If you attended any industry events in Australia this month, you couldn't escape one overwhelming theme: the AI conversation has shifted. We're no longer debating whether AI will change the industry. We're now grappling with the speed at which it already has, and how far behind some organisations already are.  Having attended two standout events this month (Salsify's Decanting the Digital Shelf and the NORA Retailer Gen AI Summit) I want to share the most important themes, te

Retail has been organised around products for decades. Categories, departments and individual SKUs shape how retailers build their stores and web experiences, and how customers are expected to navigate them.  That structure makes sense operationally. It’s how inventory is managed; ranges are planned, and website structures are defined.   But it doesn’t reflect how people actually shop.  Many shoppers don’t start with a product in mind. They start with a problem they are tryin

The digital shelf has become one of the most competitive environments in retail.  Yet the brands dominating it are often not the ones with the longest heritage, the biggest budgets or the deepest retail relationships. In many cases, they are the new kids on the block, built for a very different operating model.  Digitally native brands.  These brands did not grow up negotiating shelf space or preparing for annual range reviews. Their shelf has always been digital, and their f

Retail media networks are integrating more social media formats and buying capabilities. Social platforms are embedding commerce as a core part of their strategy. Both are increasingly competing for the same media dollars.  What we are seeing is the gradual convergence of two ecosystems that were once clearly separated. Retail media was built around transactions. Social platforms were built around attention.  That convergence is now happening in both directions.  On the retai

For years, discovery on the digital shelf largely depended on broad search engines like Google, alongside retailer search and category listings built around keyword matching. Shoppers typed in what they wanted, scanned ranked lists, and clicked through options.    That model is now shifting.   AI-powered discovery tools are rapidly changing how Australians search for and evaluate products. PayPal Australia data suggests up to 48% of Australians now use AI platforms to search

For more than a decade, retailers have invested heavily in building faster, more seamless online experiences. Search has improved. Checkouts have shortened. Omnichannel integration has strengthened. The objective has been clear: remove friction, increase conversion, and drive efficient digital growth.  At the same time, fulfilment and returns have largely been optimised for efficiency - designed to reduce cost, minimise waste and protect margin.  But as competition expands ac