Retail at a Turning Point: The Trends Shaping 2026

Retailers are heading into 2026 knowing one thing for sure: disruption isn’t slowing down. Inflation, shifting trade policies, changing customer expectations, and rapid advances in AI are pushing retailers to rethink how they operate and grow.

According to IDC’s FutureScape: Worldwide Retail 2026 Predictions, retailers are responding by prioritizing operational efficiency, customer experience, supply chain resilience, and data modernization.

And the message is clear: growth will favor retailers that can adapt quickly, and that adaptability depends heavily on technology.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Is Becoming Part of Everyday Retail Operations

AI is no longer limited to small tests or pilot programs. Retailers are already using it to support eCommerce, pricing, order management, and store operations.

IDC predicts that AI-powered shopping assistants and agents will influence 15% of eCommerce sales by 2027. By 2028, AI is expected to handle most of the order lifecycle fornearly half of retailers.

But AI only works when systems are connected and data is accurate and up to date.

Supply Chain Strength Is a Key Differentiator

Retail supply chains continue to face pressure from global uncertainty, tighter compliance rules, and higher customer expectations.

IDC forecasts that by 2027, 30% of mid-sized and large retailers will invest in global trade management technology, helping them move goods faster, manage risk, and make sourcing decisions more quickly.

“Retailers face mounting pressure from labor constraints, trade regulations, and rising customer expectations,” said Adrian Gonzalez, Founder and Host of Talking Logistics. “New ESG requirements and digital product passports raise the bar further, demanding verifiable data on product origin, emissions, and labor practices across multiple tiers of the supply chain. Meeting these demands requires deeper supplier relationships, real-time visibility, and tighter collaboration across trading partners. These challenges cannot be solved with yesterday’s thinking or tools—retailers now require network-based collaboration that enables timely, accurate, and verifiable data exchange across their ecosystem of trading partners.”

Retailers still relying on manual work or disconnected partner communication often struggle to keep pace.

Better Data Drives Better Decisions

Retailers collect massive amounts of data, but many can’t easily use it.

IDC predicts that 70% of large retailers will invest in data modernization by 2027, unlocking better insights and new growth opportunities. Without connected data across systems and partners, even advanced tools fall short.

Improving how data is shared and used has become a business priority not just an IT project.

“Not many retailers are big fans of the recent tariffs, right? Well, when it comes to disconnected data, it could be thought of as a high-priced tariff on your decision-making velocity,” said Scott Luton, Founder, CEO and Host of Supply Chain Now. “When data lives in silos, every decision takes longer: pricing changes lag demand shifts, inventory moves too late, and promotions miss their window. Disconnected data not only leads to bad decisions, but it leads to slow decisions, which can be equally as impactful on supply chain performance. Additionally, the manual work that poor data integration causes can be exhausting and highly-burdensome on your people. Improving how data is shared and used has become a top business priority for leading organizations; not just another IT project to add to the list.”

Integration and Control are the Common Thread

Across every major retail trend  – AI, pricing, fulfillment, security, and loyalty – two themes keeps coming up: integration and control.

Retailers that connect their systems and processes can automate work, reduce errors, and respond faster to change. Those that rely on disconnected tools often struggle to scale.

Why EDI Matters

While newer technologies get most of the attention, EDI remains a core part of retail operations. It supports reliable data exchange between retailers and trading partners for orders, inventory, invoices, and compliance.

When EDI is integrated with ERP, eCommerce, and fulfillment systems, retailers can onboard partners faster, improve accuracy, and gain better visibility. It also provides the reliable data foundation needed for automation and AI.

Looking Ahead

Retailers that succeed in the years ahead will be those that connect their systems, data, and partners into a single, flexible setup. Technology is no longer just support, it’s a key driver of growth.