Exclusive: Five AI actions retailers should take in 2025
Artificial intelligence, ChatGPT and other machine learning innovations are primed to transform retail store development operations — and retailers need to be ready.
Gene Marks, business and technology trends consultant and founder of The Marks Group, shared this message during his presentation “ChatGPT, AI and Beyond: Transforming Retail Store Development and Facilities Operations through Innovation,” at Chain Store Age’s SPECS Show 2025 in Grapevine, Texas.
AI is rapidly moving beyond a solution that provides information to a mission-critical tool that assists in performing tasks. From saving money on app creation to automating and streamlining day-to-day responsibilities for store development and facilities professionals, AI is moving up many retailers’ priority lists.
As retailers consider integrating AI into their operations, Mark recommend five actions they should take this year.
- Work with solution providers: Collaborate with solution partners to find applications that can improve construction tasks and projects, as well as facilities operations. AI technology also updates at lightning speed — stay on top of updates and lean into technology changes.
- Keep data clean: Data is often a retailer’s Achilles' Heel. Now is the time to clean out all databases. Delete all outdated and redundant information, and keep databases as current as possible. Clean up your data before deploying AI.
- Up-skill staff: Afraid of being replaced by technology, some potential users are concerned about the power of AI. In fact, 85% of female professionals are skeptical of AI, according to a Pew Research study. Retailers need to train associates on the value of AI, and how to the technology can improve their skills and do their jobs better.
- Create an AI policy: As companies lean into building a new AI-based framework, it is equally important to create an AI policy that will protect users — and retail companies — against data violations. This includes identifying and prioritizing use cases, establishing change management processes and creating workflow requirements.
Prepare for AI regulations at the state level: Currently eight states have regulations related to AI apps, and there are tens of thousands more coming up, according to Marks.
Retailers need to prepare for mandates ranging from disclosing automated decision-making to unauthorized use of AI to replicate an individual’s voice or likeness — and conduct assessments to stay in compliance. Adhering to regulations and conducting regulated audits and will drive accountability and keep companies — and customers — protected.
