Retail Insider's latest Retail Technology & Payments Report examines how artificial intelligence, payments, loyalty, commerce platforms, and digital infrastructure are becoming increasingly integrated, reshaping retail operations, customer experiences, and competitive advantage across the Canadian retail industry.
Canadian retail technology and payments in Q2 2026 were increasingly defined by the convergence of AI, payments, loyalty, delivery, and automation into integrated commerce ecosystems.
Q1 2026 saw AI move from retail tool to shopping interface. Winners are building data, loyalty, and execution foundations; laggards risk losing customers.
The research found that 79 per cent of surveyed executives expect AI to contribute significantly to their revenue by 2030, compared with 40 per cent today.
The need to mitigate issues around the usage of artificial intelligence is of utmost importance as it becomes commonplace, according to Kathy Baxter of Salesforce.
The head of RCC and retail futurist Doug Stephens explain how successful stores will be experiential with AI creating efficiencies in supply chain and customer interface.
The publicly traded company is expected to see its share price explode as it rolls out artificial intelligence screening technology with a wide range of uses for retail and other industries.
Sylvain Charlebois explains how the consumer experience in Canadian grocery retailers could transform to become ‘frictionless’, and that interactions with store employees could be eliminated altogether. However there are still some challenges associated with a major roll-out, he says.