Quickfire Expert Insights: How Retailers Can Respond to a Challenging Market

Retail is being reshaped at speed. From rising costs to an increasingly unpredictable market, brands must adapt quickly to ensure continued growth.  

But where should they start? How does technology offer a solution? And which strategies are already helping leaders find success?  

We asked our retail and technology experts these questions to find out. Explore their insights in this quickfire Q&A.  

Which strategies should retailers consider to drive revenue while also reducing operating costs? 

The real challenge here is navigating options that don’t compromise on the customer experience, can be delivered quickly and deliver a meaningful return.  

For growth, I’d recommend focusing on personalisation, loyalty and, crucially, dynamic pricing to optimise margins and quickly adapt to market conditions.  

For cost reduction, consider streamlining inventory and improving core processes like demand forecasting, replenishment and customer service through targeted use of technology. By combining smarter pricing, leaner assortments and automated operations, retailers can effectively drive revenue growth while keeping operating expenses in check. 

• Karl Mansour, Global Sales Director 

AI has a leading role to play in these strategies. So, how exactly can it help retailers make smarter decisions across staffing, inventory and customer engagement? 

It’s about moving from reactive decision-making to proactive, data-driven precision.   

This can be done in several ways. Advanced demand forecasting models analyse real-time sales, seasonal trends and external factors to predict footfall and purchasing behaviour, enabling more precise staff scheduling.   

Inventory decisions benefit from similar intelligence; dynamic pricing engines optimise markdown timing and depth, accelerating sell-through and reducing waste, especially in perishable or seasonal categories​.  

On the customer side, AI-powered recommendation engines personalise engagement by learning individual preferences and tailoring promotions – boosting conversion and lifetime value. Crucially, these systems are not siloed. A price change informed by demand can trigger inventory replenishment or targeted outreach, aligning operations end-to-end.   

Retailers that embrace AI not only respond faster to change, they anticipate it. The result: 2-5% revenue uplift and 5-10% gross margin gains are achievable​.  This is AI not as hype but as hard-nosed retail performance improvement.   

• Gavin Jackson, SVP Data and AI Strategy 

Practically speaking, how can retailers bring these strategies and AI use cases to life?  

Driving growth in tough conditions means breaking down silos and turning strategy into action. Aligning commercial excellence, digital commerce acceleration and supply chain optimisation helps businesses grow across channels and boost product availability. But to make it work, you need the right business frameworks and ways of working that support enterprise-wide visibility and agility. 

To unlock that, most businesses need to focus on a few key areas: modernising and syncing core systems and data, embedding strategic forecasting into daily planning, and enabling real-time insights across the organisation.   

Agility plays a big role here. While every organisation is at a different stage, it’s possible to deliver quick wins while laying the groundwork for long-term transformation. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Businesses need practical, industry-focused advice and the technical know-how to deliver flexibly at scale. 

• Jonathan Lumpkin, MBA, Senior Business Development Executive 

Turning specifically to the US, how are retailers adapting to workforce challenges and rising labour costs? 

Many are adopting AI-driven scheduling tools to optimise staffing and align labour with demand. Self-checkouts, robotic floor cleaners and automated inventory systems are also becoming more common to help support and empower staff on the shop floor, especially in high-cost regions like California and New York.  

Regional chains in the South and Midwest are experimenting with hybrid models, combining tech with personalised service to balance cost and enhance the customer experience. Overall, technology is enabling retailers to support their teams and maintain service levels, even as labour pressures rise.  

• Cynthia A., Senior Business Development Manager, North America  

What advice do you have for retailers looking to grow and lead the market despite current pressures? 

Double down on smart innovation. In challenging times, bold leaders play offense. So my advice is don’t freeze – innovate smarter.  

The retailers pulling ahead are those using tech as a force multiplier, even under pressure, and embracing AI as a differentiator.  

 For example, agentic AI, which uses multi-agent autonomous teams, can analyse complex retail data in real-time, uncovering new revenue streams or efficiency gains that competitors miss. Whether it’s enhancing decisions with automation or launching a digital service powered by data insights, strategic innovation sets you apart.  

• David Ferrell, SVP Technology Services 

Explore our curated content for retailers to learn more about how technology and strategic innovation can drive growth during volatile market conditions.