What’s happening with retail automation in 2025? Investment in supply chain technology appears to be flattening out as retailers shift focus from large new projects to optimizing existing infrastructure. Anne and Chris sit down with Kim Baudry from Dematic to explore what this means for AI in logistics, warehouse automation, and the future of retail distribution. ⏳ Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction & welcome to Kim Baudry 1:03 - The current state of automation investment in retail 3:00 - Why s...
Feb 10, 2025•32 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast Join Chris and Anne as they interview Simbe Robotics CEO Brad Bogolea for an in-depth discussion about how retail robotics are revolutionizing store operations. Learn how Simbe's Tally robot reduces out-of-stocks by 60%, improves inventory accuracy, why both store associates and customers are embracing the use of robotics, and discover why 2025 could be the year retail robotics go mainstream! Key Moments Include: 1:51 - Origins of Simbe and the development of Tally 4:24 - How retailers utilize r...
Jan 07, 2025•38 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the Omni Talk Retail Spotlight Series Podcast, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga dive into the world of private brands with special guests Brandon Warren and Bethany Davis of the Barcode Group. Discover why private brands are crucial to retail growth, who’s winning the private label game, and how retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Target are adapting their strategies. Brandon and Bethany also share actionable advice for manufacturers and retailers looking to elevate their ...
Dec 10, 2024•42 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Chris and Anne sit down with Pam Simon, EVP and Conference Chair of Manifest , to discuss the must-attend event for global supply chain and logistics professionals. Learn about the exciting lineup of startups, investors, shippers, and innovative technologies that will take center stage at the Venetian in Las Vegas, February 10-12, 2025. Pam also highlights new initiatives like the mentorship program and why planning ahead ensures maximum ROI from attending. Key Moments: 0:01 – I...
Dec 02, 2024•18 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast In this Omni Talk Retail podcast episode, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga talk with Troy Siwek, GM and Partner at GreyOrange, to discuss how RFID technology is transforming retail. Key topics covered include: 0:08 – Opening: Discussing RFID’s impact on retail and the recent H&M store experience. 0:28 – Introducing Troy Siwek, GM and Partner at GreyOrange, and his background in retail and technology. 1:15 – Troy’s preparation for the podcast, background in Omnichannel and retail tech, and tran...
Oct 28, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this Omni Talk Retail podcast episode, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga talk with Troy Siwek, GM and Partner at GreyOrange, to discuss how RFID technology is transforming retail. Key topics covered include: 0:08 – Opening: Discussing RFID’s impact on retail and the recent H&M store experience. 0:28 – Introducing Troy Siwek, GM and Partner at GreyOrange, and his background in retail and technology. 1:15 – Troy’s preparation for the podcast, background in Omnichannel and retail tech, and tran...
Oct 28, 2024•35 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast Get ready for the holiday rush with this special Omni Talk Retail Spotlight episode! Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Natalija Pavic, the Senior Product Marketing Manager at Salesforce Commerce Cloud and host of the Commerce Cloud Innovations podcast, and Melissa Dallmeyer, the Global Leader of Enterprise & Mid-market Partnerships at Avalara, to discuss how retailers can best prepare for the busy holiday season. From the benefits of composable and headless commerce to the critica...
Oct 01, 2024•31 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast Join us for our insightful conversation with Morgan Seybert, Chief Business Officer and Head of Retail at Tredence, as we explore the cutting-edge dynamics of AI-driven data analytics in retail, and, most importantly, how retailers can actually make money from them. Key moments: [0:54] Introduction to Tredence and Morgan Seybert's background [4:01] The importance of "Last Mile" adoption in analytics [9:41] Tredence's unique approach to retail data analytics [16:32] Strategies for pricing and pro...
Sep 11, 2024•37 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast Join Chris and Anne for an eye-opening discussion on how how to make retail supply chains more sustainable! Our experts from Dematic, DeAnn Hargis and Danielle Dakin, dive deep into how leading companies are prioritizing their distribution centers for a greener future. Key moments include: 0:08 – Introduction and history of sustainability efforts across retail supply chains 3:52 – The role of banks in driving sustainable practices 14:50 – Three practical scenarios for improving grocery retail di...
Aug 26, 2024•36 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Omni Talk Retail Technology Spotlight Series, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga dive deep into the revolutionary world of 2D barcodes with experts Carrie Wilkie from GS1 US and Ayub Mohammed of Bitly. Discover how these small squares are reshaping retail, from supply chains to consumer engagement. Key moments include: 0:08 - Introduction to the future of barcoding in retail 3:50 - The fascinating history of barcodes and their evolution 10:26 - How 2D barcodes are revolution...
Jul 23, 2024•32 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast In yet another one of those, "Holy Cow! That is so cool!" episodes of the Omni Talk Retail Technology Spotlight Series, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga explore the groundbreaking potential of generative AI in the retail industry. Sravanth Aluru, the Founder and CEO of Avataar, alongside Avataar’s SVP of Creative AI, Jane Rawnsley, share insights on how their cutting-edge technology is radically improving retail product visualization and storytelling. You'll discover how Avataar harnesses th...
Jun 24, 2024•30 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast In this mind-blowing interview, Sabesan Sithamparanathan, the founder and president of PervasID, shares groundbreaking insights on how new breakthroughs in RFID technology (that are already being implemented at a major global apparel retailer) will soon radically change the retail landscape. Learn how PervasID’s cutting-edge RFID solution, powered by AI and machine learning, empowers retailers to optimize omnichannel operations, reduce shrink, and enhance loss prevention strategies. Sabesan also...
Jun 18, 2024•31 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast Discover how AI is impacting practically impacting retail inventory planning and allocation through the eyes of Desigual. Join Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga from Omni Talk as they interview James Theuerkauf, CEO of Syrup Tech, and Carla Roger Casacuberta, Head of Merchandising at Desigual. Learn how Desigual leveraged Syrup Tech's AI optimization solutions to improve demand forecasting, its omnichannel retail strategies and capabilities, and its overall inventory efficiency. Understand the impo...
May 27, 2024•29 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Anne chat with Chris Stoyles, CEO of Last Yard, about how electronic shelf labels (ESLs), price optimization, and data-driven retail promotions can come together to transform today's in-store retail experiences. Learn how retail data can be used to enhance retail marketing, and streamline retail operations to build shopper trust and drive success. You will also discover just how important accurate pricing, effective merchandising, and agile retail IT are in today's competitive landscap...
May 20, 2024•25 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast In this insightful Retail Technology Spotlight Podcast, Akshay Madhani, CEO and Co-Founder of Scrollmark, shares how their innovative social media automation platform is transforming the way brands approach social media marketing. Discover how Scrollmark's powerful features, such as direct response marketing, influencer marketing, and social media engagement, can help you boost your social media ROI and drive revenue for your business. Learn about the importance of social media analytics and how...
Apr 25, 2024•26 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast In this exclusive and candid interview with Omni Talk, Dilip Kumar, Amazon's VP of AWS Applications, sets the record straight on the future of the company's groundbreaking Just Walk Out technology and its Amazon Dash Carts. Kumar discusses the decision to pull Just Walk Out from Amazon Fresh stores, explaining how Dash Carts are the foundational platform for larger format grocery stores. He also dives into the role of computer vision, sensor fusion, and retail analytics in shaping the future of ...
Apr 17, 2024•27 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast In this exclusive interview from recorded live on Shoptalk TV, and brought to you with the help and support of Meta, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga of Omni Talk Retail sit down with Chris Rupp, Chief Customer Officer at Victoria’s Secret, to discuss the brand’s digital transformation and innovative strategies for enhancing the customer experience. With an impressive background spanning roles at Amazon, Microsoft, and Albertsons, Rupp shares insights on Victoria’s Secret’s journey to leverage tec...
Apr 01, 2024•40 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Alex Galkin, CEO and founder of Competera, delves into the complex world of AI-powered retail pricing. Discover how machine learning and Big Data are revolutionizing price optimization, enabling retailers to move beyond price elasticity and embrace contextual, personalized pricing strategies. Galkin shares insights with Chris and Anne on the five levels of price maturity, highlighting the importance of a data foundation and customer behavior in driving profitable pricing decisions. Learn how ind...
Mar 12, 2024•38 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast Thaddeus Segura, Vice President of Data Products & Algorithms at Wiliot joins Chris and Anne for the latest installment of their Retail Technology Spotlight Series to discuss how Wiliot’s Bluetooth-connected tags provide real-time inventory management, freshness monitoring, and omni-channel fulfillment solutions, offering advantages over traditional RFID technology. In this podcast, Chris and Anne go deep with Thaddeus on: How Wiliot’s IoT tags work and their advantages over RFID technology ...
Mar 06, 2024•23 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast Ovative’s Beth McKigney and Troy Neidermire join Chris and Anne for the latest installment of their Retail Technology Spotlight Series to discuss how shifting to unified marketing measurements, like Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), can help retailers and brands optimize budget allocation, incrementality, and overall business outcomes. In this podcast, Chris and Anne go deep with Beth and Troy on: The limitations of overly relying on legacy metrics like ROAS How to implement a holistic “full fu...
Feb 26, 2024•37 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Tom Burgess, the President of SnippMedia, joined Anne and Chris to share his thoughts on how CPGs can attribute in-store retail purchases by leveraging banks’ loyalty programs, and how retailers can also plug these same loyalty programs into their retail media networks. In this podcast, Chris and Anne go deep with Tom on: The history of bank card loyalty programs and attribution How new digital media channels can power attribution by connecting banking apps and retail purchases How payments medi...
Feb 26, 2024•34 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast Shoptalk's Krystina Gustafson and Joe Laszlo joined Anne and Chris to field pointed questions about this year's Shoptalk 2024 agenda. In this podcast, Chris and Anne put Krystina and Joe on the spot about: How they plan to cover and present the topic of AI How important omnichannel or "unified commerce" fundamentals will be in this year's track session design Whether employee safety and shrink will be a more overt focus of this year's show How Shoptalk plans to focus on helping store level emplo...
Feb 19, 2024•39 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Eagle Eye CEO and former Tesco executive Tim Mason joined Anne and Chris to share his thoughts on how retailers can leverage customer data, personalized promotions, and new technologies to strengthen loyalty and drive incremental sales. In this podcast, Chris and Anne go deep with Tim on: The history of Tesco’s clubcard Omnichannel personalization AI analytics Actionable tips on winning through customer relationships Point-of-Sale integrations Optimal product assortments And how to create long-t...
Jan 10, 2024•39 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Onebeat VP of Retail Strategy, Greg Arthur, joined Chris and Anne to share how leveraging AI for inventory optimization can help retailers maximize sell-through rates and profitability. In this podcast, Chris and Anne go deep with Greg on: Self-adjusting, short-term algorithms for granular inventory level predictions Allocating the right inventory across stores and channels Reducing markdowns and carryover stock with data-driven replenishment Achieving higher sales velocities and sell-thro...
Jan 08, 2024•31 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the Omni Talk Retail Technology Spotlight Series, Chris and Anne discuss an innovative approach to improving last-mile delivery with Buncha CEO Bharat Pulgam. They explore how Buncha leverages scheduled time windows, refrigerated vehicles, and W-2 drivers to drive value, quality of service, and sustainability in last mile grocery delivery. Bharat outlines Buncha's milkman-style model, order aggregation technology, and white-label partnerships with retailers seeking reliability...
Dec 22, 2023•26 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Get an inside look at the Manifest 2024 supply chain conference happening in February in Las Vegas. Tanzil Uddin, SVP of Production at Manifest, joins us to highlight keynote speakers, programming tracks, exhibits, and networking opportunities at this must-attend event for end-to-end supply chain professionals. With over 300 exhibitors, 40+ supply chain CEOs and CSCOs presenting across 3 days, and 5000 attendees from 50 countries, Manifest 2024 is shaping up to be a premier gathering for those i...
Dec 18, 2023•19 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast TGW’s Vice President of Business Development, James Osborn, joined Chris and Anne to continue the ongoing education around the topic of microfulfillment. In this podcast, Chris and Anne go deep with James on: A good working definition of microfulfillment (i.e. between 500 and 1,000 orders per day) The key differences between microfulfillment and grocery operations in the U.S. vs. Europe (e.g. European stores are much smaller, which increases picking efficiency) Considerations for colocation vs. ...
Nov 30, 2023•33 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Bynder’s Director of Global Field and Customer Marketing, Brian Kavanaugh, joined Chris and Anne for the second time in 2023 to give an even deeper look into Digital Asset Management. In this podcast, Chris and Anne go deep with Brian on: The challenges retailers are faced with when it come to Digital Asset Management (aka DAM) Why these challenges become particularly acute during the key holiday selling season The value gained, both in sales and productivity, from having a strong DAM setup in p...
Nov 27, 2023•33 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Amazon VP AWS Applications, Dilip Kumar, is back for his regular annual appearance to discuss how Amazon continues to think about the evolution of checkout and personal identification. In this podcast, Chris and Anne go deep with Dilip on: - The latest Amazon Just Walk Out innovations, including the two new recently opened Seattle Seahawks and Texas Rangers Fan Shops. - The evolution of Amazon One palm payment - And, finally, where Just Walk Out and Amazon One could be headed next Dilip is a pas...
Nov 13, 2023•30 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Dematic Market Development Director, Kim Baudry, joins Chris and Anne for the second time in 2023 to discuss the major trends she is seeing as retailers try to bring their fulfillment closer to their end consumers.
Aug 27, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
