From Experimentation to Execution: Key Takeaways from NRF 2026

NRF 2026 delivered a powerful message: artificial intelligence is no longer a promise—it’s an operational reality. Throughout the event, AI dominated virtually every conversation, but with a distinctly different focus than in previous years. Retailers stopped talking about experiments and pilots and began sharing real implementation cases with measurable results.

The era of experimentation is over. Welcome to the era of intelligent execution.

Agentic AI

“Agentic” was the most repeated word in the halls of NRF 2026. This concept represents a leap forward in AI usage, moving from systems that recommend to systems that autonomously decide and act.

Imagine AI personal assistants that compare products, negotiate prices, and make purchases on behalf of the end user. For retailers, this means preparing to interact not only with human consumers but also with these “machine customers” that will evaluate their offerings algorithmically.

The challenge is clear. If a company’s catalog and operations aren’t optimized to be interpreted by AI, that business is becoming invisible to a growing segment of the market.

The Focus Is on People

Despite AI’s prominence, NRF 2026 made it clear that technology should amplify human judgment, not replace it. A common pattern among the success stories presented was their ability to convert scattered data into practical actions that teams could execute immediately.

The most valued solutions included those that enable sales associates to instantly access product, inventory, and promotion information, as well as platforms that digitize operational processes to free employees from repetitive, low-value tasks.

The Physical Store as an Experience Hub

Another key takeaway from NRF 2026 was the evolution of the physical store’s role. While 83% of purchases still occur at physical retail locations, their function has changed. Successful stores no longer compete solely on price or assortment but on creating memorable experiences and community.

Cases like Barnes & Noble demonstrated that investing in localization and transforming stores into neighborhood community spaces generates sustainable results.

The technologies presented at the event aimed to empower employees to dedicate more time to the human touch while technology handles operational and administrative tasks.

Operational Efficiency: The Growth Engine

After years of focusing on marketing and customer experience, retail has returned to prioritizing operational efficiency. Tight margins and increasing competition are forcing retailers to optimize every process, and NRF 2026 demonstrated that AI is positioning itself as the tool to achieve this.

Computer vision combined with smart sensors enables real-time inventory management. Predictive analytics algorithms are reducing shrinkage losses by identifying suspicious behavior patterns. Additionally, AI systems can automate the assignment and tracking of operational tasks, freeing up hours of manual work for store teams.

Powering Intelligent In-Store Execution

Frogmi is the AI-powered app for store operations, an ecosystem of solutions that drives every aspect of your operations: tasks, communication, data, and execution.

An artificial intelligence layer integrated transversally across our platform allows us to elevate store personnel capabilities. This includes virtual assistants for employees, AI-powered image analysis and classification, and intelligent agents that automate processes. All these advances aim to bring even greater speed, objectivity, and intelligent insights to your daily operations.

Want to know how Frogmi can help you implement these trends in your stores? Let’s talk.