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AI is in the Kitchen, the Stockroom, and Your Wallet
From self-shopping bots to cyber risks on the sales floor, May's retail tech trends are bold, fast-moving, and all about smarter retail.
Hello Reader,
This month, we’re watching AI roll up its sleeves. From robotic arms in fulfillment centers to smart kitchens and digital agents making purchases on your behalf, the innovation is coming fast. We’re also talking cybersecurity, convenience store breakthroughs, and why CFOs need to think like CISOs.
If you’re new to Behind the Counter, welcome! And if you’ve been with us since the beginning, we’re glad you’re still here. This newsletter is built for retail technology leaders who know that building better stores means blending tech innovation with operational excellence and customer obsession. Let’s dive into what it takes to build the stores and systems shoppers trust!
Your AI Just Went Shopping… With Your Credit Card
Visa is testing AI agents that don’t just recommend what to buy. They will actually buy it for you. Give the AI your credit card, set some smart guardrails, and let it handle recurring purchases or remind you when it’s time to reorder. The big question isn’t if the tech can do it. It’s whether we are ready to trust it.
Kitestring Takeaway: This is the “set it and forget it” shopping future we have been promised since Minority Report. Visa’s move is a real test of how much control we are willing to hand over to AI. The key will be setting clear parameters and making sure these digital agents stay in their lanes. Trust, but verify, especially when it comes to your wallet.
Your Biggest Cyber Risk Might Be on the Sales Floor
Retailers are gearing up for a wave of cybersecurity threats in 2025, from phishing and malware to ransomware and DDoS attacks. With phishing making up 58% of incidents, the real danger isn't just the tech, it's the people. Especially temporary staff, who often skip crucial training and end up as the weakest link in your cyber defense chain.
Why It Matters: You can have firewalls for days, but if your seasonal hires fall for a phishing email, it is game over. Human error is still retail’s biggest vulnerability. Cybersecurity needs to start on the floor, not just in the server room. Train up or pay up.
Why the Corner Store Might Beat Big Retail at Tech
While no one was watching, convenience stores became hotbeds of retail innovation. AI-powered video analytics are reducing shrink, mobile ordering is speeding up service, and IoT-connected devices are making store management smarter and more efficient. Who says small formats can’t think big?
Kitestring’s View: C-stores are proving that you do not need sprawling square footage to lead in retail tech. These nimble operators are showing bigger players how to leverage AI and IoT for fast, frictionless experiences. Watch this space! Today’s corner store might just be tomorrow’s innovation lab.
“Vulcan works alongside our employees, and the combination is better than either on their own,”
Amazon just introduced Vulcan, its first AI-powered robotic arm with a sense of touch. Designed for precision in fulfillment centers, it is part of a broader €700 million investment in smarter delivery stations and faster same-day shipping across Europe. Fulfillment just got a whole lot more high-tech and a little more human.
Kitestring Perspective: Vulcan is not here to take jobs; it is here to tag in for the boring, back-breaking parts. By teaming up with human workers instead of replacing them, Amazon is showing that the future of automation is collaboration. Let the bots do the heavy lifting so people can focus on the brain work!
CFOs, It’s Time to Treat Cybersecurity Like a Line Item
Retail CFOs are stepping into a new role: chief defenders of digital and physical assets. This piece lays out seven must-know strategies, from beefed-up cybersecurity and retail-specific cyber insurance to AI and blockchain-powered supply chain visibility. It’s a survival guide for navigating economic shakeups, inventory threats, and cyberattacks with your balance sheet intact.
Our Thoughts: Smart CFOs aren’t waiting for IT to handle the hacks. Cybersecurity is now a financial strategy, not just a tech concern. The future belongs to finance leaders who can spot a weak link in the supply chain faster than a hacker can say “phishing scam.”
Retail Tech Podcast Pick: Future of Loyalty is Experiential!
In this episode of the Retail Tech Podcast, Superlogic CEO Lin Dai makes a compelling case: loyalty isn’t about points anymore, it’s about emotional payoff. With the loyalty management market racing toward $25 billion, brands are moving from transactional perks to relationship-building moments. As customers, especially Gen Z and affluent Millennials, chase experiences over freebies, the loyalty game is getting a major glow-up.
Kitestring’s View: Most people are drowning in ~15 loyalty programs that all feel the same. The real winners? Brands offering access, not discounts. VIP events, once-in-a-lifetime perks, exclusive experiences. That’s the new loyalty language. If your program can’t answer “what can you give me that money can’t buy,” it’s already outdated.
“It isn't just digitization of a kitchen ticket and order workflow, but it's really leveraging visual cues and gamification to engage the team member,”
Wingstop’s Kitchens Are About to Get Smarter Than You
Wingstop is firing up its AI-powered Smart Kitchens later this year after testing in nearly 200 locations. The goal is faster service, more consistent food quality, and a smoother experience for both staff and customers. It is a bold play that could set a new standard for back-of-house innovation.
Kitestring POV: This is how you modernize without losing your flavor, literally. Wingstop’s move shows that AI is not just about the customer-facing side. It is a competitive advantage behind the scenes, too. Expect other restaurant brands to start taking notes or risk getting left behind in the grease trap of outdated operations.
Thanks for Reading!
From cyber playbooks to AI-powered fryers, the rules of retail are being rewritten faster than ever! Whether you’re leading transformation in the boardroom or testing new tech on the sales floor, one thing is clear: the future favors the prepared. We’re proud to bring you insights that keep you sharp, agile, and ahead of the curve. Thanks for reading Behind the Counter. We’ll see you next month with more ideas shaping the future of retail!