“The 2026 NRF Innovators: Retail-Focused Tech Companies to Watch” is a study by Forrester Research that uncovers 50 emerging technology companies revolutionizing the future of retail. In a year where profitability is the primary mandate, this report details how innovative solutions address pressing challenges, from rising labor costs and waning consumer confidence to intensifying competition.
The technology companies profiled were selected by the NRF Innovation Advisory Committee, a group of industry leaders, venture capitalists and technology accelerators. The IAC evaluates companies based on four key criteria:
Problem relevance: Does the technology solve a critical issue for retailers?
Significance: How widespread and impactful is the challenge being addressed?
Product-market fit: Has the solution proven its value through partnerships and pilots?
Scalability: Is the company ready to deliver at scale across the industry?
The report highlights 50 participants from the 2026 Innovators Showcase across three strategic pillars:
AI agents: Technologies harmonizing fragmented data, negotiating with suppliers and automating personalized web experiences.
Physical space analytics: Solutions using sensors, robotics and voice AI to bring ecommerce-level intelligence to bricks-and-mortar stores.
Supply chain and merchandising: API-first architectures and AI-driven workflows designed to increase operational agility and responsiveness.
