David Glaza’s Post

Just wrapped another Ascendant Network Bootcamp and wow, what a couple of days. This one reinforced why I love being in retail media. The conversations were real, the ideas were fresh, and the collaboration was the kind that pushes the industry forward. A few things stuck with me. AI was everywhere, not just as a buzzword but with clear use cases. From AI-driven search doubling conversion rates to shopper-facing tools like Instalilly, it is clear that the next generation of retail media is going to look a lot smarter and a lot faster. Retailers and agencies that position themselves as AI resources are going to win. I also walked away thinking hard about Media investment frameworks. Whether it’s how Schnucks or other regional players define trade vs. media, or how we build a clearer model for incremental investment, brands need more structure to make decisions and fight for dollars across RMNs. That’s work we’re digging into at DIGITS. On the retailer side, I was impressed by retailer data showing that more than half of shoppers who engage digitally end up in-store within 48 hours. That kind of connection between digital and physical is exactly where the opportunity lies. Walmart’s $4.5B ad business is another reminder of how big this can get when the right infrastructure is in place. And of course, none of this happens without community. Huge thanks to the Ascendant team for creating a space where we can trade ideas, challenge each other, and build together. Already looking forward to the next one.