roadmap to AI integration, presenting it as a journey retailers can undertake to unlock vital advantages in operational efficiency, customer experience, and competitiveness.
AI is rapidly transforming the retail landscape by enabling smarter decision-making and enhancing business agility. It introduces a new, data-driven approach to retailing that helps future-proof businesses. The whitepaper emphasises that AI adoption is no longer optional but essential for survival in an increasingly competitive market. Retailers are urged to begin taking steps—no matter how small—towards AI implementation today.
Barry Grange, CEO and Co-founder of Retail Express, comments:
“It is impossible to imagine a future in which retailers do not use AI. Without the pinpoint algorithmic insights and advanced data processing techniques offered by machine learning, retailers will be unable to face up to their competitors or provide the level of service that customers will come to expect. Retailers must simply keep up with technological evolution.”
‘Retail’s Journey to AI’ – A guide to AI in retail – Summary of sections:
The whitepaper explores how AI is reshaping retail across multiple domains, from machine learning and generative AI to deep learning (Sections 1 & 2). It highlights AI’s critical role in merchandising, pricing, and supplier management, especially for mid-sized retailers competing with AI-empowered larger players (Section 3). Success relies heavily on unifying high-quality data across all operational areas (Section 4) and building a secure, scalable cloud-based infrastructure (Section 5). The guide also provides a forward-looking perspective on emerging AI capabilities (Section 6), including ethical governance. It concludes with a practical, actionable roadmap to get started (Section 7).
New whitepaper: Retail’s Journey to AI – Available for download now
Intelligent merchandising powered by AI
To stand out and meet evolving customer expectations in today’s dynamic retail market, businesses need agility, accuracy, and a competitive edge. AI-driven technologies bring algorithmic retailing into play, enabling retailers to improve efficiency, automate key operations, and make faster, data-backed decisions. From inventory management to next-gen demand forecasting, from smarter pricing strategies to more agile supply chains—AI has the potential to overhaul core retail functions.
However, the whitepaper stresses that the AI journey begins well before any tools or technologies are implemented. Establishing the right mindset and readiness for change is the foundation. It’s not about starting over, but about recognising the hurdles and preparing systems and teams to be AI-ready. Clean, consistent data is key—and something legacy retail systems have traditionally lacked.
Edward Betts, COO of Retail Express, adds:
“Getting started is about establishing an AI mindset and preparing for scalable AI solutions. Retailers that embrace the process position themselves for long-term success in a future which will be driven by AI and bring themselves closer to those that are already part-way down the road. But every retail business is different and the options can be daunting, so we hope our new guide helps retailers make a start on that process sooner rather than later.”
Download the free Retail Express whitepaper to learn more:
https://www.retailexpress.com/ai-in-retail/