Recent years have brought significant disruption to the retail landscape \u2014 and that momentum hasn\u2019t slowed. Businesses are still looking for ways to do more with less, often by investing in new technologies.<\/p>\n
At this point, it\u2019s no longer a question of if companies should invest in technology, but when. Consumers expect seamless experiences, competitive pricing, and convenience \u2014 and technology is key to delivering on all three.<\/p>\n
But what does that look like in practice? How are retailers using technology to stay competitive and innovate?<\/p>\n
Here are five retail technology trends to watch in 2026:<\/p>\n
<\/span>1. Pushing Boundaries With Cashier-Less and Staff-Free Stores<\/span><\/h2>\nIn the past few years, it seems every major retailer invested in more self-checkout options. They boost in-store productivity since employees aren\u2019t tied to the register and create more room for\u00a0print-on-demand products<\/a>, seasonal goods, staple basic or merchandise, and other items.. Plus, consumers love the shorter lines and the minimal disruption to the phone calls they\u2019re having or audiobooks they\u2019re listening to as they shop.<\/p>\nAmazon took all this a step further when they developed the \u201cJust Walk Out<\/a>\u201d system powered by computer vision, deep learning, and sensor fusion. As you approach their store, you pull out your app to scan yourself in, and their technology keeps track of what you pick up and charges your Amazon card on file when you leave the store. No cashiers, no lines, and no hassle.<\/p>\nThey piloted the program in Seattle and now have 20+ locations across the country with plans to expand it even further by offering this technology to other retailers for purchase.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Pushing-Boundaries-With-Cashier-Less-and-Staff-Free-Stores.jpeg\")
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<\/span>2. Closing the Deal With Augmented Reality Shopping<\/span><\/h2>\nAugmented reality is here, and it\u2019s a win-win for consumers and retailers alike. Clothing and accessory retailers, in particular, are poised for major disruption with the advent of virtual fitting rooms<\/a>.<\/p>\nSwiss Watch Retailer Formex now has a paper bracelet you can print at home that pairs with their smartphone app to show you what their watches will look like<\/a> on your wrist without stepping foot into a store.<\/p>\nWanna Kicks and SneakerKit apps do the same thing for shoes<\/a>. And FittingBox and Ditto did it for eyeglasses. This list goes on and on for brands that specialize in headwear, clothing, and even surgical masks.<\/p>\nIkea and Amazon use ARKit-based apps<\/a> for similar purposes to show you what furniture will look like in your house with your smartphone camera.<\/p>\nAs you can see, the need to leave your home to try things on or take measurements is fading fast. Many retailers even have \u201ctry at home for free\u201d or \u201cfree shipping return\u201d policies that make the process feel even more effortless. Many of them accept cryptocurrency payments<\/a>, as they’re a part of the augmented reality business and are faster and more secure than some traditional ways.<\/p>\n<\/span>3. Promoting Brand Loyalty With Subscriptions<\/span><\/h2>\nA CouponFollow<\/a> study showed that during 2026 consumers leaned harder than ever into subscription-based products. In a survey of over 1,000 consumers, one in five said they\u2019d purchased a subscription box. Some of the more popular ones were:<\/p>\n\n- 21% for HelloFresh, a meal-kit delivery service that sends you healthy meals.<\/li>\n
- 20% for Barkbox, which is a monthly subscription of dog treats, toys, and goodies.<\/li>\n
- 19% for Blue Apron that sends you ingredients and recipes to prepare at home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Amazon is making waves again with its \u201cSubscribe & Save\u201d option that literally gives you a discount on the products (albeit not a huge discount) when you subscribe to recurring orders of products like laundry detergent, toilet paper, makeup, and more.<\/p>\n
<\/span>4. Expanding Possibilities With Point of Sale System Evolution<\/span><\/h2>\nTechnology has also finally caught up with point of sales systems too. It\u2019s not uncommon for a retailer to automatically email you a receipt or even text you a copy.<\/p>\n
Many major retailers even have mini point of sale systems<\/a> for cashless transactions that their employees carry around with them. Apple is famously known for giving each of its employees the capability to check out customers from their iPhone or iPad. Beyond transactions, these devices also make it easy for employees to check inventory on the fly.<\/p>\nWalMart now empowers their employees with in-store devices that act as a POS and grant them ordering capabilities, so if you can\u2019t find what you need, you can ask them to ship it to you or have it delivered to a store of your choice.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/POS-System.jpeg\")
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<\/span>5. Boosting Productivity With the Right Software<\/span><\/h2>\nFinally, retailers are revolutionizing the way they make shift schedules with employee scheduling software like ZoomShift<\/a>. Gone are the days of paper scheduling and fumbling with the latest excel file. With ZoomShift, you get an all-in-one app that the whole team uses, so everyone\u2019s on the same page – retail employee scheduling<\/a> has never been easier.<\/p>\nSome additional benefits include:<\/p>\n
Amazon took all this a step further when they developed the \u201cJust Walk Out<\/a>\u201d system powered by computer vision, deep learning, and sensor fusion. As you approach their store, you pull out your app to scan yourself in, and their technology keeps track of what you pick up and charges your Amazon card on file when you leave the store. No cashiers, no lines, and no hassle.<\/p>\n They piloted the program in Seattle and now have 20+ locations across the country with plans to expand it even further by offering this technology to other retailers for purchase.<\/p>\n Augmented reality is here, and it\u2019s a win-win for consumers and retailers alike. Clothing and accessory retailers, in particular, are poised for major disruption with the advent of virtual fitting rooms<\/a>.<\/p>\n Swiss Watch Retailer Formex now has a paper bracelet you can print at home that pairs with their smartphone app to show you what their watches will look like<\/a> on your wrist without stepping foot into a store.<\/p>\n Wanna Kicks and SneakerKit apps do the same thing for shoes<\/a>. And FittingBox and Ditto did it for eyeglasses. This list goes on and on for brands that specialize in headwear, clothing, and even surgical masks.<\/p>\n Ikea and Amazon use ARKit-based apps<\/a> for similar purposes to show you what furniture will look like in your house with your smartphone camera.<\/p>\n As you can see, the need to leave your home to try things on or take measurements is fading fast. Many retailers even have \u201ctry at home for free\u201d or \u201cfree shipping return\u201d policies that make the process feel even more effortless. Many of them accept cryptocurrency payments<\/a>, as they’re a part of the augmented reality business and are faster and more secure than some traditional ways.<\/p>\n A CouponFollow<\/a> study showed that during 2026 consumers leaned harder than ever into subscription-based products. In a survey of over 1,000 consumers, one in five said they\u2019d purchased a subscription box. Some of the more popular ones were:<\/p>\n Amazon is making waves again with its \u201cSubscribe & Save\u201d option that literally gives you a discount on the products (albeit not a huge discount) when you subscribe to recurring orders of products like laundry detergent, toilet paper, makeup, and more.<\/p>\n Technology has also finally caught up with point of sales systems too. It\u2019s not uncommon for a retailer to automatically email you a receipt or even text you a copy.<\/p>\n Many major retailers even have mini point of sale systems<\/a> for cashless transactions that their employees carry around with them. Apple is famously known for giving each of its employees the capability to check out customers from their iPhone or iPad. Beyond transactions, these devices also make it easy for employees to check inventory on the fly.<\/p>\n WalMart now empowers their employees with in-store devices that act as a POS and grant them ordering capabilities, so if you can\u2019t find what you need, you can ask them to ship it to you or have it delivered to a store of your choice.<\/p>\n Finally, retailers are revolutionizing the way they make shift schedules with employee scheduling software like ZoomShift<\/a>. Gone are the days of paper scheduling and fumbling with the latest excel file. With ZoomShift, you get an all-in-one app that the whole team uses, so everyone\u2019s on the same page – retail employee scheduling<\/a> has never been easier.<\/p>\n Some additional benefits include:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/span>2. Closing the Deal With Augmented Reality Shopping<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>3. Promoting Brand Loyalty With Subscriptions<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/span>4. Expanding Possibilities With Point of Sale System Evolution<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/span>5. Boosting Productivity With the Right Software<\/span><\/h2>\n