Retail Tech Hot 100 highlights industry shift toward data foundations

Dan McGrath, a judge for the list and customer operations lead at JD Sports, noted that the winning entries share a common trait: they build the deterministic, real-time data foundations necessary for future agentic commerce. According to McGrath, AI agents are only as effective as the information they process; without a reliable data layer, these systems are merely making rapid guesses. The list recognizes firms that provide the quiet, essential plumbing of modern retail rather than those chasing experimental hype.

Following the release of the Hot 100, the focus for the sector shifts to the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards. Entries are now open, with winners set to be announced at a ceremony at The HAC in London on November 4, 2026. The awards continue to track the rapid evolution of omnichannel technology, building on previous years that saw record-breaking attendance and a significant increase in submission quality.