EasyPicky outlines five AI-led retail trends for 2026

EasyPicky has set out five trends it expects to shape retail operations in 2026, with a focus on real-time product visibility, video-based store data capture and wider use of artificial intelligence in field execution.

The company said retailers continue to face high costs linked to out-of-stocks and overstocks. It cited an annual industry impact of £1.5 trillion. EasyPicky framed the issue as a competitive challenge for retailers and manufacturers that rely on store-level execution and accurate availability across channels.

The trends highlighted by EasyPicky span customer experience, operational processes and data management. They include "phygital" retail across eCommerce and physical stores, AI-led retail execution, centralised product data, more automation in field audits and wider adoption of video as a standard method of in-store data collection.

Phygital focus

EasyPicky said it expects consumers to demand more consistent shopping experiences across digital and physical channels in 2026. It described a retail environment where product information stays consistent and where customers can check availability in real time.

In that model, EasyPicky said physical shops take a different role inside retail operations. It expects stores to function as connected hubs that sit inside a broader data-driven ecosystem rather than operating as stand-alone locations.

AI in execution

EasyPicky described artificial intelligence as a central component in retail execution. It said AI increasingly acts as an operational "co-pilot" for field teams and managers.

The company positioned this as a shift in how organisations monitor store conditions and respond to issues on the shop floor. EasyPicky said AI tools can provide managers and executives with a broad view of field conditions. It linked that view to faster decisions on execution plans.

The company also linked the trend to the broader "phygital" shift. It said retail data increasingly moves from being descriptive to being action-oriented, with systems that translate observations into recommended next steps.

Product data

EasyPicky said it expects centralised product data to become a strategic asset in 2026, rather than remaining limited to reference databases or conventional merchandising systems.

It said retailers and manufacturers increasingly treat product data management as a cross-functional requirement. It described a need for product information to flow in real time from headquarters to store teams and across channels. It also linked centralised data to consistency in assortment and faster execution in-store and online.

EasyPicky said this change reflects a retail environment where customers arrive better informed and where errors in product information can translate into lost sales or lower customer satisfaction.

Field automation

EasyPicky said it expects field retail automation to become standard practice for many large store networks in 2026. It described occasional manual audits as insufficient for retailers that want faster and more reliable store feedback.

It also said manufacturers want simpler processes for field teams. It linked this to pressure on sales representatives and merchandisers who often split time between store visits and reporting tasks.

EasyPicky said automation tools increasingly analyse compliance, availability and in-store execution in real time. It said these tools reduce reliance on manual data collection.

Video capture

EasyPicky described video as an emerging standard for in-store data collection. It said field teams prefer processes that reduce manual data entry and keep attention on corrective actions in stores.

It said AI-based analysis of shelf video can identify gaps such as out-of-stocks and placement issues. It also said such systems can generate recommendations for area managers.

EasyPicky said video-based workflows will replace many field surveys and manual reporting processes by 2026. It presented the approach as part of a shift towards more responsive store operations and tighter feedback loops between stores, field teams and head office.

EasyPicky was founded in France in 2017. It sells a software-as-a-service product aimed at retail manufacturers. It uses smartphone or tablet video capture of shelves and analyses the footage offline, according to the company. It said the system converts results into KPIs and prioritised actions. It also said it centralises data for managers and executives.

EasyPicky said its software draws on data collected by internal sales teams, temporary staff and crowdsourced sources, depending on the deployment model.

"Retail in 2026 will be driven by real-time field data and technologies capable of transforming simple observations into immediate, high-impact actions," said Marine Bibal, Founder, EasyPicky. "At EasyPicky, we firmly believe that artificial intelligence must serve both operational execution and strategic thinking. Our ambition is to help retailers and brands transform retail roles through the concrete benefits of digital tools and AI, enabling greater efficiency, responsiveness and sustainable performance."

EasyPicky said it expects retailers and manufacturers to increase investment in systems that connect product data, field observations and store execution, as organisations seek more immediate visibility into availability and compliance at shelf level.