We recently attended Shoptalk 2025 in Las Vegas, finally experiencing this retail industry powerhouse firsthand. The event exceeded expectations, bringing together thousands of professionals and thought leaders under one roof.
Through keynotes and conversations, we gained valuable insights into the technologies and trends reshaping the consumer experience. Here are our top takeaways:
1. Getting Omnichannel Right
The term “omnichannel” is often misused to refer to the various digital touchpoints of a brand’s commerce operations. However, commerce is evolving rapidly (driven, in part, by rapid advancements in technology), and today’s omnichannel increasingly reflects the blurring of lines between digital and physical channels.
For instance, the ability to buy online but pick up in store (BOPIS) is now part of consumer expectations, as is the ability to buy online and return in store (BORIS). Post-order editing is emerging as another consumer expectation.
Additionally, in-store experiences increasingly involve immersive displays and kiosks, enhancing customer experience and improving customer engagement.
2. AI Powers Smarter Retail
The integration of AI-driven technologies was a dominant theme at Shoptalk. Most solution providers have either integrated AI into their products or have actively built their solutions around it.
The applications of AI (and, more broadly, ML, AR, VR, digital twins, etc.) are seemingly endless. A great example came from an organization we connected with, which is using AI to standardize product information, as seen in a PIM, offering a practical solution to a common problem.
Retailers frequently operate on razor-thin margins, so the ability to leverage these technologies to enhance operational efficiency is already having an impact on an industry that has seen significant consolidation in recent years
3. Personalization Meets Emotional Brand Connections
In the era of dominant e-commerce platforms, purchase decisions are occurring more rapidly than ever, forcing brands to create genuine excitement and build lasting loyalty to stand out. One way to achieve this is by building connections with consumers on an emotional level, integrating storytelling with data insights.
Among the solutions showcased at the event, we came across an interesting approach that integrates tailored commerce experiences into social media videos - a smart way to capture the Gen Z market, which lives in social channels like TikTok.
4. Composable Takes the Lead
As businesses strive for more flexibility, scalability, and agility in their digital environments, the trend away from monolithic commerce and DX platforms in favor of composable solutions is gathering steam. Many vendors now offer MACH-oriented solutions, making it easier for brands to implement tailored, best-of-breed solutions.
At ShopTalk, we presented intive’s MARS Accelerator for composable commerce, which improves deployment time while future-proofing a client’s environment. Composable commerce is clearly taking center stage and driving industry discussions.
Preparing Your Brand for the Future of Retail
At intive, we understand the evolving challenges that brands and retailers face today. With our deep expertise in composable commerce, AI, and customer experience design, we are uniquely positioned to help businesses stay ahead of these trends. By delivering flexible, scalable solutions, we ensure that brands can adapt to shifting consumer expectations and create frictionless shopping experiences.
Furthermore, our AI-driven approach can empower retailers to harness ML, AR, and digital twins for operational efficiency and personalized shopping experiences. Through the strategic use of product information management, predictive analytics, and customer segmentation, we place AI at the heart of more tailored, data-driven interactions.
Interested in exploring how these solutions can elevate your business? Reach out to learn how intive can help.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)