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IHL Group is a global research and advisory firm for the retail and hospitality industries. Through our research and data services, we provide the technology insight that companies need to effectively compete in a global market.

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Research & Advisory

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

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ClearSight AI

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

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Data Services

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

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IT Forecasts

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

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Whitepapers / Webinars

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

Full Archives ›

How Fast Is Retail Really Changing? The Truth Beyond the Hype
by Greg Buzek
November 14, 2025
How fast is retail really changing? It’s the question I get asked constantly at conferences, in client briefings, and from retailers trying to figure out where to place their bets.… Read more: How Fast Is Retail Really Changing? The Truth Beyond the Hype
Global POS Shipments Update – 3Q25
by Greg Buzek
November 11, 2025
Q3 2025 POS Market Reality Check: Global POS Shipments grew 3.4% YoY, but regional divergence is stark—North America firing on all cylinders (+15.6%) due to Windows 10 refresh, while APAC… Read more: Global POS Shipments Update – 3Q25
The Smarter Store…and more – Latest Retail Thoughts
by Greg Buzek
November 6, 2025
Amazon’s Rufus just threw down a number that’s reshaping every retail strategy conversation happening right now. $10 billion. That’s not a projection buried in a footnote. That’s Amazon’s internal estimate… Read more: The Smarter Store…and more – Latest Retail Thoughts
OnDemand – Shelf Intelligence Report – Rebuilding Retail Relationships Through Automation
by Greg Buzek
November 4, 2025
Overview While 65% of retailers classify inventory accuracy as either mission critical or a key priority, less than 22% achieve over 80% compliance in any of the fundamental metrics: On-Shelf… Read more: OnDemand – Shelf Intelligence Report – Rebuilding Retail Relationships Through Automation

Industry Breaking News

Full News Archives

Amazon enters $38 billion partnership with OpenAI

Amazon signed a $38 billion multi-year partnership with OpenAI to power its AI workloads on Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure, deploying Nvidia GPUs via EC2 UltraServers. OpenAI joins other AWS AI partners like Anthropic and Nvidia as Amazon accelerates its investments in generative and agentic AI technologies. Read Article ›

Amazon says its AI shopping assistant Rufus is so effective it’s on pace to pull in an extra $10 billion in sales

Amazon’s AI shopping assistant, Rufus, is projected to generate $10 billion in annual sales, with shoppers using it 60% more likely to purchase. CEO Andy Jassy cited strong adoption and AWS’s 20% growth. Amazon also expanded tools like “Help Me Decide” and Amazon Lens, underscoring its AI retail strategy. Read Article ›

McDonald’s Chief Data & Analytics Officer on AI Upskilling and Empowering its Workforce

McDonald’s Chief Data & Analytics Officer Michelle Gansle urged companies to prioritize AI upskilling, emphasizing personalized learning, leadership involvement, and human-centered strategies. At McDonald’s, corporate staff use Microsoft Copilot after required AI training, achieving 94% weekly usage and zero safety issues within three months. Read Article ›

New Research from IHL Group and Brain Corp Reveals Two-Thirds of Major U.S. Retailers Face Shelf Issues Eroding Retailer-Brand Trust

67% of major U.S. retailers face frequent inventory accuracy issues that harm brand relationships and cause lost sales. Only 25% meet basic shelf accuracy standards. Robotics is the top solution, with 72% ready to deploy in-store robots, favoring managed automation services like Brain Corp’s ShelfOptix™ to restore trust and accuracy in retail. Read Article ›

IHL Group: Retailers see this technology as key to inventory accuracy

IHL Group and Brain Corp research found retailers lose $1.73 trillion yearly from inventory distortions, with robotics ranked as the top solution for improving shelf accuracy. Seventy-two percent of surveyed retailers plan robot deployment by 2027, citing improved visibility, trust, and brand relationships as key benefits. Read Article ›

Amazon to deploy Verizon fiber network infrastructure in data centers

AWS and Verizon are collaborating to build high-capacity fiber routes connecting AWS data centers, enabling faster, more reliable AI workloads. This infrastructure supports the scaling of secure, high-performance cloud services for advanced AI applications across industries. Read Article ›

Digital Brands Group Explores Quantum Computing for Business Optimizations, Data Protection

Digital Brands Group is partnering with Microsoft’s Azure Quantum to explore quantum computing for business optimization, including hyper-personalized shopping recommendations, customer segmentation, and advanced data protection. Unilever is also collaborating with Microsoft on quantum and generative AI research to speed consumer product innovation, particularly in haircare. Read Article ›

Merco teams with Toshiba to introduce new self-checkout solutions

Merco, a northern Mexico supermarket chain, is deploying Toshiba’s MxP Self-Checkout across stores after a successful pilot. They are also considering Toshiba’s ELERA Security Suite with AI-powered loss prevention and produce recognition. Installation was supported by partners Swedarey and Microsistemas Californianos. Read Article ›

Topps Tiles taps Cegid Retail Store Excellence platform, wraps store wide roll-out

Topps Tiles has rolled out Cegid Retail Store Excellence across its 297 UK stores to digitize task management, photo validation, and promotional compliance. The platform replaced manual Excel reporting, improving real-time visibility, sales performance, and consistency, with plans to expand into advanced reporting and internal communications. Read Article ›

Winter Park Cycles on Track to Double Sales after Lightspeed Migration

Winter Park Cycles migrated from Lightspeed to Shopify’s unified commerce platform, integrating WorkMate from Teifi Digital to streamline in-store and online operations. The move improved work order management, automated inventory and accounting, and drove 2X projected sales growth and record revenue within 90 days of launch. Read Article ›