Coresight’s 8 areas in tech that will help grocers in 2026
Coresight’s 8 areas in tech that will help grocers in 2026
Publish Date: 2026-02-05 14:19:00
Source Domain: www.supermarketnews.com
Grocers will continue turning to technology this year to sharpen their focus on preserving margins, improving productivity and delivering differentiated customer experiences through data, automation and AI, according to a study released last week by retailer and tech research firm Coresight.
Coresight expects the U.S. grocery retail sector to grow 2.8% year over year in 2026 to reach $1.6 trillion, driven mainly by grocery inflation, which the firm predicts will average 2.3%. Volume growth, however, is expected to remain relatively flat.
Coresight outlined eight strategic priorities, along with the technology capabilities grocery retailers need to succeed this year and beyond:
Building agile supply chains: Technologies include advanced demand forecasting, agentic AI for inventory replenishment and data centralization.
Driving sustainable business practices: Key technologies include smart sensors, radio-frequency identification technology and blockchain to improve transparency and traceability.
Data-driven decision-making: Retail analytics and business intelligence platforms, along with intelligent inventory visibility tools, will play a critical role.
Maximizing operational efficiency with AI: This includes AI agents and digital twins.
Empowering the frontline workforce: Technologies include mobile and handheld devices, shift management and workforce optimization tools, as well as training and upskilling platforms.
Transforming stores through digital connectivity: Grocers will rely on computer vision-enabled self-checkout systems and advanced network connectivity.
Reinventing loyalty through personalized engagement: This includes loyalty programs and customer intelligence platforms.
Unlocking retail media value: Grocers can achieve this through AI-powered data platforms and in-store retail media enabled by hardware and software.
