Generative AI is transforming IT solutions at a pace that was unimaginable just a few years ago. EuroCIS 2025 offers retail businesses the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge AI applications and the infrastructure required to implement them effectively.
A striking example of AI’s potential comes from Google’s DeepMind, which recently launched a new generation of AI agents capable of performing multi-step tasks online. These smart systems could soon autonomously browse the internet, shop for products, and retrieve information – a shift that represents a significant evolution in digital interactions.
The AI Boom: Transformative Power by 2030
Since the release of ChatGPT, generative AI has seen rapid advancements, making applications possible that were once purely speculative. Ute Schmid, Managing Director at the Bamberg Centre for Artificial Intelligence, described generative AI in 2024 as a technology experiencing unparalleled growth across research, development, and real-world use. This sentiment was echoed by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who projected that AI performance would double every six months, reaching 1,000 times its current capabilities by 2030. Such advances could make IT systems and retail innovations featured at EuroCIS 2030 seem commonplace.
Addressing the AI Skills Gap
Despite these breakthroughs, businesses across industries are grappling with the challenge of keeping pace. According to a recent survey conducted by the German-speaking SAP-user group (DSAG) and its international counterparts, fewer than 10% of companies feel confident in their expertise with generative AI. Jens Hungershausen, DSAG chairman, suggested that pilot projects are crucial for developing internal AI capabilities. At least one in three DSAG member businesses are currently trialling AI projects, gaining insights for broader implementations.
AI’s Role in Retail
Retail businesses have been leveraging AI to optimise processes such as inventory management and customer data analysis. Key exhibits at EuroCIS 2025 will feature AI-driven solutions for supply chain management, forecasting, and dynamic pricing, provided by companies like KPMG, Deutsche Telekom, and Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS). Fraunhofer will showcase the “RetAll Allocator,” a logistics optimisation tool that uses AI to enhance stock availability and predict sales trends.
The Broader Impact of AI on Retail Infrastructure
As smart systems become more autonomous, their integration demands improvements in technical infrastructure, real-time data availability, and IT security. ISG predicts that AI will not only transform individual applications but also drive developments in robotics, cloud computing, and spatial computing. Solutions such as AI-enabled self-checkout systems from GK Software and visual object recognition tools for self-service scales by Bizerba are designed to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.
AI is also helping retailers gain deeper insights into stock trends and consumer behaviour. For instance, Hanshow will present its electronic shelf label (ESL) solutions, combining AI cameras and IoT technology to automate stock checks and manage perishable goods. Similarly, MetraLabs will unveil its mobile service robot Tory, which can navigate aisles and assist customers by locating products in-store.
With such diverse innovations on display, EuroCIS 2025 promises to highlight how AI is reshaping retail operations, from business intelligence tools to customer-facing technologies.
