Retail Tech Weekly: Stablecoins, AI Agents, and Digital Infrastructure

The retail sector is currently undergoing a rapid shift toward operational consolidation and high-tech efficiency. Dunnhumby has launched a new network alliance to tackle the fragmentation of retail media, bringing together partners like Tesco, B&Q, and Waitrose to streamline campaign activation across disparate platforms. Simultaneously, Jysk has committed to a long-term cloud transformation, planning to equip 2,500 stores with updated electronic shelf labels by 2027. This trend of tech-driven modernization is mirrored by Tesco, which is beginning a two-year rollout of Hanshow’s digital labeling technology across 3,000 locations to optimize pricing accuracy and labor costs.

Artificial intelligence is evolving from a novelty into a core business engine. THG Ingenuity reported an 8x conversion rate increase following the pilot of its AI shopping assistant with Myprotein. Similarly, Stewart Golf has successfully automated its customer support, utilizing an AI agent dubbed “Stewie” to resolve 75% of global inquiries. In the luxury segment, Singapore-based LuxLexicon is embracing crypto-innovation by enabling stablecoin payments at its flagship store, targeting a growing demographic of digitally native high-net-worth shoppers. Meanwhile, niche brands like Got Beef are leveraging AI video generation to produce viral marketing content at a fraction of traditional production costs, signaling a broader pivot toward automated, high-velocity creative workflows.