State of retail 2026: what every retailer needs to know right now

Retail is changing faster than most organizations can track.

From UiPath's attendance at events like NRF and Retail Technology Show, plus the conversations we're having with customers across the industry, a clear set of themes is emerging across pricing, inventory, merchandising, and AI adoption.

Yet many retailers are still operating with fragmented data, manual processes, and decision-making that cannot keep pace with the market.

What you'll learn:

• Why retailers are losing demand without realizing it

• What “good” looks like when data is truly unified and actionable

• How leading retailers are moving AI from pilot to execution

• Why automation is becoming a competitive advantage for merchandising teams

• How connected operations are improving speed, margin, and agility

Explore the five biggest shifts shaping retail right now, and learn how leading teams are moving from insight to execution across pricing, inventory, and merchandising.