QBurst participated in NRF 2026 in New York from January 11–13. With the theme “The Next Now,” the event highlighted a clear shift toward autonomy as a defining force in modern retail.

That shift was reflected in discussions around agentic AI, where autonomous systems are increasingly used across retail. Loss prevention and sustainability also emerged as critical priorities. A fireside chat featuring Sundar Pichai and John Furner highlighted deeper integrations between Walmart’s inventory systems and Google’s Gemini AI. LVMH demonstrated how “invisible innovation” uses AI to amplify craftsmanship and clienteling, while PepsiCo outlined how wellness and GLP-1 trends are reshaping demand through portion control and localized inventory planning. Kroger showcased RFID-driven inventory accuracy to reduce food waste, and Walmart Apparel highlighted agentic AI styling tools accelerating trend-to-shelf execution. On the new AI Stage, Andrew Laudato, EVP and COO of The Vitamin Shoppe, brought a pragmatic, no-hype perspective on retail AI.

QBurst was represented by Arun ‘Rak’ Ramchandran, Balaji Yellavalli, and Sumesan Kala. The team engaged in discussions with IDC on various trends spanning retail customer engagement, customer data platforms (CDP), AI-powered product discovery, personalization, assortment optimization, integrated supply chains, and digital twins. They also connected with innovation partners, including Blue Yonder, XY Retail, Fujitsu, and GK Software.

Insights from NRF 2026 reaffirmed QBurst’s alignment with its retail solutions, including omnichannel composable commerce, AI-based pricing and replenishment, CDP, next-generation AI-driven customer engagement, and intelligent product search and discovery.