In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at the Retail Technology Show 2026 in London, Chris Walton speaks with Nikki Baird, VP of Strategy & Product at Aptos, about what is actually shaping the future of retail.

Nikki explains why every meaningful technology decision must start with the consumer, and how understanding shifts in behavior is what ultimately drives operations, strategy, and innovation.

The conversation dives into AI, where Nikki offers a grounded perspective on where the industry stands today. While adoption is accelerating, most use cases remain surface level. The real opportunity lies in fixing foundational challenges like product data, inventory visibility, and pricing, and pairing that with true operational change.

They also explore how point of sale is evolving beyond transactions into flexible, mobile-first platforms that empower store associates and reshape how stores operate.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why consumer behavior should drive all technology decisions

• The gap between AI hype and real-world application

• Fixing retail fundamentals to unlock AI’s full potential

• The evolution of point of sale and mobile-first retail

• Why tech investment is not the same as transformation

• How solving integration could accelerate retail innovation

Thank you to Vusion for supporting Omni Talk Retail’s live coverage from Retail Technology Show 2026. More to come, stay tuned!

#RTS2026 #RetailTechnologyShow #OmniTalkRetail #RetailStrategy #AIinRetail #RetailInnovation #CustomerExperience #RetailTechnology #Vusion

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