Overcoming Retail Digital Challenges | ACI Infotech

There’s a pattern emerging across U.S. retail. 

Some brands are automating, scaling, and personalizing at speed. 
Others are circling the runway — stuck in aging systems, pilot purgatory, and operational drag. 

The difference? 
It’s not budget. It’s not vision. 
It’s readiness. 

“The change in front of us feels like it’s greater than the change behind us.” 
— Doug McMillon, CEO, Walmart 

And yet, for many retailers, the next step feels blocked by tech debt, disconnected data, and teams burned by failed “transformations.” 

Modernization Is No Longer Optional 

Retailers know what needs to change — but getting there isn’t simple: 

• POS systems still run on brittle, monolithic platforms 
• Data is fragmented across channels, warehouses, and teams 
• AI use cases stall because the plumbing isn't ready 
• Cloud spend is rising without clear ROI 
• Security postures lag behind threat evolution 

All of it adds up to a quiet emergency: transformation is needed, but complexity kills momentum. 

Security: The Unspoken Foundation of Retail Agility 

AI and cloud can unlock agility—but they also expand your threat surface. 
Retailers are facing more: 

• Credential theft across distributed store networks 
• Ransomware targeting POS systems 
• Fraud attempts via synthetic IDs and AI-generated documents 

But too often, security is bolted on. That’s dangerous. 

At ACI, we embed zero-trust, observability, and access governance into the core architecture—so growth doesn’t come at the expense of resilience. 

Security isn’t a feature. 
It’s the operating system of trust. 

Why Retail AI Efforts Still Fail 

Everyone’s launching pilots. Few are scaling. 

Here’s why: 

Retail Leaders Are Using AI Differently 

The smart ones aren’t using AI to patch problems. 

They’re engineering differentiation. 

• Hyper-personalization at segment-of-one level across channels 
• Inventory optimization using real-time demand signals 
• Dynamic pricing + promotions powered by ML 
• AI-driven store ops: scheduling, forecasting, replenishment 
• AI copilots for associates to improve productivity and reduce burnout 

These aren’t “projects.” They’re systems that scale. 

The Modern Retail Stack: What Winning Looks Like 

Here's what we're building for our clients: 

1. Composable Core Modernization

• Replace monoliths with API-first, cloud-native architecture 
• Transition POS, inventory, and fulfillment to flexible microservices 
• Bake in observability, DevSecOps, and governance from day one 

2. Real-Time Data Fabric

• Integrate eComm, store, CRM, and supply chain data 
• Activate cloud-native lakes (Databricks, Snowflake) 
• Feed AI models that power real-time decisioning 

3. Enterprise AI Enablement (ArqAI)

• Automate labor planning, pricing, replenishment 
• Personalize customer journeys using unified context 
• Detect anomalies before they impact the bottom line 

4. Smart Store Enablement

• Deploy mobile POS, digital shelf intelligence, and IoT sensors 
• Give store associates AI-powered insight apps 
• Reduce shrinkage, increase conversion, boost productivity 

5. Low-Code, Frictionless Integration

• Use low-code APIs to rapidly stitch legacy + new tech 
• Avoid integration fatigue and costly custom work 
• Scale from one pilot to many use cases, fast 

6. Human-Centric Transformation

• Upskill retail and IT teams for AI-first operations 
• Provide change playbooks, agile rituals, and real-world enablement 
• Make transformation stick—with people, not just platforms 

Ready to Find Out Where You Stand? 

Before investing in another tool, pilot, or partner—benchmark your retail modernization maturity. 

Discover your Retail Modernization Score 
Get a personalized assessment + prioritized roadmap tailored to your current stack, blockers, and goals. 

Whether you’re a regional retailer or a global chain, this free tool can help you: 

• Spot what’s holding back your AI efforts 
• Identify quick wins and foundational gaps 
• Understand your modernization readiness in under 5 minutes