As retailers navigate 2026, they face a blend of regulatory demands, tech advancements, and evolving consumer expectations. Impinj foresees a pivotal year for digital product transparency, supply chain integrity, and operational efficiency. Retailers are gearing up to comply with EU deadlines and investing in tech for item-level traceability and embedded tagging.
Tech investments in 2026 will focus on embedded tagging, item-level traceability, and supply chain intelligence. Brands can now implement tagging strategies that balance durability and affordability, with embedded tagging becoming the new norm. Impinj warns of rising counterfeiting and fraud incidents due to fragmented shipments lacking basic tracking information.
Legislation like the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 underscores the need for item-level traceability. Technological advancements provide visibility to prevent fraud, improve inventory accuracy, and support recycling. Technologies like RAIN RFID give supply chain partners shared visibility, exposing counterfeits early in the supply chain.
DPP-as-a-Service is emerging as an infrastructure for brand storytelling and compliance. Clean data-sharing through item-level tracking is crucial for protecting margins and preventing issues like wrong shipments. Retailers will focus on supply chain intelligence and data insights, with connected intelligence set to dominate the industry according to Propel Software.
The next generation of AI agents will transform tech ecosystems, turning fragmented processes into intelligent networks. Software platforms extending data across enterprises will prevail over isolated tools. SaaS and AI agents will merge to deliver measurable business value, setting a new standard for enterprise software in 2026.
Retailers optimizing for traditional search risk fading away in an agentic era shaped by AI agents. SEO evolves into AI Engine Optimization, essential to meet customers where they are. Agentic commerce allows AI agents to research, compare, and buy on behalf of customers, reshaping the digital shopping experience.
AI-powered search is projected to shape $750 billion in U.S. revenue by 2028. Brands not ready for AI-powered recommendations risk losing site traffic. A mixed strategy that ensures products are surfaced wherever customers shop will build trust, reduce friction, increase discoverability, and foster loyalty in an agent-led shopping model.
Loyalty becomes a key signal in agent-led shopping, shaping acquisition opportunities. Brands must consolidate ERP with commerce, marketing, and service for clean, connected data across the business. Operational context from ERP enables agents to personalize recommendations effectively, driving profitable growth through reliability and consistency.
Read more at Yahoo Finance: Retail’s 2026 Tech Tipping Point