RETAIL IN 2026 IS UNAPOLOGETICALLY EXPERIENTIAL, DATA‑DRIVEN AND CONNECTED. 

 

Shoppers move fluidly between channels, expect accurate stock and fair prices everywhere, and increasingly judge brands on how easy they are to buy from. 

 

Below are four trends that matter now.

 

1) Unified Commerce: From Channels to One Consistent System

Suddenly, omnichannel is yesterday’s language. In 2026, the baseline is unified commerce – a single operational backbone that connects product, price, inventory, customer and order data across every touchpoint. Because shoppers don’t think in channels. They expect consistent prices and promotions, real‑time stock, and fulfilment options that fit their day. 

 

And the penalty for disconnection is steep: split inventories, broken promises, and missed sales when stock accuracy or pricing conflicts undermine trust. Retailers that unify see lower abandonment, cleaner operations, and a platform for faster experiments (new delivery windows, store‑to‑door, return anywhere).

 

Where GLORY helps: Glory’s ecosystem – covering self-service, cash automation, and the unified commerce platform itself through our subsidiary Flooid – supports the shift to a single source of truth in store. By tying front‑of‑house transactions to accurate, real‑time data, retailers can offer reliable click‑and‑collect, queue‑busting self‑checkout, and consistent promotions in every location. That’s the foundation unified commerce demands.

 

2) AI‑Driven Operations: The Invisible Advantage

The most impactful retail AI in 2026 isn’t the flashy front‑end – it’s the invisible automation that tightens forecasting, pricing, allocation and loss prevention. Retailers are moving AI from dashboards into workflows, letting systems sense, decide and act with less human latency. The business case is tangible: fewer stock‑outs, tighter markdowns, faster replenishment and more accurate labour planning. In short: AI has moved beyond a bolt‑on; it’s part of the operating model.

 

In store, automation scales through self‑service and computer‑vision‑assisted checkout. Hardware is shifting to edge‑AI capability, while voice and computer vision reduce friction and widen accessibility. For operators facing labour constraints, these investments are not just about speed – they’re about resilience and consistent CX across the estate.

 

Where Glory helps: Glory’s self‑service and cash automation solutions streamline front‑of‑house tasks, reduce shrinkage, and keep stores trading smoothly during peaks. When combined with unified data, you get faster tendering, accurate reconciliation and better staff redeployment into higher‑value service.

 

3) Phygital Experiences: Stores That Feel as Smart as Your Phone

The best stores will blend sensory, social experiences with digital convenience. Think AR try‑ons, interactive displays, short‑term pop‑ups and community‑led formats that turn a visit into an event – not a chore. Done well, “phygital” design reduces friction (finding, fitting, paying) while amplifying the brand story customers came in for. 

 

Pop‑ups, in particular, have gone mainstream because they offer agility: launch a limited drop, test a new catchment, create buzz, then scale what works. Expect more retailers to use these formats to pilot assortments or fulfilment services before rolling them into the core estate.

 

4) Retail Media Networks: Monetising Attention in Aisles

Retailers are building Retail Media Networks (RMNs) that turn first‑party data and in‑store digital screens into targeted ad inventory. 

 

This is the “media meets commerce” moment: brands can activate audiences at the exact point of decision, while retailers open a high‑margin revenue stream that funds better experiences. 

Crucially, the most effective RMNs are unified – linking on‑site, in‑app and in‑store screens with closed‑loop measurement to prove incrementality. Expect more grocers, pharmacies and specialty chains to scale in‑store networks as part of a single retail media offering.

 

Where Glory helps: From digital screens to the software that helps you design and manage the content across your enterprise, Glory, through our subsidiary Acrelec, can help you take advantage of the opportunity to reach your customers at the pivotal moment.

 

Winning retailers in 2026 will make stores experiential, operations AI‑assisted, and journeys truly unified – then monetise the resulting attention through smart retail media. 

 

Glory helps you execute the operational core of that strategy: frictionless self‑service, robust cash automation, in-store media, and a store platform that delivers unified commerce without adding complexity. 

If you’re ready to reduce friction and unlock growth, let’s build the roadmap.