The retail industry is evolving fast, and NRF 2026 is where the future gets spotlighted. For the fourth consecutive year, SOTI is proud to be part of the world’s largest retail conference, bringing actionable insights and innovative strategies to help retailers thrive in a rapidly changing landscape. From product demonstrations to thought-provoking conversations with industry leaders, this is a tradeshow you won’t want to miss.
Exclusive Speaking Session: Transforming Third-Party Fulfillment with SOTI Solutions
Mark your calendars for January 13, 2026, from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. Shash Anand, SVP of Product Strategy at SOTI, and Scott Gehrke, Director of Technical Support at Radial, take the stage at Expo 4 for a powerful discussion on using technology to transform third-party fulfillment.
In this session, Shash and Scott will share Radial’s journey to overcome challenges in their distribution centers – particularly around managing mobile devices, optimizing workforce performance and unlocking the full value of existing device ecosystems. Attendees will learn how modern IT and mobility solutions can:
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Drive client satisfaction through seamless fulfillment experiences.
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Empower employees with tools that boost efficiency and reduce downtime.
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Improve productivity across operations.
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Maximize ROI on technology investments.
You’ll walk away with practical, actionable strategies to solve your most pressing retail challenges and elevate your operations. This is a must-attend session for anyone looking to stay ahead in the competitive retail space.
Top Retail Technology Trends to Watch Out for in 2026
As NRF kicks off 2026, attendees will get a glimpse into the cutting-edge technology and innovations redefining retail. This year brings several transformative trends that retailers should watch for and consider in their own environments.
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1. AI-Powered Predictive Analytics & Operational Intelligence
- In 2026, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will expand beyond customer-facing tools to drive efficiency across the entire retail ecosystem. From predictive insights to automated inventory management and advanced IT diagnostics, AI is reshaping how retailers serve customers and manage backend processes:
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Predictive Insights for Smarter Decisions – AI will harness data-driven insights to anticipate consumer demand, deliver personalized recommendations, and prevent operational bottlenecks. According to SOTI’s 2025 retail report, 60% of consumers globally want a tailored shopping experience, whether in store or online, and 47% believe that retailers should use AI to improve recommendations to them. Retailers leveraging AI can make smarter, faster decisions that improve consumer satisfaction, reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.
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Employee-Facing AI for Operational Efficiency – AI’s role will now extend to empower employees on the floor and in the warehouse, helping them improve productivity, streamline processes and enhance the overall customer experience. For example, retailers will utilize robotics to scan shelves, detect low stock and automatically trigger restock requests, which are then fulfilled overnight by machines – reducing labor costs and improving product availability.
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Enhanced Diagnostics for Rapid Issue Resolution – IT teams will also leverage AI for real-time diagnostics and device management, resolving issues faster and minimizing repetitive tasks. Stella is AI that understands your SOTI MobiControl and SOTI XSight environments. It speaks your language and delivers answers drawn from your actual devices, policies and data – instantly. Stella turns hours of work into seconds of clarity, and every answer can be saved, reused and shared. This is AI that works like your most trusted technician – only faster.
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2. Robotics & Hyper-Automation in Fulfillment
- From robotics to automated device management, retailers are leveraging cutting-edge technologies to streamline operations, automate repetitive and physically demanding tasks, and reduce human error. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), AI-driven systems and even drones are transforming fulfillment by automating critical tasks such as:
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Inventory scanning for real-time stock visibility
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Picking and packing to accelerate order processing
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Shelf stocking for optimized in-store availability
- These innovations extend beyond the warehouse. They enable retailers to manage stock levels and pricing dynamically while optimizing complex logistics across large distribution centers. Even cleaning is becoming automated with autonomous robots! The result? Improved product availability, enhanced consumer experiences, and faster order fulfillment.
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Mobile Workforce Optimization
- With the surge in omnichannel retail, mobile devices have become the backbone of modern retail operations. From point-of-sale systems to inventory management and real-time customer engagement, mobility drives efficiency across the entire supply chain.
- In 2026, expect greater emphasis on maximizing mobile performance and minimizing downtime. Retailers are investing in proactive device monitoring tools to prevent disruptions before they occur, automated updates and alerts to keep systems secure and compliant, and advanced analytics to identify bottlenecks and optimize workflows.
- Retailers such as Radial have already seen the impact of these strategies in action. On January 13, tune into the speaking session to hear how Radial overcame third-party fulfillment challenges.
Join us at NRF 2026 to discover how SOTI is driving innovation in retail technology. Visit our booth and attend our exclusive speaking session to learn how we can help you transform your operations. For more details on SOTI solutions connect with one of our experts today.
