Specialty retailers keep asking us: handheld scanners or overhead readers? So we settled it the only way we know how: with a knockdown, dragout debate between two RFID experts.

In this Retail Technology Spotlight, Anne Mezzenga moderates as Madalynn Lauria (Team Handheld) and Pareiya Gupta (Team Overhead) from GreyOrange make their cases for the best RFID solution. From proving ROI on a tight budget to cutting inventory counts from hours to minutes, this conversation tackles the real questions retailers are wrestling with as they decide how to track inventory in 2026.

The verdict? It's not as simple as picking a side. Whether you're testing RFID for the first time or scaling across hundreds of stores, the right answer depends on your velocity, your budget, and what you're actually trying to solve. But one thing's clear: manual counts and mystery stockrooms aren't going to cut it anymore.

Key Topics covered:

• How to test RFID with minimal budget and staff

• Cutting inventory counts from hours to under 20 minutes

• Why some retailers are going hybrid (overhead + handheld)

• Real-time shrink visibility and where product actually disappears

• Tracking TikTok trends and moving inventory between stores in hours

• The smart fitting room problem nobody talks about

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#RFID #retailtech #inventorymanagement #omnitalk #retailinnovation #smartretail #retailpodcast #omnichannelretail #retailoperations #supplychain

In this Retail Technology Spotlight Series episode, Doron Hazan, Director of Data, Product, and AI at Wiliot, joins Omni Talk to discuss the concept of "physical AI" and how it ultimately improve retail operations from the ground up.

From ambient IoT sensors to real-time inventory intelligence, Doron breaks down how battery-free Bluetooth pixels are creating self-aware supply chains, how retailers can start small and scale strategically, and why the future of retail operations is about connecting physical things to AI-powered decision engines.

If you've ever wondered what happens when IoT meets artificial intelligence in real-world stores (who hasn't), this episode is for you.

🔑 Topics covered:

- The difference between digital AI and physical AI

- How ambient IoT creates invisible operational improvements

- Why battery-free Bluetooth sensors are changing retail visibility

- Real-world impact on freshness, inventory accuracy, and customer experience

- The platform approach to scaling physical AI solutions

🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!

Link to Doron's blog post: www.wiliot.com/why-your-ai-agent…tead#news-content

#physicalai #retailtech #ambientiot #wiliot #omnitalk #smartretail #retailinnovation #inventorymanagement #supplychain #retailpodcast

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In this Retail Technology Spotlight episode, Nick Matthews, VP of Solutions and Architecture at Wiliot, joins Omni Talk to reveal how Walmart is deploying Bluetooth-enabled IoT technology across all 4,600 U.S. stores and 40 distribution centers.

From wireless energy-harvesting tags to real-time pallet tracking, Nick breaks down how Wiliot's ambient IoT technology is reducing food waste by tens of millions of pounds, improving inventory accuracy, and improvingg store operations without requiring associates to change their workflow.

If you've ever wondered how retailers are solving the "where is my product?" problem at scale (who hasn't?), then this episode is for you.

🔑 Topics covered:

• How Wiliot's BLE pixels work and differ from RFID technology
• Walmart's nationwide deployment strategy and infrastructure requirements
• Real-time alerts that prevent inventory discrepancies and cold chain breaks
• Food waste reduction projections for 2026
• The concept of "Physical AI" and its retail applications
• ROI benefits from inventory accuracy to FSMA compliance

🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!

#retailtech #walmart #IoT #supplychain #inventorymanagement #retailinnovation #foodwaste #omnitalk #bluetoothtechnology #physicalAI #retailpodcast

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In this Retail Technology Spotlight Series episode, Julie Haleluk, Global Head of Growth at Amazon Shopping Video, and Wayne Purboo, VP of Amazon Advertising and Amazon Shoppable Video, join Omni Talk to reveal the future of social commerce and how AI is transforming the way we shop.

From the evolution of shoppable video to agentic commerce, Julie and Wayne break down why social commerce isn't going away, how to measure video content beyond the live moment, and why brands need to clean up their data NOW before AI agents start shopping for customers.

If you've ever wondered what's next in retail video and social commerce, this episode is for you.

🔑 Topics covered:

• How AI is reshaping the customer journey without replacing human connection
• The difference between social commerce and emerging agentic commerce
• Why video content lowers return rates and drives purchase confidence
• How to measure attribution across the evolving customer touchpoint journey
• What brands must do to prepare for AI agents shopping on behalf of customers
• Why Shop the Show on Prime Video is changing second-screen shopping

Want to get tickets to SoCom? Head to SoCom.live now to register!

🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!

Want to get tickets to SoCom? Head to SoCom.live now to register!

#socialcommerce #amazonlive #shoppablevideo #retailai #ecommerce #omnitalk #retailtech #agenticcommerce #videcommerce #retailinnovation #amazonadvertising #retailpodcast

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In this Retail Technology Spotlight Series episode, Matt Goynes, co-founder and co-CEO of Grocery Dealz, joins Omni Talk to reveal how a Texas startup is improving grocery shopping with AI-powered price comparison.

From fighting inflation fatigue to building transparent marketplaces, Matt breaks down how Grocery Dealz is becoming the "Gas Buddy for groceries," why price transparency is finally possible now, and how AI enables seamless product matching across hundreds of stores.

If you've ever wondered how much you could save by switching stores or how retailers can compete in a transparent pricing world, this episode is for you.

🔑 Topics covered:

• How Grocery Dealz compares prices across hundreds of grocery stores
• Why now is the perfect time for grocery price transparency
• The AI behind product matching and substitution
• Building a B2B marketplace for retailers and CPG brands
• Why retailers are embracing (not fighting) price comparison
• Defensibility against ChatGPT and AI-powered shopping search

🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!

#grocerydealz #grocerypricing #retailai #pricetransparency #grocerytech #omnitalk #retailinnovation #agentic #smartretail #retailpodcast #groceryapp #inflationfighting

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In this Retail Technology Spotlight Series episode, John Mabe, Product Manager at Dematic, joins Omni Talk to break down the real applications of AI in warehouse operations—separating the hype from what's actually working today.

From optimization algorithms to computer vision systems and LLM-powered insights, John explains the three distinct categories of warehouse AI and where each one stands in terms of real-world deployment. Learn why the smallest players struggle to adopt AI, how humanoid robots are closer than you think, and why the "lights out warehouse" might follow a logical path we can already see unfolding.

🔑 Topics covered:

• The three categories of warehouse AI: Optimization, Vision & Perception, and LLMs
• Why optimization AI is proven but underutilized by smaller players
• How computer vision is preventing costly downstream errors today
• The realistic timeline for humanoid robots at scale (hint: it's sooner than you think)
• Why LLMs might be the fastest-deploying AI tool in the warehouse
• The crawl-walk-run approach to AI agents running warehouse operations

🎧 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more retail tech insights!

#warehouseai #retailtech #supplychain #automation #dematic #omnitalk #robotics #computervision #LLM #warehouseautomation #retailpodcast

Omni Talk sits down with Krystina Gustafson, co-founder of RetailClub and former Shoptalk content chief, to talk about the new AI Deep Dive Retreat launching this September in Huntington Beach. In this candid conversation, Krystina explains how RetailClub is reinventing the retail event experience—ditching the booths and buzzwords in favor of real conversations, collaborative learning, and hands-on AI training.

🔥 What to expect:

– A sneak peek into RetailClub’s first AI-focused retreat

– How the team behind Shoptalk is flipping the traditional conference model

– Who should attend: From AI curious to retail change-makers

– Why now is the moment for building an AI-native retail community

– And how retailers and brands can attend for free and get up to $1,250 in travel reimbursement!

📅 Registration deadline: August 22

🌐 Learn more: https://retailclub.com

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#RetailClub #aiinretail #retailinnovation #omnitalk #RetailRetreat #retailleadership #generativeai #RetailEvents

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Join Omni Talk’s Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga as they sit down with JOOR CEO Kristin Savilia to explore how JOOR is transforming the wholesale fashion landscape. Kristin shares exclusive insights on digitizing the buyer-brand relationship, enabling smarter assortment planning, and helping independent retailers thrive globally. Learn how JOOR's Shopify integration, AI-powered prospecting, and strategic tariff navigation are reshaping the fashion industry for 2025 and beyond.

From shrinking shipping windows to a surge in indie retailers, this conversation is a must-watch for anyone navigating fashion’s evolving B2B landscape.

Key Moments:

• 00:00 – Intro and welcome back to Kristin Savilia, CEO of JOOR
• 01:30 – How JOOR digitizes wholesale buying for brands and retailers
• 02:50 – Overview of JOOR’s platform and client base (14K brands, 670K buyers)
• 04:15 – Surge of independent retailers: From 47% to 62% of GMV
• 06:00 – Shopify integration: Bridging wholesale with e-commerce and POS
• 07:45 – How retailers can adapt to market uncertainty using JOOR data
• 08:50 – Shrinking shipping windows: From 240 to 84 days and dropping
• 10:15 – Brands respond with curated assortments and evergreen styles
• 11:40 – How JOOR helps optimize product curation and minimize buyer risk
• 13:00 – Tariff pressures and pricing strategies: Expect 20% price increases
• 16:45 – JOOR’s "Ready to Ship" event to offload current inventory
• 18:50 – Leveraging regional assortments for competitive edge
• 20:00 – Launch of JOOR Discover: AI matchmaking tool for brand-retailer growth
• 22:00 – 78% reorder rate and 9X better conversion via AI outreach
• 24:00 – Rise in ChatGPT/Gemini lead generation vs. traditional SEO
• 26:30 – How DTC brands can expand into wholesale with JOOR
• 27:40 – Final thoughts and where to learn more at JOOR.com

For more information on JOOR, head here: https://www.joor.com/

Access a JOOR Passport Event here: https://www.jooraccess.com/r/passport/

Download the JOOR Whitepaper here: https://resources.joor.com/how-to-tackle-tariffs-and-thrive-this-coming-market-season

#fashiontech #wholesaling #retailai #Joor #omnitalk #retailinnovation #shopifyintegration #retailtrends #b2bfashion #retailstrategy

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*Sponsored Content*