Shoptalk 2025 is Approaching – Highlights from Last Year's Event

Featured Article

📌 The AI Revolution in Retail – How artificial intelligence reshaped the shopping experience at Shoptalk 2024, from predictive analytics to real-time personalization.

At Shoptalk 2024, AI emerged as a game-changer across multiple aspects of retail, with a particular focus on enhancing in-store experiences, optimizing e-commerce strategies, and fueling social commerce. However, as brands invest in AI-driven solutions, accurate measurement and attribution have never been more critical—a challenge that platforms like Fospha are uniquely positioned to solve.

• AI & The In-Store Experience: Despite the growth of e-commerce, physical stores remain central to retail, accounting for 83.7% of US retail sales (eMarketer). AI-powered tools are helping retailers bridge the gap between digital and physical shopping, improving store operations, personalizing customer interactions, and empowering store associates with real-time data. Brands investing in AI-driven workforce support and frictionless omnichannel experiences are seeing higher engagement and loyalty.

• AI in E-Commerce & Marketing: AI is trasnforming product discovery and personalization, with chatbots and recommendation engines making online shopping smoother than ever. Marketers are also leveraging AI to enhance creative asset generation, audience targeting, and campaign management, leading to more efficient and impactful advertising. However, privacy concerns and intellectual property risks remain challenges that brands must navigate carefully.

• AI & Social Commerce: With US adults spending 18% of their digital media time on social platforms, brands are shifting their focus to AI-driven social commerce strategies. TikTok and Instagram have become major shopping destinations, with nearly 28% of consumers using Instagram and 22% using TikTok to make purchases (eMarketer). This presents both an opportunity and a challenge: how can brands measure the effectiveness of AI-powered social commerce campaigns in a cookieless world? Fospha’s expertise in multi-touch attribution and full-funnel measurement enables brands to make data-driven decisions about their social commerce strategies, ensuring that AI investments are translating into measurable growth.

💡 As retailers continue investing in AI, the focus is shifting from experimentation to scalable, customer-centric solutions that integrate seamlessly across in-store, e-commerce, and social commerce touchpoints. Brands that leverage AI effectively will not only enhance customer experience but also drive profitability and long-term loyalty.

Event Preparation Tips

✔ Plan Your Sessions: With Shoptalk 2025 featuring multiple tracks, make sure to prioritize must-attend discussions.

✔ Engage Early: Join LinkedIn groups and engage with speakers and attendees beforehand to maximize networking.

Track Focus

🎯 Retail Media Networks (RMNs) – The Next Evolution in Retail Advertising

Retail Media Networks (RMNs) emerged as one of the hottest topics at Shoptalk 2024, underscoring their meteoric rise as a revenue driver for retailers. With global RMN ad revenue surpassing $125 billion in 2023, the sector is on track to outpace traditional television advertising within the next five years—a shift that reflects the growing dominance of digital-first shopping experiences.

Key Trends Shaping RMNs:

• On-Site Search Optimization is Crucial

  As consumers increasingly turn to retail websites for product discovery, panelists from Pinterest, Kenvue, and Campari Group stressed the importance of investing in smarter, AI-driven on-site search functionalities. Retailers who refine their search experiences can capture high-intent shoppers at a critical decision-making moment, driving both engagement and conversions.

• The Power of the Digital Cart Moment

  A pivotal insight from the panel was the significance of the ‘add to cart’ moment. When a consumer commits to a product, it opens an opportunity for retailers to deploy strategic upselling and cross-selling tactics, such as AI-driven product recommendations or real-time bundling offers, to increase order value.

• Beyond On-Site: The Rise of Offsite Retail Media

  Retailers are expanding their retail media strategies beyond their own platforms, leveraging streaming partnerships, programmatic advertising, and offsite publisher collaborations to extend their audience reach. By tapping into video streaming services and high-traffic publisher networks, retailers can connect with consumers across multiple touchpoints and enhance brand visibility.

💡 The Future of Retail Media Networks

Success in RMNs hinges on data-driven strategies, seamless digital experiences, and the ability to connect on-site and offsite retail media efforts. As the landscape continues to evolve, retailers that embrace advanced measurement, invest in AI-powered personalization, and form strategic partnerships will be best positioned to capitalize on this booming sector.

Networking & ROI Tips

🔗 Maximize Your Time: Book meetings in advance through the Shoptalk app to ensure meaningful connections.

📊 Measure Your Success: Whether you’re attending for partnerships or insights, define your key event takeaways early on.

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