In the midst of uncertain economic conditions and extraordinary technology disruption, we see 2026 as a year when retailers’ focus will have to be on profitability above all else. Innovative technologies that tackle real pain points and open opportunities will become particularly important to retailers and brands navigating the pressures of higher wages, waning consumer confidence, and intensifying competition. The bottom line: To retain both customers and market share, retailers must invest to innovate.
Forrester’s new report, 2026 NRF New York Innovators Showcase: Retail Tech Companies To Watch, produced in partnership with the National Retail Federation’s Innovation Advisory Committee (IAC), highlights 50 companies that are tackling problems and creating opportunities for retailers. These solutions to retailers’ operational and strategic challenges can help reduce costs, drive efficiency, and create better customer experiences.
This research follows our 2025 series of retail technology overview reports about the NRF Innovators Showcase that we published for the NRF Big Show in January, NRF APAC in June, and NRF Europe in September.
What Is The NRF Big Show Innovators Showcase?
The 2026 NRF Big Show Innovators Showcase features 50 technology vendors from around the world chosen by the NRF’s IAC, a group of over 20 industry leaders, venture capitalists, and technology accelerators (Forrester is a member). 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 that is being addressed?
Product-to-market fit. Has the solution proven its value through partnerships and pilots?
Scalability. Is the company ready to deliver at scale across the industry?
This report showcases three key areas of retail that the technologies address:
AI. Almost three-quarters of director-plus decision-makers say they’re already adopting AI agents. AI agent use cases in retail include areas such as harmonizing fragmented product data for better merchandising, negotiating with suppliers, and dynamically personalizing web experiences for customers.
Analytics in physical spaces. Retailers are digitizing stores with sensors, robotics, and voice AI to generate analytics on par with e-commerce. This physical intelligence lets them optimize labor, inventory, and expansion.
Supply chain and merchandising. Operational efficiency is now a strategic priority as innovators unify data and automate workflows. API-first architectures and AI-driven decisioning replace rigid integrations, delivering agility, speed, and responsiveness.
NRF site visitors and Forrester clients can download the report from the respective websites to learn more about these companies. If you’re a Forrester client and would like to learn more, please schedule a guidance session or inquiry with me.
