Meta and the Retailers Association of India (RAI) have unveiled a comprehensive whitepaper documenting how artificial intelligence, short-form video, creators and WhatsApp are converging to power omnichannel shopping journeys across India's digital and physical retail channels. The report reveals social media now influences 77% of all retail brand and product discovery, with Meta platforms commanding a dominant 96% share of this activity. Omnichannel shoppers...

India’s ecommerce market is entering a new phase where growth is driven less by raw scale and more by intent, speed, and contribution margins. LS Digital’s latest report, “The Great Indian Commerce Shift,” based on over 1.5 million orders across 30+ enterprise brands during the July–December 2025 festive season, shows that the traditional linear funnel has effectively collapsed. In its place, consumers are displaying...

A new TCS Global Retail Outlook 2026 study finds that while retailers overwhelmingly view AI as a key driver of future competitiveness, most remain stuck at a superficial stage of adoption. Executives are investing in chatbots and virtual assistants, but lag significantly in deploying advanced, agentic AI systems that can drive real-time, autonomous decisions across the value chain. Retailers Still Stuck in Basic AI Use...

Unicommerce e-commerce platform processed over 27 million orders during Republic Day 2025 and 2026 sales periods, providing a clear lens into the sector's structural evolution. The analysis spotlights Tier 3 cities as the new volume leaders, contributing nearly 40 percent of orders with robust year-over-year growth. Beyond geographic expansion, repeat consumption patterns, accelerated fulfillment demands, and AI-driven engagement emerge as defining forces. These trends mark...

Consumers worldwide are recalibrating their approach to spending in 2026, moving beyond simple price considerations to prioritize brand fairness, price transparency, and honest communication as core drivers of purchasing decisions. Simultaneously, the rise of artificial intelligence as a shopping tool is creating a paradox: while consumers increasingly adopt AI-powered shopping assistants and seek their guidance, deep concerns about data privacy and algorithmic transparency are slowing...

Zebra Technologies’ 18th Annual Global Shopper Study signals a reset moment for retail operations. Shopper satisfaction has declined for the second consecutive year, even as retailers ramp up investment in AI, automation, and intelligent workflows. In Asia Pacific, including India, leaders increasingly view generative AI and automation as core levers for loss prevention, inventory accuracy, and frontline productivity—not optional add‑ons. Shopper Expectations and Satisfaction Declines The...

Walmart has announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT’s Instant Checkout feature, enabling customers and Sam’s Club members to shop directly through the AI chatbot. The move signals a major step in Walmart’s digital transformation strategy and positions the retailer as an early adopter of conversational commerce powered by artificial intelligence. Shares of Walmart rose 5% following the announcement, reflecting investor optimism over...

OpenAI has taken a bold step into e-commerce by launching the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) — a new open standard that allows AI agents to securely initiate and complete purchases within chat interfaces. The rollout starts with Instant Checkout for Etsy in the U.S., with support for Shopify merchants coming next. Users of ChatGPT (free, Plus, and Pro accounts) can now search, discover, and buy...

India’s 2025 festive season is witnessing a major shift in consumer behaviour, with Artificial Intelligence now driving how people discover, evaluate, and engage with products. According to The Marketer’s Guide to India’s Festive Season 2025, a joint report by InMobi Advertising and Glance, 79% of Indian shoppers are actively relying on AI-powered recommendations to enhance their buying experience. The study is based on responses from...

Walmart has announced a sweeping expansion of its artificial intelligence capabilities through a suite of AI-powered “super agents” aimed at boosting both customer experience and operational efficiency. Revealed at an event in New York, the initiative marks a strategic shift in how the world’s largest retailer plans to drive future growth in its e-commerce and enterprise services. The new agents—tailored for shoppers, store associates, suppliers,...