Himanshu Parikh

As AI and automation continue to advance the science of retail operations, they’re accelerating the shift toward “retail as a service”—dramatically lowering traditional barriers to entry. To stay ahead, leading retailers must not only adopt these technologies, but also differentiate through the human edge: strategic vision, product innovation, new business building, creativity, and compelling brand storytelling. Bain & Company Melanie Sanders Kanaiya Parekh Shyam Unnikrishnan Geraldine L. Junji Horinouchi NRF 2025: Retail's Big Show Asia Pacific

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This Retail Dive trendline nails something we’re seeing in real engagements: AI is compressing timelines in retail — faster discovery, faster price transparency, faster shifts in demand, faster markdown pressure. Three implications from an inventory appraiser/liquidator + turnaround seat: Inventory quality is becoming a competitive moat. If your product data and on-hand visibility are messy, AI-powered search/shopping and omnichannel promises will amplify the problem. Forecasting improvements are great — but reliability matters. AI outputs still need guardrails. In a distressed scenario, one bad assumption can turn into a liquidity event. AI will change liquidation velocity and pricing expectations. As shopping moves more conversational and automated, “findability” and content quality can influence sell-through — and ultimately recovery. The play isn’t “AI everywhere.” It’s AI where it moves cash, reduces surprises, and tightens execution. #RetailTech #AI #Restructuring #Inventory #WorkingCapital #Turnaround

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Digital technologies and AI are poised to increase the efficiency of automotive processes by 30%. Here’s how smart leaders are getting ahead: https://bit.ly/46OL3tk

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Our 2026 AI Radar survey is a must-read! Spotlighting the views from 2,300 plus execs across 21 markets, this report delivers some stand-out insights from AI investment doubling this year to 94% of companies determined to invest in #AI even without instant returns. What's more, the most successful organizations are embracing AI at scale and agents as a priority, while also upskilling and improving their teams' understanding of AI. The full report is out now for Davos! #AIRadar #BCGatDavos

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Predictive retail is one area where #AI can be leveraged to anticipate customer needs and optimize inventory. Applications include 1) churn prediction, 2) basket analysis, 3) demand forecasting, and 4) simulations. We're sharing what to know about these applications and discussing key considerations when utilizing AI. https://lnkd.in/g7V4G9PS #PredictiveRetail

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Exciting news at Bain! Bain and Palantir are teaming up to help organizations embed AI across their operations. Learn more: https://bit.ly/43sHVAs

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We're at that point where everyone is nodding their head. "We have to be proficient in AI to innovate, to grow." But the reality is few #retail leaders are confident in their current #AI capabilities according to EY's report surveying 500 consumer products and retail executives, 20,000 consumers and almost 200 CEO’s. Leaders are also split on where they will deploy AI - 54% to reduce labor costs / 46% to improve productivity. Retailers must be more strategic in their AI journey across functions and KPIs to avoid falling behind. Partnering with clients who do take a strategic approach has been highly rewarding - personally, yes, but more importantly to the botom line. https://cutt.ly/BrVM2jNW

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Autonomy is rewriting the rules for collaboration and competition. On The Road to Autonomy podcast, KPMG US’s Hugh Nguyen shared why success will hinge on partnerships, smart investment, and operational readiness. At KPMG, we help clients adapt—bringing deep industry insight, a commitment to listen, and a pragmatic approach that turns complexity into clarity and creates measurable value. The future belongs to those who combine innovation with operational excellence.

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Early adopters of physical AI are demonstrating what’s possible: ✅ Faster delivery and throughput ✅ Greater efficiency and reliability ✅ Creation of more skilled jobs on the ground By integrating intelligent robotics with predictive AI and system interoperability, leading firms are showing how automation can boost both productivity and workforce opportunity. Explore our new report produced with World Economic Forum: https://lnkd.in/dH7YNrT7

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