2027 Retail Trends Businesses Should Prepare For

Keeping retail technology updated with the latest trends helps keep customers interested and personalizes the buying experience to improve sales. With AI and other tech growing fast, the largest corporations are trying to incorporate the new technology to increase success in the coming year.

To enhance sales and create a better customer experience, these are the 2027 retail trends businesses should prepare for. By adopting these new technologies, it can help retailers gain an edge compared to competitors using outdated systems and old practices.

Top Retail Trends to Watch in 2027

Keeping retail technology updated with the latest POS systems and staying in the know about current trends can have a huge impact on sales throughout the year. The most successful businesses are evolving with new technologies because they are designed around customers’ current needs and help streamline business operations.

For companies that want to grow quickly, these top 2027 retail trends are a great way to get ahead.

1. AI-Powered Retail Operations

AI is everywhere—including in retail technology. As 2027 draws closer, retailers might be wondering how artificial intelligence will change the industry in the coming year.

Already, AI is being integrated into old and new retail technology alike. According to IBM, some of the common AI use cases happening in the retail industry include:

• Personalized shopping according to each user
• Virtual agents and shopping assistants
• Forecasting buyer demand patterns
• Detecting fraud and security challenges
• Managing supply chains

In the next year, we can expect AI to rise to the top and offer more expansive capabilities as technology grows. It already has so many capabilities to personalize and speed up the shopping experience, and it’s only going to keep improving as technology keeps advancing.

Related Content: Enhanced Efficiency and Customer Experience with Next-Gen POS Systems

2. RFID and Real-Time Inventory Visibility

One of the growing trends in 2026 that’s becoming even bigger in 2027 is RFID. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), “RFID amplifies efficiencies in BOPIS, curbside pickup and personalized store experiences.”

By utilizing RFID technology, retailers can benefit from:

• Improved, real-time inventory accuracy
• Scanning multitudes of items in seconds
• Accurate BOPIS (buy online, pick up in store) tracking
• Faster checkouts that scan multiple items at once
• Advanced security and loss prevention

RFID and real-time inventory visibility are extremely important in businesses that utilize both in-store and online shopping, especially. It improves inventory accuracy and ensures the customer experience remains positive with successful sales interactions.

Related Content: What Is RFID and How Does It Work in Retail?

3. Retail Barcode Transition

Sunrise 2027, the official GS1 barcode transition initiative, is going into effect in the coming year. While traditional one-dimensional UPC and EAN barcodes aren’t going away (yet), the beginning phase of transitioning to 2D barcodes is scheduled.

What this means for retailers is that they should begin evaluating their current technology to see if it’s a good fit for the new barcodes and coming retail tech changes. To stay compliant with the new changes, businesses should ensure that they have upgraded:

• POS firmware capabilities
• Optical scanners
• Dual scanning hardware
• Inventory software
• Mobile and handheld devices
• Thermal label printers

While businesses don’t technically need these right away, having the updated technology is going to make the GS1 transition easier rather than waiting until the last minute when everyone is rushing to upgrade their tech.

If you’d like to stay ahead of the technology curve and ensure you have the systems in place to accommodate the new barcode transition, our team at RTI can help. Our technicians can help businesses source, deploy, maintain, and prepare retail technology for the new changes. Reach out today to discuss your location and project needs.

Related Content: What Retailers Need to Know About the GS1 Barcode Transition

4. AI-Assisted Shopping

One of the growing retail trends in 2026 was AI agents assisting with shopping. The process was still relatively new and finding its place in the consumer world. In 2027, AI keeps getting faster and more knowledgeable, making AI-assisted shopping easier both on the consumer side and on the sales floor.

According to Microsoft, “AI was the fastest-growing source of retail traffic, up 693% year over year, faster than any established channel.”

Businesses that utilize AI-powered shopping and updated technology benefit from:

• AI assistants helping customers find personalized, requested products
• AI referrals sending customers directly to the source when they are ready to buy
• Improved consumer data based on real insights and patterns
• Enhanced supply and demand forecasting based on past and current trends

With AI shopping assistants, retailers can reduce involvement while putting power into the consumer’s hands and improving the sales outcome. Instead of needing to talk to someone in-store or waiting for assistance online, AI integrates the process, removes the need for a middleman, and lets the shopper direct their own experience at their own pace.

5. Retail Lifecycle Services and IT Management

Due to all the new technological advances, more businesses are partnering with external IT management and retail lifecycle services.

Multi-location retailers that need to trade in old technology and stores with outdated legacy equipment are turning to partners who can source the right tech, deploy it, and get them operating with minimal to no downtime.

For companies that can’t afford to trade out everything immediately for every location, partnering with a retail technology provider for ongoing maintenance, repairs, and strategic tech swaps helps them make steps in the direction of evolving technology.

RTI works with companies to create strategic multi-year plans and technology roadmaps to slowly replace outdated tech with newer POS systems, checkout registers, mobile devices, and more. We have access to new and used retail equipment from the top manufacturers to help fit any budget.

If you’d like to discuss how we can make a new technology rollout happen for your company, contact us today, and we’ll help you create a plan that works with your business goals.

Related Content: How Modern POS Systems Help Streamline Business Operations

What 2027 Retail Trends Mean for Businesses

Utilizing the 2027 retail trends like AI and advanced technology can help businesses stand out against the competition, improve sales, and augment data collection and accuracy. Businesses that utilize newer technologies gain a world of insight into their consumers and sales as a whole in the coming year.

If you’re ready to implement newer retail technology at any of your locations, our team at Retail Tech Inc. can help. Our expert technicians know how to design, source, and deploy retail technology according to your project needs that also match the 2027 retail trends to improve your business.

Ready to get started?

Talk to a Retail Technology Expert