Hard Data.

Smart Decisions.

IHL Group is a global research and advisory firm for the retail and hospitality industries providing proprietary research hard data so you can make smarter decisions; the market and technology insight that companies need to effectively compete in a global market.

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Advisory & Research

Executive advisory and in-depth analysis on Unified Commerce, Merchandising, Mobile, POS and more.

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Clear Sight AI

ClearSight AI

Executive advisor creating YOUR blueprint with your PRIORITIES to maximized your success implementing AI.

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Lead Gen & Market Share

Sophia customer intelligence system, trade show lists, lead generation and key IT decision makers.

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IT Spend Forecasts

We provide forecasts for over 300 categories of Hardware, Software, SaaS, and IT Services.

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Webinars & Free Research

Providing a host of free whitepapers and webinars to help key decision makers stay informed.

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Experienced Analysts

Our associates and advisors have over 100 years combined years of retail technology experience. Our associates have worked as product managers, sales representatives and executives in the retail market.

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ANALYST CORNER

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Industry Breaking News

Full News Archives

Volcano Bay’s cashless shift signals broader Florida business trend

Universal’s Volcano Bay water park at Universal Orlando Resort will go fully cashless starting February 25, 2026, using tap‑to‑pay wristbands and digital wallets. The move reflects a broader Florida trend favoring cashless operations to cut labor and theft costs, as highlighted by IHL Group’s research on cash‑handling expenses. Read Article ›

CITGO Unveils Mobile Payment Solution

CITGO Petroleum Corp. launched CITGO PlusPAY, a mobile Automated Clearing House payment option within the Club CITGO app. The tool enables secure, bank-linked payments, real-time authorization, and loyalty rewards of at least 10 cents per gallon. It delivers faster checkout, lower fees, and avoids credit card costs for retailers and customers. Read Article ›

According to Walmart, AI Doesn’t Work If People Don’t

Walmart is partnering with Google to train all 1.6 million U.S. and Canadian employees on using AI tools through an eight-hour course. The initiative, emphasizing skills instead of layoffs, highlights that workforce readiness—not software—is the key barrier to AI adoption in corporate and retail environments. Read Article ›

AI Isn’t a Tool Anymore. It’s Becoming the Gatekeeper

PYMNTS Intelligence’s February 2026 Agentic AI Report finds that U.S. consumers have shifted from experimenting with AI to relying on it. About half use AI assistants regularly, with “power users” driving activity. These users embed AI deeply into daily workflows, compressing search and decision-making into single conversational interactions. Read Article ›

CPK cuts labor variance by 50% via AI partnership

California Pizza Kitchen partnered with Axial Shift to replace legacy labor systems with AI-driven tools for scheduling, forecasting, and engagement. The 144-unit brand cut labor variance by over 50%, consolidated multiple platforms, and introduced gamified sales challenges that boosted employee participation and average check size. Read Article ›

Swensons Drive-In Announces Rollout of Flybuy Technology

Swensons Drive-In is rolling out Flybuy’s AI-powered location engine across all locations to enhance pickup and delivery operations. Using real-time arrival alerts, automated check-in options, and intelligent item-tagging, Flybuy helps Swensons’ teams reduce wait times, stage orders efficiently, and ensure accurate, high-quality curbside handoffs. Read Article ›