Your Tech Stack Called. It Wants an Upgrade.

From smart carts to AI agents to kitchen tech that actually works, this month we’re diving into the upgrades that are helping retailers move faster, serve better, and stay ahead of the curve.

July 28, 2025

Hello Reader,

Summer's heating up, and so is retail tech. Whether it’s AI agents that act on your behalf to carts that practically shop for you, this month is full of innovation that’s bold, practical, and occasionally a little weird (looking at you, autonomous bots). We’re diving into how major players like Amazon and Walmart are evolving their tech stacks and what it means for the rest of us trying to stay one step ahead. Whether you’re running stores, scaling foodservice, or trying to keep up with high-low shopper habits, this one’s for you!

Amazon and Walmart Go Head-to-Head

Amazon and Walmart are both going big on AI, but they’re not taking the same road. Walmart is arming store associates with AI tools to move faster and work smarter. Amazon is building its own end-to-end AI stack so it can run the whole show in-house.

Kitestring Takeaway: This is peak retail strategy energy. Walmart’s going human-plus-tech. Amazon’s going tech-on-tech. Both are smart moves, just different flavors. Before diving into AI, ask yourself: are you enhancing the experience or just adding more noise?

“I need a Smart Cart that keeps me out of trouble and makes me feel like I’ve got a co-pilot. One that adapts to me, not just the ideal shopper from a design doc. Give me something I didn’t know, didn’t think about, or straight-up forgot. That’s smart.”

- Jason Todd, Kitestring

Smart Carts for Dummies (and Everyone Else, too)

Jason Todd has tested plenty of Smart Cart solutions, and he’s still not convinced. Most current versions feel more like mobile self-checkout than true shopping companions. For methodical, list-following shoppers, they might work. But for everyday customers juggling impulse buys and half-formed lists, they come up short.

Kitestring’s View: The promise of Smart Carts is real, but the execution needs to go further. Truly smart means helpful, contextual, and adaptive to how people actually shop. What if the cart reminded you what brand your family prefers or flagged an item you missed last week? There’s huge potential here, as long as retailers keep evolving the experience around real customer behavior.

POS + CRM = Sales That Stick

Connecting your POS to CRM and loyalty tools isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a sales accelerator. When customer data, rewards, and transaction history live in separate systems, the friction adds up fast. But when they’re integrated, you unlock seamless experiences that drive retention and repeat purchases.

Our Perspective: Too many retailers are trying to duct-tape old systems together and wondering why it’s not working. The smarter move? Start with a modern POS that plays well with your whole stack: CRM, loyalty, inventory, analytics. When your tools talk to each other, your business runs smoother and your customers come back for more.

Take a look→

Photo by Getty Images

What’s Driving Consumer Spending? Curation, Discovery, and Thrill of the Find

Despite continued spending, inflation worries are pushing consumers to shop smarter, faster, and with more intent. New data from Placer.ai and Adobe shows five key trends shaping behavior this year: the off-price treasure hunt, blended high-low shopping, lightning-fast in-store trips, AI-powered eCommerce, and pop culture-fueled promotions.

Kitestring Perspective: The era of brand-loyal, one-channel shoppers is over. Today’s consumer is a curator, mixing Gucci with Goodwill and owning both with equal pride. It’s not just about price or status anymore; it’s about storytelling. High-low shoppers are looking for an experience. Off-price and thrift offer the thrill of the hunt, while department stores still deliver on quality and aspiration. Retailers that understand this mindset and help shoppers build their personal brand, not just buy products, will win the next decade.

“Kitchen Management Systems have moved from a nice-to-have to a strategic necessity for modern convenience stores. In an environment where foodservice is the new battleground for differentiation and profitability, KMS platforms provide the structure, visibility, and automation required to scale effectively.”

- Eugene Park, Kitestring

Kitchen Ops, Leveled Up

C-stores aren’t just snack stops anymore. With full-blown foodservice programs on the rise, operational chaos is a real risk. In this piece, Eugene, one of Kitestring’s go-to experts in c-store and retail tech, lays out why Kitchen Management Systems (KMS) are quickly becoming mission critical for keeping hot food hot, orders accurate, and teams on track.

Our Thoughts: If you're scaling foodservice without a KMS, you're basically flying blind. These systems bring order to the chaos: faster prep, fresher food, fewer mistakes, and smarter labor. C-stores that get this right aren’t just surviving, they’re serving up serious competitive edge.

AI Agents: Helpful Assistant or Chaos Machine?

The Wall Street Journal explores the next big leap in AI: autonomous agents that don’t just suggest actions but take them on your behalf. From booking travel to executing business tasks, it’s a power shift with massive potential and equally massive risk.

Kitestring’s View: This is the most exciting and terrifying development in AI. The upside is undeniable, but the margin for error is razor-thin. Retailers exploring AI agents need governance, safeguards, and crystal-clear use cases before handing over the keys. Proceed with optimism and a very large seatbelt.

Labubu, Lafufu, and the Art of Selling Out

Pop Mart turned Labubu into a viral sensation by combining limited inventory drops, TikTok hype, and smart AI demand forecasting. Their strategy? Use data to predict what fans will obsess over, then release just enough to keep the frenzy alive. When supply ran short, bootleg Lafufus flooded the market proving just how hot demand had become.

Kitestring’s Take: Retailers, take notes. This isn’t just a toy story, it’s a masterclass in demand-driven retail. Labubu’s rise proves inventory can be more than a backend problem, it can be the marketing. With AI-powered forecasting and strategic scarcity, you’re not just selling products, you’re building anticipation. Make them want it before they even know what it is.

Thanks for Reading!

Across all these stories, one truth stands out: modern retail isn’t about one big bet, it’s about making a series of sharp, strategic moves. From POS integrations that drive loyalty to smart carts that actually help, the winners are those who design around real people, not perfect personas. Keep your stack flexible, your insights fresh, and your experience personal. That’s how you thrive behind the counter.