Live from NRF ’26: From AI Hype to Real Results in Convenience
At NRF’s The Big Show, the retail industry’s biggest stage for innovation, the conversation around AI, automation and connected stores was impossible to miss. But for convenience leaders, the focus wasn’t flashy demos or buzzwords. It was about what actually works inside the four walls of a store and on the forecourt right now.
On the latest episode of the Future of Convenience podcast, executives from Vusion Group, Vontier and VenHub gathered to cut through the noise and share what meaningful transformation really looks like for retailers.
For Roy Horgan, group senior EVP strategy, marketing & communications at Vusion Group, the fundamentals haven’t changed, even as the technology has. “We have to get products on the shelf, make customers happy, and consistently look at how do we reduce costs to serve. That’s just simple; That’s a simple premise. But how you navigate it is complicated.”
That navigation increasingly includes practical AI applications already improving operations. Elaine Kanak, chief marketing officer at Vontier, pointed to use cases that are delivering measurable results today, from computer vision at the car wash to smarter EV charging and pricing strategies. “I think you’re going to see more practical applications of AI inside the store and on the forecourt in the convenience retail space in the near term,” she proclaimed.
Meanwhile, Tarang Sethia, executive vice president, product & technology at VenHub Global and a longtime retail technology leader, challenged the industry to think beyond incremental upgrades. Faster systems and sleeker POS platforms aren’t enough, he argued. Retail needs a step change in how stores operate and how customers are served: “I think this space has made the horse carts better. More automated.”
Instead, Sethia sees opportunity in robotics, automation and fully reimagined store formats that eliminate friction and free associates to focus on service rather than transactions.
One theme was clear: the winners won’t be those chasing every new tool, but those applying technology with purpose, integrated, interoperable, and designed to solve real problems.
Be sure to subscribe to The Future of Convenience on your favorite podcast platform. New episodes are released every other Tuesday and can be found wherever you find your favorite shows.
