The implementation of AI infrastructures and advanced logistics is reshaping the shopping experience. In the midst of Shopping Month, we spoke with Sagive Greenspan, CEO of Priority, about how technology has become the growth engine for companies
During the global shopping season, when wallets open and consumers hunt for the best deals, companies battle fiercely for attention and every dollar of the end customer. High interest rates, heavy logistics costs and intensifying competition force retailers to rethink every stage of the consumer journey. In a reality where margins are shrinking and customers are smarter than ever, technology has become the central growth engine that enables companies to stand out, streamline operations and deliver a smarter, more precise shopping experience
“We are in the midst of Shopping Month, but true success is built long before the customer arrives at the store. When organizations invest in infrastructures that enable smart inventory management, supply chain optimization and a precise shopping experience, the results are determined. Ultimately, retail innovation begins in the core systems of the business, long before the checkout counter or the app,” explains Greenspan.
“Real innovation in retail is not measured only by the end-user experience, but by the organization’s ability to manage its core systems intelligently, efficiently and dynamically. If in the past innovation was judged by the design of the storefront or customer service, today it happens beneath the surface - through smart use of data, improving the supply chain and controlling profit margins. Organizations that fail to understand this will fall behind, even if they invest in flashy technologies like augmented reality or smart checkouts.”
AI and retail go hand in hand
Massive investments in artificial intelligence demonstrate how deeply AI and retail are intertwined. According to the CB Insights Venture Report 2024, global investment in AI surged in 2024 to $100.4 billion across 4,505 deals - nearly double the previous year.
“This is the engine accelerating the retail revolution. The next wave of innovation will not come from the front end, but from organizational infrastructures. We already see giants like Amazon and Alibaba, alongside innovative chains like Target, implementing AI infrastructures and advanced logistics that are reshaping the shopping experience.”
Priority CEO Sagive GreenspanPhoto: Iya and Avi PhotographersGreenspan notes that retail is in the midst of a revolution. “The future of retail will rely on real-time decision-making and precise personalization - not only in the product, but also in pricing and the overall experience,” he says.
“Already today, we see stores where the boundary between online and offline has completely disappeared. Consumers receive information, feedback and prices in real time, using AI-powered shopping agents-from the initial search, through recommendations, to the final choice.”
These insights suggest that demand for innovation will only grow, as venture capital and private equity funds continue to channel capital into promising players. The “WOW effect” of technological developments will remain an inseparable part of retail. In an era where retail relies on data as much as on design, the true competitive advantage of businesses will be measured not only by who sells more, but by who understands faster.