The Retailers Association of India (RAI) hosted the 19th edition of the Retail Technology Conclave, ReTechCon 2025, on September 24–25 at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar. India’s premier retail technology forum gathered CEOs, CIOs, technology partners, and industry leaders to explore innovations and strategies redefining the future of retail.
The conclave combined the immersive depth of a masterclass with the scale of an industry platform, offering insights into sustainable solutions, global trends, and disruptive technologies fueling business resilience. Discussions covered omnichannel strategies, smart store ecosystems, digital-first consumer journeys, supply chain resilience, and next-gen payment systems.
A strong spotlight was on AI, machine learning, advanced analytics, AR/VR, and MarTech tools that are reshaping consumer behavior, personalization, and brand engagement. Sessions emphasized practical frameworks for retailers to adopt AI at scale, strengthen security, and design future-ready ecosystems.
Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, RAI, remarked:
“At ReTechCon 2025, we are moving the retail conversation from possibilities to priorities. AI is no longer an experiment—it is the game-changer delivering measurable value across the chain. Smart stores, powered by data and IoT, are redefining in-store experiences, while personalization is moving to true one-to-one journeys. As we gear up for D2C 2.0, the focus must remain on building resilient, practical ecosystems that keep retail relevant.”
Sandeep Mistry, CDIO – Indriya, Aditya Birla Jewellery, added:
“Jewellery retail is undergoing a profound shift with AI-powered design, virtual try-ons, blockchain authentication, and personalised recommendations. The future belongs to brands merging heritage with innovation, creating seamless and memorable journeys.”
Anil Menon, CIO, Lulu, highlighted:
“Contemporary retail is evolving into a seamless continuum across malls, physical stores, and digital commerce. The convergence of intelligent environments, real-time analytics, and hyperpersonalized experiences is building unified, frictionless ecosystems where discovery, engagement, and convenience flow continuously.”
Key trends spotlighted at ReTechCon 2025 included:
-
Immersive shopping & omnichannel integration
-
AI & ML for personalization, inventory, and decisions
-
IoT-driven smart stores and automation
-
Advanced analytics and BI for insights
-
Next-gen MarTech tools for engagement
-
Cashless payments & unified commerce models
-
Supply chain resilience through digital innovation
-
CRM & loyalty in a privacy-first world
During the conclave, Deloitte India launched its report “AI in Retail for the Agentic Era: Aspiration to Action”, projecting India’s AI spending to triple from USD 7–8 billion in FY23 to USD 20–22 billion by FY27.
Anand Ramanathan, Partner & Consumer Industry Leader, Deloitte India, commented:
“AI is now a strategic backbone in retail, transforming aspirations into action. From hyper-personalised journeys to resilient supply chains and innovative product design, success lies in building AI-ready infrastructure and structured frameworks that deliver real impact at scale.”
The event also hosted the 10th ReTech Startup Awards 2025, celebrating disruptive retail technology startups.
-
Winner: GoSelfServe – bridging the online-offline gap with kiosk software and hardware solutions across F&B, Retail, BFSI, and Automotive.
-
First Runner-Up: O2VEND – an integrated POS and eCommerce platform for seamless online/offline retail.
-
Second Runner-Up: SGHS – offering AI-powered fashion solutions to personalize and simplify style journeys for individuals and brands.
Dr. Hitesh Bhat, Director – Marketing & Communications, RAI, stated:
“The ReTech Startup Awards honor innovation and entrepreneurship, spotlighting startups that are building a digital-first retail future and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs in India.”
ReTechCon 2025 reinforced that the next era of retail will be driven by AI, immersive technologies, and omnichannel ecosystems—redefining efficiency, personalization, and the customer experience.
