Retail Trendcaster: Technologies Shaping the Future of Retail

June 9-10, 2026

Every quarter, the Retail TouchPoints team brings together thought leaders and in-house experts for a focused, two-day conversation around one big theme. This quarter, that theme chose itself.

AI is everywhere – in the headlines, on the conference agendas, and increasingly, on the retail floor. But beyond the buzz, what’s actually working? We’re cutting through the noise with real-world examples and candid conversations around the technologies radically reshaping retail – from product discovery and pricing to checkout and inventory management.

Here’s what we’re digging into over 2 days:

Day 1 — Tuesday, June 9

12:00 PM ET | Fragmented Commerce: Where Enterprise Growth Breaks Down | ESW 

Enterprise retail growth breaks down when commerce expands faster than systems can keep up. Join Lazer Technologies Director of Solutions Engineering Serge Hachem and ESW Chief Product Officer Frank Kouretas to unpack how orchestration and agentic AI cut complexity and support global scale.

2:00 PM ET | From Click to Confidence: Elevating AI-Powered Ecommerce with Shopify, Microsoft & Vertex | Vertex 

Learn how AI-driven insights and automation connect front-end commerce, back-office operations, and tax compliance to reduce friction and enable faster, more confident decision-making with Laura Moses and Pat Esposito, Vertex’s Principal Partner Managers for Shopify and Microsoft.

Day 2 — Wednesday, June 10

12:00 PM ET | Will AI Replace the Store Associate? Separating Hype from Reality | KWI 

The headlines say AI is coming for retail jobs — but is that the real story? KWI CEO Sam Kliger makes the case that the future store experience is about fundamentally better-equipped associates, not fewer of them.

2:00 PM ET | The AI Shopping Journey: What’s Delivering Results for Retailers Now | Editorial Session 

AI is reshaping the retail shopping journey, from search and discovery to post-purchase engagement. Nikki Baird, VP of Strategy and Product at Aptos, and Melissa Minkow, Global Director, Retail Strategy and Insights at CI&T will discuss where AI delivers value and where results still fall short.

Register once and you’re in for everything. Tune in live or catch sessions on-demand across both days, with resources available directly in the platform.