<description>Recorded live at Shoptalk Spring, this episode of the AiR Podcast tackles the shift from AI experimentation to real-world accountability. Mark Williamson, AVP of Retail Media at Costco Wholesale, joins Kimberly Morgan, CEO of The Fashion Tech Exec and a Top AI Leader, to discuss why Costco is building its technology ecosystem "from the studs up."

The Path of Most Resistance While many retailers opt for "plug-and-play" black-box solutions, Williamson explains why Costco is intentionally choosing a more complex, transparent path. By keeping member data behind its own firewall and inviting partners to work natively inside the Costco data cloud, the company eliminates signal loss while upholding its core code of ethics: respect for the member and respect for the supplier.

No AI Strategy Without a Data Strategy The conversation centers on the necessity of a modular, interoperable tech stack. Morgan and Williamson explore how this foundation prepares Costco for the era of agentic commerce. By organizing data properly today, Costco ensures it can provide relevant value wherever members shop in the future—whether via an LLM, a search engine, or the warehouse floor.</description>

Recorded live at Shoptalk Spring, this episode of…

Recorded live at Shoptalk Spring, this episode of the AiR Podcast tackles the shift from AI experimentation to real-world accountability. Mark Williamson, AVP of Retail Media at Costco Wholesale, joins Kimberly Morgan, CEO of The Fashion Tech Exec and a Top AI Leader, to discuss why Costco is building its technology ecosystem "from the studs up."

The Path of Most Resistance While many retailers opt for "plug-and-play" black-box solutions, Williamson explains why Costco is intentionally choosing a more complex, transparent path. By keeping member data behind its own firewall and inviting partners to work natively inside the Costco data cloud, the company eliminates signal loss while upholding its core code of ethics: respect for the member and respect for the supplier.

No AI Strategy Without a Data Strategy The conversation centers on the necessity of a modular, interoperable tech stack. Morgan and Williamson explore how this foundation prepares Costco for the era of agentic commerce. By organizing data properly today, Costco ensures it can provide relevant value wherever members shop in the future—whether via an LLM, a search engine, or the warehouse floor.

AI Responsibility, Agentic Futures, and Transparent Retail Media — The Costco Way

<description>This podcast features Darko Pavic, CEO at Fiscal Solutions and Michael Zakkour from 5 New Digital, discussing a critical yet overlooked pillar of global expansion: fiscalization.

Why Compliance is Your Transaction Architecture: Fiscalization is more than bureaucracy. It is the technical foundation of every global transaction. Darko introduces his new book,
The Fiscalization Compliance Maturity Model: To help retailers move from "firefighting" emergencies to a structured, strategic advantage.

The 4 Levels of Compliance Maturity:
- Level 1 (Reactive): Ad hoc responses and constant emergencies.
- Level 2 (Fragmented): Siloed regional teams and high double work costs.
- Level 3 (Connected): Shared tools and unified data architectures.
- Level 4 (Strategic): Compliance as a high speed growth engine.

Whether you are expanding into 5 countries or 50, this session provides a checklist for turning legal risks into a competitive edge.

Watch the full interview to future proof your global retail operations.</description>

This podcast features Darko Pavic, CEO at Fiscal …

This podcast features Darko Pavic, CEO at Fiscal Solutions and Michael Zakkour from 5 New Digital, discussing a critical yet overlooked pillar of global expansion: fiscalization.

Why Compliance is Your Transaction Architecture: Fiscalization is more than bureaucracy. It is the technical foundation of every global transaction. Darko introduces his new book,
The Fiscalization Compliance Maturity Model: To help retailers move from "firefighting" emergencies to a structured, strategic advantage.

The 4 Levels of Compliance Maturity:
- Level 1 (Reactive): Ad hoc responses and constant emergencies.
- Level 2 (Fragmented): Siloed regional teams and high double work costs.
- Level 3 (Connected): Shared tools and unified data architectures.
- Level 4 (Strategic): Compliance as a high speed growth engine.

Whether you are expanding into 5 countries or 50, this session provides a checklist for turning legal risks into a competitive edge.

Watch the full interview to future proof your global retail operations.

The Compliance Playbook Every Global Retailer Needs

<description>Most AI projects die in the boardroom because they ignore the person holding the handheld scanner. In this episode, Sharon Gai, Matt Redwood, and Paula Angelucci move past the hype to discuss what actually works on the shop floor.

The Pivot from Shiny to Useful Stop starting with the technology. Matt Redwood argues that the most successful AI implementations begin with a specific human frustration. Whether it is identifying non-barcoded produce or managing "dark" areas of the store, the tech must serve the journey. One pilot even saw a 75 percent reduction in shrink, but the real win was the store staff lobbying to keep the tools because they made their jobs easier.

Empowering the Artist Paula Angelucci views AI as the ultimate tool for the frontline. By automating the "laundry" of the industry, retailers can finally return to being entertainers and experts. From AI-driven leadership coaching to real-time product insights, the goal is to give associates their time back.

Watch the full interview to see how Diebold Nixdorf and WHSmith are turning data into a genuine competitive advantage.</description>

Most AI projects die in the boardroom because the…

Most AI projects die in the boardroom because they ignore the person holding the handheld scanner. In this episode, Sharon Gai, Matt Redwood, and Paula Angelucci move past the hype to discuss what actually works on the shop floor.

The Pivot from Shiny to Useful Stop starting with the technology. Matt Redwood argues that the most successful AI implementations begin with a specific human frustration. Whether it is identifying non-barcoded produce or managing "dark" areas of the store, the tech must serve the journey. One pilot even saw a 75 percent reduction in shrink, but the real win was the store staff lobbying to keep the tools because they made their jobs easier.

Empowering the Artist Paula Angelucci views AI as the ultimate tool for the frontline. By automating the "laundry" of the industry, retailers can finally return to being entertainers and experts. From AI-driven leadership coaching to real-time product insights, the goal is to give associates their time back.

Watch the full interview to see how Diebold Nixdorf and WHSmith are turning data into a genuine competitive advantage.

Retail AI: Closing the Reality Gap

<description>Your product data wasn't built for AI agents. Here's why that's a problem.

In the latest episode of RETHINK Retail's award-winning AiR (AI in Retail) podcast series, host Jamie Tenser sits down with @Anne-Claire Baschet, Chief Data &amp; AI Officer at @Mirakl and a Top AI Leader recognized by RETHINK Retail, to explore the seismic shift happening in retail discovery right now.

Anne-Claire brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise and strategic vision, from her roots as a Data Scientist at AXA to leading e-commerce platforms at Aramis Group, and now driving AI innovation at Mirakl. As a recognized leader in the AI retail space, she's at the forefront of what she calls the "agentic era" in commerce.

The reality check:
• 53 million shopping queries happen daily on ChatGPT alone
• 60% of shoppers now use AI in their shopping journey
• Traditional keyword optimization? It's no longer enough

What retailers must do now:
✓ Product data &amp; API infrastructure – Make your catalog AI-responsive, not just mobile-responsive
✓ Brand content &amp; social proof – Build trust signals that AI agents recognize
✓ Pricing transparency – Show the real price (product + promo + tax + shipping)
✓ Fulfillment capabilities – Accurate stock and delivery promises matter more than ever
✓ Performance tracking – Test, learn, and optimize for agentic channels

Anne-Claire's advice for 2026? "Experiment. The ones who win are going to be those whose products AI can actually find, understand, and recommend."</description>

Your product data wasn't built for AI agents. Her…

Your product data wasn't built for AI agents. Here's why that's a problem.

In the latest episode of RETHINK Retail's award-winning AiR (AI in Retail) podcast series, host Jamie Tenser sits down with @Anne-Claire Baschet, Chief Data & AI Officer at @Mirakl and a Top AI Leader recognized by RETHINK Retail, to explore the seismic shift happening in retail discovery right now.

Anne-Claire brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise and strategic vision, from her roots as a Data Scientist at AXA to leading e-commerce platforms at Aramis Group, and now driving AI innovation at Mirakl. As a recognized leader in the AI retail space, she's at the forefront of what she calls the "agentic era" in commerce.

The reality check:
• 53 million shopping queries happen daily on ChatGPT alone
• 60% of shoppers now use AI in their shopping journey
• Traditional keyword optimization? It's no longer enough

What retailers must do now:
✓ Product data & API infrastructure – Make your catalog AI-responsive, not just mobile-responsive
✓ Brand content & social proof – Build trust signals that AI agents recognize
✓ Pricing transparency – Show the real price (product + promo + tax + shipping)
✓ Fulfillment capabilities – Accurate stock and delivery promises matter more than ever
✓ Performance tracking – Test, learn, and optimize for agentic channels

Anne-Claire's advice for 2026? "Experiment. The ones who win are going to be those whose products AI can actually find, understand, and recommend."

Winning in The Agentic Era: The Commerce Roadmap for Success

<description>In this episode of the RETHINK Retail podcast, Julia Rogers Vargas, VP and GM, Identification Solutions at Avery Dennison and Sasha Wallinger, contributor at Forbes move past the buzzwords to find the "magic" in the retail grind.

The End of the Visible Transaction
We are rapidly approaching a "post-transactional" world. As AI bots begin to automate our daily chores, from replenishing diapers to choosing grocery brands, the traditional checkout experience is fading. Sasha and Julia explore why this shift forces a total pivot in marketing: if a bot is making the purchase, a brand’s only survival strategy is a deep, emotional relationship with the human behind the machine.

Data as the Non-Negotiable Floor
You can't build "magic" on a broken foundation. Julia highlights that while everyone is chasing AI, the real winners are those perfecting their data accuracy through RFID and sensor technology. If the information feeding your digital models is inaccurate, the entire ecosystem collapses. Accurate "track and trace" is what allows the logistics to become invisible, leaving room for the human touch.

Freeing the "Hardy" Retailers
Retail has always been about "humans serving humans." By automating the tedious, manual processes, what Julia calls the "laundry" of the industry, we aren't replacing the workforce. Instead, we are re-empowering retailers to be the entertainers and artists they were meant to be, bringing intimacy and delight back to the physical space.

Watch the full interview to see how Avery Dennison is bridging the gap between digital intelligence and physical artistry.</description>

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail podcast, Ju…

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail podcast, Julia Rogers Vargas, VP and GM, Identification Solutions at Avery Dennison and Sasha Wallinger, contributor at Forbes move past the buzzwords to find the "magic" in the retail grind.

The End of the Visible Transaction
We are rapidly approaching a "post-transactional" world. As AI bots begin to automate our daily chores, from replenishing diapers to choosing grocery brands, the traditional checkout experience is fading. Sasha and Julia explore why this shift forces a total pivot in marketing: if a bot is making the purchase, a brand’s only survival strategy is a deep, emotional relationship with the human behind the machine.

Data as the Non-Negotiable Floor
You can't build "magic" on a broken foundation. Julia highlights that while everyone is chasing AI, the real winners are those perfecting their data accuracy through RFID and sensor technology. If the information feeding your digital models is inaccurate, the entire ecosystem collapses. Accurate "track and trace" is what allows the logistics to become invisible, leaving room for the human touch.

Freeing the "Hardy" Retailers
Retail has always been about "humans serving humans." By automating the tedious, manual processes, what Julia calls the "laundry" of the industry, we aren't replacing the workforce. Instead, we are re-empowering retailers to be the entertainers and artists they were meant to be, bringing intimacy and delight back to the physical space.

Watch the full interview to see how Avery Dennison is bridging the gap between digital intelligence and physical artistry.

Retail 2026: Magic, Data, and Human Connection

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