Your Weekly Retail Rev Up Newsletter | Volume 17

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TODAY’S PICK 🎯

AI and Human Sales: The CRO’s Performance Playbook

An invite-only roundtable for revenue leaders focused on sharpening sales execution.

Join Hive Perform and Warwick Business School’s Sales Excellence Hub for a closed-room session on what’s really driving sales performance in 2025.

As AI reshapes how GTM teams operate, this roundtable explores the balance between automation and human execution and how leading CROs are adjusting their playbooks.

We’ll dive into:

• How top leaders are blending AI insight with frontline action

• What it takes to drive execution quality at scale

• Where traditional sales models are breaking down and what comes next

Designed for senior commercial operators. No decks. No pitches. Just practical ideas and candid peer exchange.

📣LEADING VOICES 

INDUSTRY NEWS 🌐

Currys Launches AI-Powered Platform for Colleague-Led Innovations in Retail

Currys has effectively harnessed AI to fuel "The Pitch," a platform that empowers employees to share innovative ideas. Since its launch, over 450 ideas have been submitted, with more than 100 actively in progress. Impressively, 41% of these initiatives have already delivered tangible results, conserving over 3,000 hours and generating significant cost savings. This platform is incorporated within Microsoft Teams and is poised for expansion to an additional 9,000 colleagues, reinforcing its adoption beyond market averages.

Walmart Commits to AI Innovation with New Leadership Roles for 2025

Walmart is making strides in artificial intelligence with strategic new hires aimed at enhancing AI-driven innovation. Daniel Danker assumes a pivotal role as EVP, AI Acceleration, Product, and Design, tasked with steering the company’s AI transformation, while another role focuses on AI Platforms, targeting productivity and system scalability. The emphasis is on integrating AI across the enterprise to boost operational efficiency and customer experience, reflecting Walmart's commitment to technology-driven growth.

Meanwhile, technologies like Amazon's Just Walk Out are revolutionizing the retail landscape by reducing transaction time and improving customer satisfaction at events like the Allianz Stadium Rugby Final. As competition intensifies, retailers are increasingly adopting AI and automation to streamline operations and stay ahead. Beyond tech implementations, the industry sees trends like scarcity marketing by Pop Mart, which elevates collectible toys to luxury status, demonstrating the evolving nature of consumer engagement strategies. This shows the dynamic interplay between innovation and consumer demand in shaping modern retail.

Edge AI Drives Retail Transformation Through Real-Time Operations And Personalization

Edge AI is revolutionizing retail by enhancing inventory management, streamlining operations, and creating immersive customer experiences. By processing data in real-time locally, edge AI surpasses traditional cloud computing capabilities, addressing critical retail challenges such as inventory accuracy, checkout efficiency, and operational uptime. Technologies like RFID and computer vision enable precise inventory tracking and predictive modeling, preventing overstocking and stockouts while ensuring seamless customer interactions.

Moreover, edge AI empowers retail staff by automating repetitive tasks and providing actionable insights, thereby boosting productivity and creating safer work environments. This technology also supports scalable infrastructure, allowing retailers to upgrade without significant overhauls. With solutions like the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA, retailers can integrate AI more swiftly, achieving faster ROI and enhancing customer service. Essentially, edge AI not only addresses current retail challenges but also lays the foundation for sustainable growth in the ever-evolving retail landscape.

Lowes Enhances AI Tools Through Employee Feedback Integration

Lowes is leveraging AI to enhance market share and improve customer and employee experiences as part of its Total Home Strategy. Aligning AI initiatives with stakeholder feedback has been crucial. Regular interactions between engineers and store associates facilitate insights that drive practical tool refinements, enhancing the effectiveness of AI systems. For instance, the Mylow Companion tool, which integrates employee feedback loops, exemplifies how associating voice technology improvements with on-the-floor observations has bolstered its utility in stores.

Conversational AIs Enhance Client Interaction and Streamline Business Workflows

Conversational AIs, like those developed by Leadsales, play a pivotal role in enhancing workflows and meeting client needs across various industries. These platforms have markedly increased sales performance by streamlining communication, evidenced by clients experiencing a fivefold boost in sales within a short period. The strategic alliance with Meta and implementation of WhatsApp's functionality have been crucial, demonstrating increased ad investment and the transition towards comprehensive customer lifecycle management utilizing the Meta ecosystem.