Understanding Agentic AI: A Practical Perspective

By Rohit Tripathi, VP Industry Strategy, Manufacturing, RELEX Solutions

The software industry has seen many transformations, from the software crisis of the 1960s to the rise of cloud computing which shifted our relationship with infrastructure. Each wave brought myths, missteps, and eventually, new paradigms. Agentic AI is no different. 

Many companies are integrating AI without establishing the digital foundation it requires. Simply attaching generative AI to outdated systems will not create value because misaligned customer service and inaccurate pricing, for example, often leads to misaligned outcomes and diminished returns. 

Here is what we are seeing in practice: 

• "Agentic AI" is not just "AI Agents.": True agentic systems have genuine autonomy, while most current "agents" follow narrow instructions, so understanding this distinction is vital.  

• Scaling complexity does not lead to linear growth: Agent interactions grow combinatorially, not linearly. Adding more agents often leads to system failures in production. A good example is when companies were building everything as a microservice, which led to costly and complex architectures.  

• Human oversight remains essential: AI augments knowledge workers rather than replacing them entirely. 

• Quality data is becoming a constraint: The "bigger is better" approach shows diminishing returns as quality data becomes scarce for training larger models.  

 For AI to drive real transformation, organizations must treat it as a strategic lever, not a feature enhancement. Companies need to re-architect their operating models with streamlined processes, adopt a use-case-first approach to identify high-impact applications, and invest in AI readiness alongside technology investments. 

The next wave of innovation will come from companies that focus on thoughtful integration of AI with human workflows, rather than chasing hype. Understanding these realities helps organizations separate genuine AI values from costly dead ends.  

Technology is catching up with ambition, but to bridge the gap between insight and impact, organizations must continue evolving how they approach AI implementation. 

💡 Join Rohit Tripathi at RELEX Live Cologne on 1 and 2 July, where he will deliver a keynote address on revolutionizing supply chain planning in the age of AI.  

Price Optimization: Winning the Retail Pricing Game  

By Asa Farquhar, Pricing & Promotions Solution Principal, RELEX Solutions 

Retailers operate in a volatile environment of supply chain disruptions, evolving customer expectations, and intense competition. Traditional reactive pricing methods no longer suffice as they risk shrinking margins and damaging trust. RELEX Price Optimization uses AI and advanced analytics to recommend optimal prices in real time. It’s more than automation; it’s smart, responsive pricing that protects both profits and customer loyalty.  

The challenge is balancing margins with price sensitivity. Shoppers expect low prices on key items like bread but are less sensitive to niche goods. Recognizing this helps retain loyalty while capturing margin on less visible products. Manual workflows are unable to keep pace with today’s fast-changing markets, so real-time scenario testing enables swift adjustments to cost shifts, competitor moves, and seasonal trends. Consistency across channels is also critical, to avoid mismatches like $4.99 online versus $5.79 in-store.  

Ultimately, price optimization delivers customer-centric, profitable and agile pricing, empowering retailers to adapt and lead in a dynamic market. 

👉 Level up and win the pricing game with RELEX 

Webinar: Navigating Pricing Disruptions: Retail Strategies Amid Tariffs and Market Shifts 

📅 Thursday, July 10, 2025 

🗣️ Guest speaker: Kelly Pedersen Global Retail Leader at PwC

🕗 10 AM EDT | 3 PM BST | 4 PM CEST 

Join the webinar in collaboration with PwC to discover how tariffs and disruptions are reshaping retail pricing – and how to respond. You’ll learn how to build resilience into your pricing and promotion strategy and the practical steps for moving from reactive to proactive pricing decisions amid chaos.   

👉 Register for the webinar 

🌍 Global Access: The webinar includes live interpretation and subtitles in French, German, Italian and Spanish. 

RELEX Live: Local Events, Global Impact  

RELEX Live brings together insights from industry-leading retailers, manufacturers, experts and innovators. We round out 16 regional events with our final events listed below:  

RELEX Live Cologne, July 1 and 2 

The two-day event with Retail and Manufacturing Forums will see RELEX be joined by customers, Globus Baumarkt, flaschenpost SE and VanDrie Group, offering insights into current trends, technological innovations, and best practices. 

RELEX Live Barcelona, July 8  

The event will feature RELEX alongside customers Uvesco S.A. and Pro a Pro Spain, sharing insights into digital transformation, operational efficiency, and advanced supply chain planning across retail, wholesale, and manufacturing sectors. 

RELEX Live Oslo, October 8  

Customers Circle K, REMA 1000, and Mester Grønn will join RELEX for an inspiring day of networking, exciting presentations and engaging discussions.  

📚 Explore Our Latest Insights 

Customer Video – KICKS and Matas Group  

Case Study – Puuilo: Transforming Retail Operations Through Centralized Supply Chain Management 

Agentic AI in retail and supply chain planning  

How manufacturers can reduce the bullwhip effect in the supply chain 

Retail pricing strategies: How AI keeps retailers profitable and popular    

🎥 On-Demand Webinars 

Agentic AI and the future of touchless supply chain planning 

RELEX Radar LinkedIn Live: Resilience & Readiness: Diagnosing Risk in an Era of Global Volatility 

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