As partners of one of the world’s largest gatherings of retail, eCommerce, and tech experts, together with representatives of several of our member companies, we had the opportunity to attend NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show Europe, held from September 16–18 in Paris.
This year’s edition brought three days filled with innovation, practical solutions, and inspiring discussions about the future of commerce. Below, we share key insights for our local market, so that even those who could not attend can get an overview of the most important trends.
Main Themes and Trends
The conference brought together over 480 exhibitors and more than 100 sessions, reaffirming its position as a central hub for retail innovation. Key highlights included:
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) – from theory to real practice: inventory optimization, dynamic pricing, personalized recommendations, and chatbot solutions. AI was present in every stage of retail, from demand forecasting to customer interactions.
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Omnichannel and unified commerce – integrating online and offline channels into a seamless experience. Focus was placed on inventory visibility and a “single cart” for customers, along with solutions for click & collect, in-store returns, and same-day delivery.
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The new loyalty – loyalty programs evolving through digital wallets and personalized offers. CRM systems are becoming the core of customer relations, while AI enables more precise rewards and segmentation.
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Logistics and sustainability – flexible supply chains, micro-fulfillment centers, and nearshoring strategies emerged as crucial for speed, cost reduction, and environmental responsibility.
eCommerce in Focus
For us in the online retail space, the key takeaway was that eCommerce is no longer a “separate channel” but a fundamental component of retail.
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Personalized customer experience is now a must – from tailored promotions to behavior-based recommendations.
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Fast and sustainable delivery is a differentiator for successful retailers, with highlights including micro-fulfillment centers and intelligent distribution models.
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Social and live commerce is booming, driven especially by TikTok Shop, which already accounts for about 4% of European eCommerce sales. Users spend 20% more than the average online shopper and place almost one order per week. Examples such as Carrefour’s partnerships with content creators show how brands are meeting consumers where they spend their time.
Game-Changing Innovators
One of the most inspiring parts was the Innovators Showcase, dedicated to companies shaping the future of retail with practical solutions:
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New Black – EVA platform: an end-to-end contextual commerce solution integrating order management, inventory, loyalty, and promotions.
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Mira: visual item recognition at self-checkouts, eliminating barcode scanning, reducing shrinkage, and speeding up checkout.
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7Learnings: AI-driven price optimization linking marketing, inventory, and profitability goals.
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TruRating: real-time purchase surveys with an 80% response rate, offering deep insights into customer satisfaction.
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Aura Vision: traffic and in-store behavior analytics powered by existing cameras, without additional sensors.
These examples show that the future of retail lies in combining advanced analytics, smart automation, and personalized customer experiences.
Innovation in Payments
Payments were a major focus, with solutions merging simplicity and security:
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Digital wallets and contactless payments – Google Wallet was showcased as a CRM and loyalty tool.
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Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) models and biometric authentication took center stage.
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Self-checkout and QR-based solutions further shortened the shopping process and reduced operating costs.
The trend is clear: consumers expect as little friction as possible at checkout, and retailers are investing in technology to deliver on that.
What This Means for Our Market
We believe these insights can help local retailers and brands elevate their businesses:
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AI and analytics are no longer reserved for large players – scalable platforms are widely available today.
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Social commerce is no longer an experiment but a channel with massive potential, especially in health, beauty, and FMCG.
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Logistics solutions combining speed and sustainability are becoming the new standard for consumer expectations.
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Payments need to be fast, secure, and integrated with loyalty programs.
NRF 2025 in Paris once again confirmed that retail thrives on understanding customers and their habits – and technology is here to take that relationship to the next level. As event partners, we had the chance to gather valuable insights on global trends – from social commerce to payment innovation and channel integration. These insights offer important takeaways for everyone seeking to understand where retail and eCommerce are headed and how to adapt their business to modern customer expectations.
