RAI’s Connected Commerce Conclave 2026 Explores AI, Omnichannel Retail and the Future of Connected Commerce
The Retailers Association of India (RAI) successfully hosted the inaugural edition of the Connected Commerce Conclave (CCC) 2026, India’s first retail industry event dedicated to connected commerce, focusing on the convergence of artificial intelligence, real-time data, omnichannel retail, and evolving consumer expectations. Held at the Sheraton Grand Bangalore on July 30, the conclave served as a platform for industry leaders to discuss emerging retail technologies, changing consumer trends, and the next wave of business opportunities.
Hosted in Bengaluru, one of India’s foremost technology and retail hubs, the event brought together retailers, D2C founders, technology companies, investors, and policymakers to exchange ideas on the future of connected commerce while reinforcing the city’s growing influence in retail innovation.
Speaking about the event, Kumar Rajagopalan, Executive Director and CEO, Retailers Association of India (RAI), said:
“Connected commerce isn’t a technology story. It’s a customer story. The technology is just what makes it possible for retailers and their service partners to show up — consistently, intelligently, and at the right moment — whether the customer is on their phone, in a store, or somewhere in between. CCC 2026 brought together the people doing exactly that: the operators at the front and the builders behind the scenes, all working toward the same outcome: A customer who gets what they need, before they have to ask twice.”
The conclave featured a diverse agenda that included a fireside discussion with Visa, roundtable sessions on Changing Dynamics for HR in a Digital World and Discovery to Delivery: Creating Seamless Connected Customer Journeys, along with panel discussions on topics such as The New Customer Journey, Data, Decisions and the AI Shift, Supply Chain Advantage, The Trust Layer: Why Human + Digital Beats Digital Alone, and Category Creators: How Brands Build Markets Instead of Just Market Share.
The speaker lineup included leading industry professionals such as Abhishek Bansal (Shadowfax), Ajith Mohan Karimpana (Furlenco), Ashim Ashok Patil (i-TEK RFID), Bhupendra Khannal (Dogsee Chew), Deepak Jain (Amante), Himmath Jain (AS-IT-IS Nutrition), Jagdish Mitra (Humanize), Karan Mehta (Easybuy), Kiruba Devi (Zivame), Kunal Mehta (Arvind Fashions), Lavish Soni (House of Rare), Manohar Chatlani (Soch Apparels), Minu Margaret (Blissclub), Nandakumar L (The Yellow Dwelling), Naveen Pishe (PN Rao Fine Suits), Sumit Jasoria (NEWME), Surbhi Bhatia (The Mom Store), and Zoheib Jilani (WomanLikeU), among others.
Ramaswami Lakshman, Director of Emerging Markets FBA, Amazon, said:
“India’s retail landscape is at an inflection point, with physical and digital commerce coming together to create a $3.5 trillion connected commerce opportunity. Consumers no longer think in terms of online or offline — they simply seek relevant, convenient and seamless experiences. At Amazon, we are committed to enabling this shift by bringing together the technology, fulfilment infrastructure, customer reach and intelligence businesses need to build, scale and grow. Our long-term commitment to India reflects the potential we see in this opportunity. Following Andy Jassy’s recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amazon announced plans to invest $48 billion in India by 2030, reinforcing our commitment to supporting businesses and the wider retail community. Having digitised more than 12 million small businesses, we aim to help them grow from local to global markets and participate in the connected commerce opportunity. For this opportunity to reach its full potential, growth must be sustainable and businesses must be able to participate with ease. Simplifying taxation and compliance, alongside addressing barriers such as access to capital and digital skills, will be critical for connected commerce to not only transform how India shops but expand who gets to participate in India’s growth story.”
Manohar Chatlani, MD, Soch Apparels Pvt. Ltd., said:
“The customer we’re serving today has already made up her mind before she walks into a store. She’s researched, compared, and decided. Our job is no longer to sell — it’s to confirm a decision she’s already made, and make that confirmation feel worth it. I’m looking forward to a conversation at CCC that goes beyond the buzzwords and gets into what connected commerce actually demands from a retail organisation operationally, culturally, and structurally.”
Subhash Chandra L, MD, Sangeetha Mobiles Pvt. Ltd. & Chairman, Bengaluru Chapter, RAI, added:
“When the customer moves, you move. Right now, the customer is moving faster than most retail businesses can follow. CCC matters because it creates the space for honest conversations about what that actually means for our businesses — not the polished version, but the real one.”
Sumit Ghosh, Senior Director – Retail, Large Formats, Online Marketplace & Omnichannel, Fossil India, commented:
“Connected commerce is the work you do behind the scenes so the experience in front of the customer looks effortless. That gap — between operational complexity and customer simplicity — is where most retail businesses are struggling right now. CCC is the right room to have that conversation, because everyone in it is living the same problem from a different angle. That’s where the useful ideas come from.”
The inaugural edition of RAI’s Connected Commerce Conclave 2026 concluded with valuable discussions on the future of retail, highlighting Bengaluru’s role as a leading centre for retail innovation, digital commerce, and technology-driven business transformation. As the retail landscape continues to evolve, the conclave is expected to serve as an important forum for industry collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange.
