In 2026, retail can no longer afford to promise. It must deliver. Retail tech has entered the execution stage. The race for showcase innovation is over, giving way to clear priorities: operational efficiency, sustainable business models, and infrastructures capable of supporting scale-up strategies. Based on daily monitoring and around 30 interviews with retailers and industry experts, the editorial team identifies 6 structuring trends, tested against upcoming regulatory constraints, financing challenges, and technological disruptions.
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2026 Trends – How far should retailers open the door to AI Search engines ?
(Trends 1/6) With data visibility, recommendations, transactions on ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity, LLMs are establishing themselves as new entry points for e-commerce. As search, comparison and…
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