While categories like payments, back-end infrastructure, and in-store systems remain relevant, AI has emerged as a defining force in retail tech for 2026.
Only 6% of marketers have fully deployed AI into workflows. Data silos and weak ROI proof stall progress.
Claude hits No. 1 on iOS as some users ditch ChatGPT, turning AI policy into market leverage.
Its automation pitch at MWC targets telecom cost pressure, not layoffs, tying AI to reliability and revenue protection.
Customer data platforms (CDPs) promised marketers a unified view of customer data and an escape from fragmented martech stacks. The reality has been more complicated.
Insurtech companies are transforming how insurance products reach consumers, blending AI-driven underwriting with digital-first marketing strategies.
Research shows it builds demand first, then converts—rewarding longer flights and post-campaign tracking.
Dye-free cereals and other better-for-you brands aim to capture rising healthy spend.
Legal pressure on Prime and pricing could nudge sellers to diversify.
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss advertising around the 2026 Winter Olympics: how marketers tackled fragmentation across media channels, how creators were used by Olympic broadcaster NBCUniversal, and which campaign was the best — and why. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analyst and Editor Peter Allen Clark and Senior Director of Content Jeremy Goldman. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Streaming consolidation takes a surprise turn: Netflix’s deal exit hands WBD to Paramount, preserving a more diversified studio and ad model.
Excludes early voters in real time as $10.8B midterms loom and 60% vote early
What began as an audio-only medium now spans video formats, connected TV screens, and creator-driven content that rivals traditional television.
Brands battle higher UX demands while inconsistent messaging blunts personalization.
Creative and content production tops the list of martech areas marketers expect AI to disrupt most, cited by 27% of UK and North America respondents, according to a November 2025 survey from StackAdapt and Ascend2.
Earlier this week at eTail Palm Springs, the conversation kept circling back to the fundamentals, what it really means to build a strong brand, connect marketing to ecommerce, and drive growth in a sustainable way. “It was all about how to think about the core of retail,” said our analyst Suzy Davidkhanian, who moderated several sessions during the event.
WPP’s earnings slide shows AI and self-serve ad tools are shifting growth away from holdcos.
They’re cutting back on alcohol and boosting gym spending, presenting an opportunity for activewear brands.
Agency consolidation is accelerating workforce cuts; Omnicom and IPG reduced 8,200 roles last year, as merger synergies and AI adoption reshape operations.
Community-led campaigns fuel loyalty, customer acquisition, and sales gains.