03/28/2026
There’s a lot of noise about AI right now, but this caught my eye because it’s refreshingly honest 🙂
A report shows that around 70% of retailers are already testing or partially using agentic AI.
But only 8% have rolled it out fully across their business.
In other words, most people are experimenting. Very few have cracked it.
And I’m certain it doesn’t only apply to retail.
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Agentic AI isn’t just a chatbot answering questions.
It’s AI that can look across systems, spot issues, and suggest (or trigger) actions. Think delays, bottlenecks, stock problems, or inefficiencies. Not marketing slogans.
Retailers are optimistic.
Nearly all believe AI will be essential to staying competitive, and many expect efficiency gains very soon.
But they’re also hitting reality.
The biggest blockers?
• Data that isn’t clean or joined up
• Concerns about trust, transparency, and regulation
• And a shortage of people who know how to implement AI properly
What’s interesting is where AI is heading.
So far, most use has been in customer service and marketing.
But the next wave is about operations. Things like inventory, supply chains, fulfilment, admin. Less creative AI, more quietly fixing problems before customers notice.
And that’s the bit business owners should pay attention to.
The real value of AI is removing friction from day-to-day operations and freeing humans to focus on decisions that need judgment.
AI works best when the foundations are solid: Good data, clear processes, and realistic expectations.
So, here’s my question for you 🤔 If AI could spot problems in your operations before they became issues, would your systems be ready to support it?