The retail sector is on the cusp of a revolution. At the 13th edition of the Retail Forum, organized by iKN Spain, industry experts gathered to discuss the future of retail. Held on March 27 at IFEMA, the event featured panels and conferences that tackled key issues shaping the sector’s future.
One panel explored how new technologies are transforming commerce and setting the stage for growth and evolution. Moderated by Joan García, CIO of Brownie, the discussion highlighted the importance of connectivity, artificial intelligence, security, and agility in processes.
Gaby Herrera, Iberia Sales Lead at BigCommerce, noted that consumers are moving away from monolithic systems and seeking solutions that offer more control over their businesses. “The customer is looking for technologies that give them more flexibility and control,” she said. Herrera emphasized that artificial intelligence is crucial for improving sales and personalizing customer experiences.
Agustín García, director of sales at TNS, shared his vision for the physical retail landscape in Spain and Europe. According to García, connectivity is becoming increasingly essential: “If your store isn’t connected, you can’t sell.” He also stressed the growing threat of security breaches, which retailers must address. “The ability to adapt quickly to changes is one of the sector’s biggest demands,” García explained.
Gloria Aloma, Head of Retail at Fujitsu, highlighted the value of unified commerce in integrating artificial intelligence solutions. “The future of retail depends on having all customer data unified,” she said. Aloma warned that, by 2025, one in three AI projects could fail due to poor data quality. She noted that Retail Media and AI applied to security, automation, and image and video analysis are trends driving greater operational efficiency.
Justo Hernández, Solutions Engineer at Telesign, offered insights into how generative AI is impacting the industry, particularly in the fight against fraud. According to Hernández, synthetic identity is one of the biggest challenges, as frauds are now more massive and sophisticated thanks to AI. “It’s essential to specialize in fraud detection because fraud types are evolving rapidly,” he emphasized.
These experts agree: the future of retail hinges on embracing new technologies, prioritizing connectivity, security, and agility, and leveraging data to drive growth and innovation. As the sector continues to evolve, retailers must stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive.
