Here are the recent happenings in the Retail and Consumer Tech world as of March 31, 2025…
At this year’s Shoptalk conference, retail leaders signaled a significant pivot toward practical AI use cases over futuristic hype. Executives from Walmart, Ulta Beauty, and Lowe’s emphasized “AI that is grounded in solving real business problems” rather than speculative experiments. Dave Kimbell, CEO of Ulta Beauty, noted, “We’re not using AI to chase buzzwords — we’re using it to personalize customer journeys and support associates in real-time” (Retail Dive).
Meanwhile, DoorDash is expanding its presence beyond food delivery, focusing on enhancing retail engagement through real-time consumer insights and delivery capabilities. The company’s VP of Business Development, Chad Horrell, stated, “We see DoorDash as a platform that connects consumers not just to restaurants but to the broader world of commerce” (Chain Store Age). This comes just as Domino’s announced a deeper partnership with DoorDash, extending delivery to more than 6,700 U.S. locations (Yahoo Finance).
The consumer tech market is set to surpass $1.29 trillion globally in 2025, according to NIQ’s latest industry report. Growth is driven by connected devices, transparent displays, and mobile-first retail formats (BusinessWire).
On the retail infrastructure side, autonomous checkout is being revolutionized by loosely coupled architecture. Experts believe this flexible design will drive mass adoption by allowing retailers to integrate solutions modularly without overhauling core systems (Forbes Tech Council).
Retail media continues its meteoric rise, with real-time bidding now seen as the next frontier. Kiri Masters of Forbes writes that programmatic ad tools will allow retailers to monetize digital shelf space with precision, shifting how CPG brands deploy marketing budgets (Forbes).
Amid innovation, geopolitical headwinds loom. New U.S. tariffs on Vietnamese imports could severely impact athletic wear giants like Nike and Adidas. “Vietnam has become the backbone of U.S. footwear production,” said Matt Priest, president of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (Reuters).
Retailers are also rethinking pricing and allocation strategies in response to inflation, geopolitical instability, and shifting consumer demand. WWD reports that leading brands are increasing reliance on real-time data to navigate margin pressures (WWD).
On the legal front, Dentons advises retailers to future-proof their e-commerce platforms against both legal and technological change. Their playbook highlights the importance of adaptable architecture, privacy compliance, and localized user experiences (Dentons).
Rounding out the update, consumer demand for mobile-first shopping continues to accelerate, with merchants grappling with payment system constraints while adapting to tap-to-pay and digital wallet preferences (PYMNTS). Transparent digital signage for foodservice and convenience retail is also on the rise, with new formats being tested in both single and multi-location operations (Research and Markets).
In a compelling twist, AI is no longer a fear factor for retail employees. According to a recent op-ed, teams are “beginning to see AI not as a job threat, but as a job enhancer,” especially when used to automate low-value tasks and amplify human creativity (Retail Customer Experience).
This article was initiated using AI technology provided by Apple and OpenAI.
