AI, Real-Time Tech & Data Redefine Retail at NRF 2025 with CDW

Retail technology has evolved from being a mere support function to becoming a core element of customer satisfaction and business success. Customer expectations demand seamless experiences, whether they're shopping online or in-store.

Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI)-powered personalization, real-time inventory tracking and mobile payment solutions enable retailers to meet these expectations by delivering faster, more tailored and convenient shopping experiences. At the same time, data analytics tools help businesses better understand customer behavior, optimize supply chains and make data-driven decisions to stay competitive.

By integrating advanced retail technology, businesses not only enhance the customer journey but also drive efficiency, reduce costs and boost overall profitability.

At the National Retail Federation’s annual convention, NRF 2025, CDW will bring the bold theme of "Tomorrow's Retail" to life, focusing on how retailers can reimagine every point of the customer journey to create future-ready experiences.

Unified commerce strategies and data-driven insights are reshaping business operations and influencing how retailers can modernize the shopping experience. At NRF, CDW Retail experts will delve into some of the core technologies enabling these advancements, including AI.

From AI-powered visual intelligence to virtual assistants, AI is empowering retailers to predict customer behavior, enhance personalization and create immersive in-store experiences.

Other technologies like radio-frequency identification (RFID) are driving precision in inventory management and pricing, making inventory data accessible in real time. Advancements like these are not only improving operational efficiency but also creating interactive shopping moments, such as lift-and-learn experiences where customers get detailed product info the moment they pick up an item.

Building on their modern retail message, CDW’s innovations will come to life through dedicated interactive stations at their booth, each showcasing how technology can transform specific aspects of retail.

This station demonstrates how video intelligence can move beyond loss prevention to enhance the customer experience. This technology allows retailers to map specific store areas using their camera systems. We’ve all had the experience of standing around and waiting for a store associate to help us with an item locked up behind glass doors. If a customer remains in one spot for a certain amount of time, the AI-powered video surveillance system can send an alert to the appropriate store associate to ensure timely assistance. This innovation combines security and service, remedying unattended customers while boosting in-store engagement.

The power of automation will shine through a virtual human interface. Whether on kiosks, mobile apps or websites, this tech redefines how retailers interact with their customers. The human bot interface can answer customer queries, provide product recommendations and streamline transactions, offering a seamless and personalized shopping experience.

AI-powered content creation and video tools at this station will illustrate how marketing can be transformed in real time. Using store or online data, this technology enables retailers to create and deploy promotional videos on the fly. These video assets can enhance customer engagement both on digital platforms and in-store, strengthening the brand connection.

Unified commerce strategies are the heartbeat of modern retail. This station will explore how to integrate online and in-store operations, ensuring customers receive a consistent brand experience no matter where or how they interact with the retailer. CDW’s solutions simplify complex systems, enabling retailers to deliver seamless shopping moments that meet today’s high customer expectations.

Training programs for your IT staff can bridge skill gaps and empower your team to manage modern systems effectively. Training staff can help you retain current staff and save you the costs of having to hire and train someone new.

Implementing any or all these services and solutions can improve your agency’s efficiency and help you become more cost efficient.

One of CDW's standout qualities is our specialized expertise in retail technology. Our commitment to hiring experts directly from the retail industry, including former IT Director for Nordstrom and REI, Gina Cox, and former Director of Store Systems for ShopRite, Rich Borkowski, bring hands-on knowledge of the challenges retailers face, from supply chain complexities to customer engagement strategies. This insider perspective ensures that CDW’s solutions are not just innovative but also deeply practical and tailored to retailer needs.

From automated customer service solutions to AI-driven insights, CDW is committed to helping businesses adapt, innovate and thrive. By leaning into technologies like visual intelligence and RFID, retailers can reinvent their operations and create the seamless unified shopping experiences customers demand.

NRF 2025 is your chance to experience tomorrow’s retail, today. Make sure to visit CDW’s booth #4651 and discover how transforming every customer touchpoint can lead to business success.