July 28, 2026
12:30 PM - IST
(Featuring Analyst Insights on AI Execution, Decision Intelligence, and P&L Impact)
Retail leaders are under increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable returns from AI investments. While many organizations have launched pilots across merchandising, supply chain, customer experience, marketing, and store operations, relatively few have successfully scaled these initiatives into enterprise-wide capabilities that deliver sustained business value.
The challenge is no longer identifying AI opportunities. The real differentiator lies in an organization's ability to operationalize AI, embedding insights into business processes, decision-making workflows, and day-to-day execution. Without the right governance, ownership, operating model, and organizational readiness, even promising AI initiatives struggle to move beyond experimentation.
In this advisory-focused webinar, QKS analysts will examine the factors that separate retailers achieving measurable business outcomes from those still navigating fragmented AI efforts. Attendees will gain practical guidance on assessing readiness, prioritizing investments, addressing execution barriers, and building a scalable approach to AI transformation.
Whether your organization is beginning its AI journey or looking to expand existing initiatives, this session will provide actionable insights for turning AI investments into operational and financial impact.
Understand why many retail AI initiatives fail to progress beyond pilot stages and what distinguishes organizations that successfully scale.
Learn how leading retailers prioritize AI investments based on business impact, implementation readiness, and long-term value.
Explore practical approaches for embedding AI into merchandising, supply chain, store operations, and customer experience workflows.
Identify the governance, operating model, and organizational capabilities required for responsible and scalable AI adoption.
Gain actionable guidance for connecting AI initiatives to measurable revenue, margin, productivity, and efficiency outcomes.
As part of the discussion, QKS analysts will introduce a structured framework designed to help retailers:
Assess organizational readiness for AI adoption
Identify capability, process, data, and governance gaps
Prioritize transformation initiatives based on business value and execution readiness
Develop a roadmap for scalable AI implementation and measurable business outcomes
This session is designed for senior leaders responsible for retail performance, transformation, and operational excellence:
CEOs, CIOs, CDOs, and CDAOs
Retail Operations Leaders
Merchandising and Category Management Executives
Supply Chain and Inventory Leaders
Customer Experience and Marketing Leaders
Digital, Data, AI, and Transformation Leaders
Strategy and Innovation Executives
This session provides a clear view of why retail AI initiatives struggle to deliver measurable P&L impact and what it takes to move beyond pilots. Attendees will learn how to scale AI across merchandising, supply chain, and customer operations while aligning data, teams, and processes to support real-world decision making and consistent business outcomes.
Participate in the AI Readiness Benchmark and receive a complimentary advisory workshop with QKS analysts. The assessment helps organizations evaluate AI maturity, identify critical capability gaps, prioritize high-impact opportunities, and develop a practical roadmap for achieving scalable business outcomes from AI investments.
Vice President - Research & Consulting
Umang Thakur serves as the Vice President of Research & Principal Analyst – Retail and E-Commerce at QKS Group, where he leads end-to-end research and consulting projects, utilizing QKS Group’s established research methodologies. In his role, Umang conducts briefings with executives and industry experts to identify key challenges, uncover best practices, and develop research products focused on pressing issues within the Retail and E-commerce sectors. Drawing on his extensive experience working closely with users, Umang leverages his expertise to analyze and predict both expected and unforeseen shifts in the Retail and E-commerce landscape, providing vendors and users with actionable insights to navigate these changes. His work involves transforming both quantitative and qualitative data into clear, actionable insights that guide business leaders in making informed decisions and strategic moves. With a strong combination of business acumen and intellectual curiosity, Umang excels in understanding the strategies, drivers, and goals of large, global clients, and translating these into valuable collaboration opportunities within the Retail and E-commerce space.
Associate Director – Customer Engagement Systems
Aaron Andrews is a strategic technology and content executive with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations navigate digital transformation, modernize operations, and unlock the value of data. He brings a rare blend of technical depth, business strategy, and executive storytelling—translating complex concepts in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise systems into clear, actionable insights that drive measurable outcomes. Throughout his career, Aaron has led global teams across strategy, research, content, and technology initiatives. He has built and scaled digital communities serving thousands of executives and practitioners, produced high-impact multimedia thought leadership, and curated large-scale industry events designed to educate and inspire business and technology leaders. His work consistently bridges the gap between executive priorities and hands-on execution, enabling smarter decisions and stronger organizational performance. Aaron has guided organizations through enterprise system transformations, business intelligence modernization, automation initiatives, and governance frameworks that strengthen compliance and data integrity. Known for aligning cross-functional stakeholders and mentoring high-performing teams, he implements scalable strategies that enhance customer experience, improve operational efficiency, and support revenue growth. A recognized industry thought leader and frequent conference speaker, Aaron has spent more than a decade cultivating collaborative professional networks that promote knowledge sharing, innovation, and inclusive leadership. His ability to foster community while driving strategic outcomes distinguishes his leadership style. At his core, Aaron is a connector—bringing together people, technology, and strategy to create clarity in complex environments. His client-first mindset, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to continuous learning define his approach and fuel his passion for helping organizations thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
