Survey: Retail tenants continue to up investments in new technology
Artificial intelligence has established itself as a core management tool among retail tenants at the 125 Northeastern centers managed by Levin Management Corp. (LMC).
In its annual Retail Sentiment Survey, which gathered responses from more than 150 store managers, the North Plainfield, N.J.-based operator found that AI has increasingly become a standard item in their management toolboxes.
Two-thirds of tenants surveyed reported actively using, testing or exploring AI, and more than a quarter of those avowed that AI has made the transition from emerging technology to practical business tool.
"Retailers continue to evolve alongside changing consumer expectations," said LMC CEO Matthew K. Harding. "AI and omnichannel capabilities strengthen operations, enhance the customer experience and position tenants for long-term growth.”
Retailers surveyed ranked AI as their leading tech tool application, followed by data analysis and reporting, customer service and chatbots, and inventory forecasting. Those polled reported that AI is increasingly being integrated into their everyday retail operations to improve marketing, customer engagement and business decision-making.
The survey also discovered continued growth in omnichannel retailing, with buy online pick-up in store being the most widely used retail fulfillment option. Curbside pick-up also showed strong momentum. More than a third of retailers said they were engaged in BOPIS, up from just 22% in 2025.
Overall retail performance remained stable, with 62% of respondents reporting year-to-date sales that were the same or higher than last year. In addition, 64% reported customer traffic was stable or higher. Retailers identified customer traffic (30%) and customer spending (23%) as the leading factors influencing sales performance.
Cost pressures remain a top concern, with retailers citing cost of goods and supply chain (47%) and labor and staffing costs (46%) as their most significant operational challenges. Even so, retailers are prioritizing investments that improve efficiency and long-term resilience rather than pulling back, according to LMC.
The survey also found that retailers’ marketing strategies continue to evolve. Instagram has become the most widely used social platform among survey respondents, doubling from 35% in 2014 to 70% today.
During the same period, Facebook usage declined from 94% to 62%, while TikTok usage— first measured in 2022 at 21% — has doubled to 42%,
Nearly 60% of respondents also reported using Google Business Profile, underscoring the growing importance of local search visibility and online reputation management.
"Having conducted this survey for more than a decade has given us the ability to see how retailer priorities evolve alongside changing consumer behavior," said LMC’s VP of marketing Melissa Sievwright. "The shift in the use of social media is one of the clearest examples."
According to the survey, retailers remain optimistic about the second half of 2026, with more than 71% expecting sales to remain stable or improve. Respondents identified consumer confidence and overall economic conditions as the primary factors influencing their outlook.
“Even as retailers continue managing operating cost pressures,” Harding noted, “they're investing in tools that improve efficiency while reinforcing the importance of the in-store experience."
