November 28, 2025
Consumer Discovery Goes Real-Time At Tech for Retail, Paris
The Tech for Retail show hit Paris this week, at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles. The show offered a close-up look at what’s changing in the drive for stronger in-store and online customer experiences.
At the event were the usual mix of practical demos from over 400 vendors, key notes and strategic panels, discussing the future of retail.
With intense pressure for retail transformation, vendors showcased how AI and omnichannel strategies are playing a key role in pushing technology into stores and helping to redefine the customer experience.
And not far away, at the Grand Palais, the Adopt AI International Summit was running, with tech and business leaders pushing the technology to a broad audience, creating a neat combination of events.
Albatross, Star of Le Show
Albatross turned heads with an AI-powered product discovery platform. The start-up emerged from stealth mode, with $12.5 million in investment, offering ROI in weeks, and aiming to kick out the same old bland recommendations among retailers.
The company highlights its real-time approach as, “This isn’t about generating content; it’s about making sense of how users perceive and interact with products. Unlike traditional solutions that rely on static rules based on catalogue metadata and past user history, Albatross captures and reacts to intent and context in the session, in real time.”
“It surfaces inspiring, contextually relevant items users would otherwise miss. Deployable in weeks, with proven ROI.” Founded by former Amazon AI leaders, Albatross has plenty of backing and a strong claim to shake up a stagnant sector of the retail market.
AI Adoption and Conversations Lead the Way
The likes of Alcmeon and many other customer experience attendees, talked about intense days at Adopt AI and noted: Conversational experiences are everywhere. More than ever, every interaction between brands and their customers are converging towards conversations.
First Impression AV presented interactive solutions like the Rituals perfume display, showing off the latest technology like e-paper displays, Samsung’s new 3D displays and an immersive LED wall as attention grabbing marketing becomes a key part of physical retail.
And while there was lots of AI tech no show, Maïssa Derridj, Luxury CRM & Retail Expert, encapsulated the mood neatly, saying:
“AI won’t fix a broken customer experience in luxury. It will only amplify what already exists.” ‘No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created them.’ said Albert Einstein.”
“This quote has been echoing in my mind this week, especially with all the conversations coming out of Tech for Retail in Paris. That’s why so many transformations in luxury under-deliver.”
From beauty to luxury, there were many brands on show, and the latest technology in support of marketing them to consumers.
Along with the in-store and back office technology to improve business, there is plenty of innovation on the way, but as Maïssa points out, “When the customer journey is fragmented, new solutions accelerate the fragmentation. And when teams operate in silos, even the best platforms struggle to create value.”
Something for all retailers, integrators and brands to consider as the next wave of technology comes marching in.
