In retail, staying ahead of what customers want has always been the goal, but now it’s harder than ever. With unpredictable demand, changing shopping habits and constant pressure on revenue, the old ways of planning just aren’t cutting it.

That’s why retailers and digital solutions are turning to AI to make better, faster decisions. From forecasting demand to managing pricing and inventory, AI is helping retailers respond in real time and stay ahead of constant change—driving retail growth in the process.

In a recent webinar, Gurhan Kok, Founder and CEO of invent.ai, shared how AI is being used to make better decisions across the supply chain—and what companies need to do to make it work. The conversation touched on everything from messy data and outmoded retail systems to what real-world success looks like when AI is used the right way.

Here’s a look at the biggest takeaways from the session, and why now is the time for retailers to rethink how decisions get made.

1. Retail transformation is still playing catch up

Most retail decisions today are still made the old-fashioned way. Teams rely heavily on spreadsheets, historical data and guesswork. While that may have worked in the past, it’s no longer enough to keep up with today’s speed of change. Many decisions are still manual, and the available data isn’t being used to its full potential. That creates major disconnects between what’s happening in the market and how retailers respond.

2. Retail AI isn’t just for the big players

One of the biggest myths amongst retailers is that you need a large existing tech stack and a massive data science team to make AI work. This just isn’t true. What retailers do need, however, is a decision-making process that’s ready to support better tools. That starts with having clear goals and data that’s clean enough for the AI to work with. From there, it’s possible to start automating smaller, repetitive decisions and build toward broader improvements through digital transformation. 

3. Fast focused wins beat big messy overhauls

Retailers often think they need to rip and replace old systems to adopt AI, but the most successful retail transformations are the ones that start small. Choose one decision point—like forecasting demand for a specific category—test, learn quickly and then scale. This approach not only speeds up results but helps teams build trust in AI’s recommendations. Once people see it working, they’re more open to using it in other areas.

4. It’s about better decisions, not just more data

Retailers sit on mountains of data, but unless they can turn it into clear, timely decisions, it’s not doing much. Retail AI helps by connecting the dots faster than humanly possible—spotting patterns, adjusting in real time and learning from every outcome. The result is less guesswork, more confidence and stronger performance across the board.

For example, Alo Yoga needed to cut inventory by double digits while improving product availability. It implemented invent.ai for better forecasting and pricing decisions, helping the team respond faster and more effectively—transforming business in the process. 

5. The future of retail is accelerating

Retail is moving too quickly for rigid, backward-looking decision models. AI gives retailers a way to keep up with the pace of customers—anticipating needs, reacting to change and staying a step ahead. But it’s not automatic—It takes structure, the right mindset and a willingness to move past outmoded tools and systems. And as AI continues to evolve, it’s not here to replace people, it’s here to help them make faster, more confident calls.

Don’t just keep up, get ahead

Retail is at a turning point and to succeed in this next era of retail technology, companies need to move past instincts and tools that can’t keep up and start building AI-Decisioning systems that are faster, more flexible and more reliable.

Whether you're getting started on your AI journey or looking to level up existing tools, the message is clear: focus on the decisions that matter most. With the right strategy and the right partners, retail solutions powered by AI can help you make every one of them count.

Want the full story? Catch the full conversation with Gurhan and see how leading retailers are turning AI into real-world results.