Your Weekly Retail Rev Up Newsletter | Volume 13

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TODAY’S PICK 🎯

Sales Operating System 101: What It Is, Why It Matters, and Why Hive Perform Built One

Two questions define sales leadership in 2025:

1. Have we set the right strategy?

2. Is our team executing it?

For most GTM leaders, the answer is “not really.”

Sales stacks have exploded with dashboards, enablement tools, and forecasting tech. But they don’t connect what leadership plans with what reps do.

That’s why Hive Perform built the first Sales Operating System, a platform that connects your GTM strategy with real execution in the field.

👉 Learn how a Sales OS tracks strategy, prioritizes based on buyer signals, and gives leaders visibility into what’s actually working. Read the full article here

📣LEADING VOICES 

INDUSTRY NEWS 🌐

Generative AI's Growing Impact on Retail and Workforce Dynamics

Recent trends in retail technology underscore the transformative impact of AI and digital platforms. Amazon and Walmart are embedding generative AI into operations, enhancing efficiency and customer experience, though this drives workforce reshaping. Meanwhile, TikTok Shop is reshaping eCommerce, leveraging its influence over Gen Z's purchasing habits, positioning itself as a major competitor to established platforms like Shein and Temu.

Retailers are also experimenting with AI to drive customer engagement and operational efficiencies, including checkout-free payments and AI-driven shopping assistants. Still, consumer adoption and technological robustness remain critical hurdles for broad implementation. As technology evolves, its role in retail is increasingly pivotal, demanding strategic integration to harness AI's full potential.

Amazon Boosts AI for Better Forecasting Deliveries and Robotics Efficiency

Amazon's integration of AI into its operations marks a significant advancement in demand forecasting and delivery logistics. By utilizing AI, Amazon enhances inventory planning through time-sensitive data such as weather patterns and regional differences, leading to improved product availability and faster shipping options. These advancements have already resulted in a notable 10% improvement in national forecasts and a 20% improvement in regional forecasts, underscoring AI’s vital role in increasing efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Walmart Enhances Associate App With AI For Language Translation And Task Management

Walmart is leveraging AI technology to improve customer service and efficiency among its 1.5 million U.S. associates. With a new real-time translation feature supporting 44 languages, employees can better assist non-English speaking customers, using both text and speech formats. This includes recognizing Walmart-specific terms, which facilitates smoother interactions. Additionally, the retailer is enhancing AI-driven task management, significantly reducing the time spent on scheduling and prioritizing tasks beyond overnight stocking.

Retail Keeps Human Element Amid AI and Immersive Experiences Dominance

In the rapidly evolving retail sector, it's crucial to keep in mind that despite technological advancements like AI, automation, and immersive experiences, the human element remains indispensable. Retail sales have been declining for months, leading to significant store closures, but innovative transformations in brands like Superdrug and Selfridges highlight the ongoing shift towards AI-powered security and immersive customer experiences. Nonetheless, the industry's resilience and success rely heavily on dedicated individuals, from store managers to digital teams, who maintain operations amidst changing circumstances.

AI And Automation Drive Retail's Future At 2025 Goldman Sachs Conference

The 2025 Goldman Sachs ShopTech Conference underscored AI and automation's pivotal role in shaping the retail landscape. Notably, companies like Simbe spotlighted innovations such as their autonomous robot, Tally, designed to optimize inventory tracking and enhance stock accuracy. Industry influencers discussed transforming retail operating models through automation, with input from significant figures like Deborah Weinswig and Coresight Research.