Retail Technology Tools

He sold two tech companies before the age of 16. Today, he runs a $1.5B AI startup reshaping online shopping. John Imah is a Nigerian immigrant and self-taught builder whose story doesn’t follow the usual Silicon Valley script. He didn’t come through elite networks or polished pipelines. He learned by building early, obsessively, and repeatedly. As a teenager, he taught himself to code and went on to sell two technology companies before most people have chosen a university major. Instead of treating that as a finish line, he treated it as a foundation. He went on to work at Snapchat, Twitch, and Meta, where he deepened his understanding of platforms, user behavior, and what it actually takes to scale products used by millions. That mix of early entrepreneurship and big-tech exposure led him to a very specific insight: one of the biggest problems in online retail hasn’t been solved by branding, logistics, or marketing. It’s trust. More specifically, the inability for shoppers to truly know how something will fit them. That insight became SpreeAI. SpreeAI uses photorealistic AI try-on technology that allows shoppers to see clothing on their own bodies from a single photo, with up to 99% sizing accuracy. For consumers, it removes guesswork and frustration. For brands, it dramatically reduces returns, lowers costs, improves conversion rates, and tackles a major sustainability challenge in fashion. Backed by nearly $60M and valued at $1.5B in 2025, SpreeAI is a rare example of AI solving a real, global commerce problem at scale. John’s journey has been consistent. Early curiosity became experimentation then products and, eventually, companies. This is often what real leadership and innovation look like. Not chasing the next trend, but staying close to a problem long enough to understand it deeply and then building something that actually changes how people experience the world. What problem have you been circling for years, even as your tools, roles, and titles have evolved? Time to strike yet? #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Nigeria #OurStories #ArtificialIntelligence #Retail #AfricanFounders #Storytelling Cc: The Numbers Game

🛒 The future of shopping is here 🤖 Tech giants have taken the lead with a range of autonomous (and agentic, in the case of OpenAI’s 'Operator' & Perplexity's 'Buy with Pro') shopping tools. At the same time, payment behemoths Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal are all developing solutions to enable agentic payments. To keep up, retail leaders are building out the foundational layer for autonomous commerce, integrating AI technology into everything from search and personalization to supply chain automation. To my knowledge, only Amazon have launched an autonomous shopping agent - it's 'Buy For Me' solution - that can make purchases on behalf of a customer. But retailers are actively investing in AI with the aim of maintaining control of the customer experience, first-party customer data, and pace of innovation in the longer term. CB Insights examined the top 20 global retailers by market cap and ranked them based on their current AI capabilities to gauge their preparedness to evolve with the rapidly changing AI landscape. They used data on investments, acquisitions, partnerships, patents, and earnings transcripts to determine the companies’ AI activity. Key Takeaways: 🛒 Amazon and Alibaba Group have launched AI shopping solutions, but both retailers’ real advantages lie deeper - they’ve built AI infrastructure from custom AI chips (Amazon) to proprietary LLMs (both retailers) 🛒 Relationships with AI leaders and big tech companies will be crucial - external partnerships and infrastructure will be essential for most retailers to effectively integrate AI throughout their operations 🛒 Agentic commerce remains further on the horizon - with ChatGPT, Perplexity & Google taking the lead - but retailers are investing in AI to streamline operations, especially in merchandising 🛒 Investments in AI business: Amazon (53), Alibaba.com (28), The Home Depot (3), Coupang (2), Inditex (2), JD.COM (2), Seven & i Holdings (2) & Walmart (2) AI solutions for merchandising are becoming table stakes, delivering more personalized and effective genAI e-commerce search. GenAI is also powering online content generation across retailers. Retailers’ merchant teams are also using specialized genAI tools and assistants to quickly translate data and trends to inform product decisions. Notably, AI-powered tools are not limited to digital or online use. For example, 7-Eleven is partnering with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Solutions to track customer activity in aisles using vision detection. Home Depot, Target, Walmart, and others have also deployed specialized genAI assistants and agents to provide store associates with quick answers to customer questions. Agents’ entry into shopping could turn the traditional customer journey on its head - to stay competitive, retailers must quickly build partnerships with big tech and other agent leaders or risk consumers excluding them from their buying decisions. #AI #agenticshopping #AIagents #ecommerce #retail #merchandising

Google just announced a suite of AI-driven shopping tools designed to transform the online retail experience 💥 Here’s what’s coming: 🧠 AI Shopping Mode: A conversational search tool that understands natural language and context. Think: “best dress for a trip to Cannes in May” – and it will deliver results tailored to weather, location, and purpose. 👗 Virtual Try-On 2.0: Shoppers can now upload full-body photos to see how items actually look on them — including drape, fit, and texture across different body types. A game-changer for apparel conversion rates. 💸 Agentic Checkout + Price Alerts: Users can set price targets, and when an item hits the right price, Google will notify them — or even auto-checkout via Google Pay. What this means for eComm marketers: ▪️ SEO and product data quality will become even more critical ▪️ Conversion will increasingly depend on visual assets (UGC, try-ons, real models) ▪️ Brands need to prep for a world where shopping journeys are conversation-first Currently, these features are being rolled out in the U.S. via Google Search Labs, with plans for broader availability in the future.

🚀 Walmart’s E-Commerce Surge: $121B in 2024, Profitability Achieved! 💰 While Amazon often dominates e-commerce headlines, Walmart has been quietly revolutionizing its online presence: • $120.9B in online sales in 2024, marking a 21% year-over-year increase. • E-commerce now constitutes 18% of total revenue, up from 13.6% in 2023. • A remarkable 47% growth in just two years. The catalyst? A strategic overhaul of their supply chain and delivery systems: • Transitioned from traditional ZIP code mapping to a honeycomb-style hexagonal system, enhancing delivery efficiency. • Expanded same-day delivery reach to 93% of U.S. households, with plans to achieve 95% coverage by end of 2025. • The Spark delivery platform, leveraging geospatial technology, added 12 million new households to its network in January alone. These innovations have led to significant operational efficiencies: • 30% of U.S. orders now utilize fast delivery options. • Delivery cost per order decreased by 20% in Q4. • Walmart’s U.S. e-commerce sector achieved profitability for the first time in Q1 2025. David Guggina, Executive VP and Chief eCommerce Officer, emphasized the “flywheel effect”: “When customers choose fast delivery, they shop more frequently, buy a broader range of items, and basket size increases.” This transformation underscores a pivotal lesson for retailers: Seamless integration between physical stores and e-commerce platforms is not just beneficial—it’s essential. Walmart’s journey from a traditional brick-and-mortar giant to a formidable e-commerce contender exemplifies the power of strategic innovation and adaptability. #Ecommerce #RetailInnovation #DigitalTransformation #Walmart #SupplyChain #Logistics #Omnichannel #RetailStrategy

Changing the Face of Luxury Retail As a long-time observer and participant in the world of luxury retail, I have been captivated by the transformative role that technology has played in personalizing the customer experience. Particularly in a city like Dubai, known for its luxury retail innovations, this blend of technology and personalized service is reshaping our industry. Let us take a moment to recognize some groundbreaking examples of technology meeting luxury retail: Burberry's Data-Powered Personalization: Burberry began transforming its approach to customer service in the early 2010s by leveraging data analytics. This initiative was aimed at creating more personalized shopping experiences, both online and in-store, by understanding and anticipating customer preferences. The North Face and IBM Watson's Collaboration (2015–2016): In a pioneering move, The North Face teamed up with IBM's Watson to create an AI-powered shopping assistant. This tool revolutionized how customers found products by intelligently responding to their needs and preferences, illustrating AI's potential in enhancing the retail experience. Gucci's Augmented Reality (2019): Gucci stepped into the world of AR with its app feature that allowed customers to virtually try on shoes. This innovative use of augmented reality brought a new dimension to online shopping, blending the convenience of digital browsing with a personalized touch. Innovations in Dubai's Retail Scene: Dubai, always at the forefront of luxury retail, has continually embraced new technologies. The Mall of the Emirates, with its 'Fashion Dome' and 'Luxury Wing', exemplifies this trend. The use of interactive directories, VR installations, and other digital innovations has set new standards for customer engagement in luxury shopping. These examples not only highlight the incredible potential of technology in enhancing the luxury retail experience but also signal a future where digital innovation and traditional luxury retail values coexist to create extraordinary customer journeys. Have you experienced these technological advancements in your shopping adventures? How do you envision technology further transforming luxury retail? Let me know in the comment

𝐙𝐚𝐫𝐚’𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐲-𝐨𝐧: 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 ZARA has recently launched an AI-powered virtual try-on. This technology is not new and many brands are integrating it into their e-commerce. What I find especially interesting about Zara is how they are doing it: selectively in some markets (not yet in Spain btw), and without over-communicating it and the execution looks very accurate. Zara is testing, learning and iterating before scaling. This approach is consistent with how Inditex has historically adopted technology: pilots first, operational validation and scale once the value is proven. If we look back, Inditex has been experimenting with AR and VR for some years, especially in-store: ✳️ AR shop windows where garments appeared in motion, scanning them with your smartphone, in their store in Oxford Circus in London (if I remember correctly) ✳️ Smart fitting rooms with virtual try ons, but in a fun way as those in Bershka Barcelona, where technology was about engagement, experimentation and social sharing. ✳️ Digital collections with AR technologies, also with Bershka by FFFACE.ME, clearly designed for a younger audience, allowing users to interact with digital garments through AR layers and posting them in their socials, building brand relevance and viral moments. Zara’s website is, in my view, a real spectacle in consumer experience. It manages to be highly aspirational and extremely functional at the same time: 🔅 Editorial-level visuals and fashion films (as the last one, "The dinner", have you seen it? ) that reinforce brand desire. 🔅 High-resolution product imagery with an exceptional level of detail, allowing the customer to really “see” the garment. 🔅 Short videos embedded at product level, showing the piece in movement on the model, adding context, fit and attitude. 🔅An AI assistant (“How can I help you?”), only in some markets, still text-based but clearly designed to guide and support the purchase journey. And now we have the virtual try-on functionality: ✅ Realistic fit The solution is based on AI-generated avatars created from user-uploaded images (one selfie and one full body picture). By analysing the photos, the system builds a personalised digital representation of the user in 2 minutes, allowing garments to be overlaid and visualised in movement. This allows to see YOURSELF with a different combinations of looks, not on a 1,80 cm stunning model. And they can saved in the "My looks" section. ✅ Clear impact on returns and sustainability Early tests point to double-digit reductions in size-related returns. Fewer returns mean lower logistics costs and less reverse shipping. This could reduce the famous "bracketing"? It should. Looking ahead, why not integrate try-on technologies into platforms like Roblox? But let's leave this one for another post. #zara #virtualtryons #AR #consumerexperience

The future of retail security is watching smarter, not harder as AI-powered cameras reshape how stores prevent theft and optimize operations. Modern surveillance systems are no longer just passive observers. They actively detect suspicious behavior in real time, monitor object and shelf-level interactions, and identify repeat offenders where legally permitted. With capabilities like face recognition and automated alerts, these systems can instantly notify authorities when necessary-transforming how incidents are handled. Beyond security, AI also provides valuable operational insights such as store heatmaps and high-shrink SKUs, helping retailers refine staffing, layout, and product placement strategies. This shift matters because it enables retailers to act faster, reduce losses, and make smarter decisions—without compromising the customer experience. Still, the power of these tools comes with responsibility. Human oversight, legal compliance, and careful system tuning are critical to avoid false positives and protect privacy. AI is not replacing human judgment, but enhancing it. The real advantage lies in how intelligently we apply it.

AI-powered computer vision (CV) is transforming both physical stores and e-commerce. Once just for security, it's now essential for loss prevention, inventory tracking, and frictionless shopping. • Loss prevention & security. AI-powered cameras can detect shoplifting, loitering, and even recognize known offenders. • Frictionless checkout. Smart self-checkouts and carts scan products, verify ages for restricted items, and speed up transactions. • Better inventory management. Shelf-edge and ceiling cameras track stock levels, preventing stockouts. • Smarter store layouts. Heatmaps generated by CV optimize product placement and staffing based on real-time shopper movement. [Insights from Coresight Research] But it’s not just in-store – #ecommerce is also tapping into CV: ➝ AI-powered visual search. Platforms like Syte and ViSenze help online shoppers find products by uploading images instead of typing queries. ➝ Virtual try-ons & augmented reality. Brands like Perfect Corp. use CV to let customers try on makeup, glasses, or clothes digitally before buying. ➝ Automated product tagging & search optimization. Tools like Clarifai enhance product discovery by automatically recognizing and tagging items in online catalogs. CV is no longer just a tool – it’s becoming the brain of modern retail and e-commerce. With AI advancements, its capabilities will only grow. What’s next? Fully automated stores, AI-powered personalized shopping, and real-time stock updates across all channels. The future of retail is here. How do you see CV shaping retail and e-commerce in 2025? Let’s discuss! 👇 #shopify

🚀 An exciting step toward agentic AI in retail. 🛍️ Google’s latest update to its Shopping experience is more than just a cool trick — it’s a glimpse into how AI is evolving from being a passive tool into an active shopping assistant. At I/O 2025, Google announced a suite of new capabilities: • Virtual try-on, using generative AI to realistically render clothes on you using a single photo — no need for 3D scans or complex onboarding. Google’s advanced image generation model accurately simulates how different fabrics drape, fold, and fit on various body types, providing a personalized and realistic preview of how garments would look on you. • AI Mode, powered by Gemini and Google’s Shopping Graph, enabling conversational product discovery — a shift from search to dialogue. • And most notably, agentic checkout — the ability for Google to monitor price drops and complete the purchase for you via Google Pay, all within your set parameters. This marks a shift toward delegated decision-making: where AI not only recommends, but acts on your behalf within defined constraints — one of the core principles of agentic AI. It’s still early days, but this is exactly the kind of applied use case that shows how AI is beginning to operate with more autonomy, context-awareness, and user-aligned intent. Definitely one to watch. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dTuP2aGh #AI #Ecommerce #VirtualTryOn #GoogleShopping #RetailInnovation #GenerativeAI #UserExperience #TechNews #IOTech2025

I'm excited to share my latest data analytics project: a comprehensive Retail Performance Analysis Dashboard. Problem: The retail company struggled with a lack of clear insights, making it difficult to track overall performance, understand customer behavior, and manage inventory efficiently. Solution: I developed and deployed an interactive, end-to-end Power BI dashboard. By connecting directly to SQL databases, the solution provides a real-time, holistic view of the business, analyzing key KPIs like sales, profit margins, customer segmentation, supplier performance, and stock health. 📊 Tools Used: Power BI | SQL | Excel | DAX | Data Modeling 💡 Key Insights & Highlights: • Total Sales: ₹5.34M • Profit Margin: 28.77% • YoY Sales Growth: 23.48% • Top Performers: The North Region (₹1.52M) and the supplier "Boat" (₹1.1M) were the primary drivers of sales. • Operational Health: Maintained a 65% delivery rate against a 9.17% return rate. • Actionable Inventory: Identified 3 critical products as "Low Stock" (Stock = Reorder Level), flagging them for immediate re-purchasing. Dashboard Link: https://lnkd.in/gHTPaTce #PowerBI #SQL #DataAnalytics #BusinessIntelligence #Dashboard #DataVisualization #RetailAnalytics #DataInsights