Retail technology

Sensormatic Solutions, Johnson Controls’ retail‑tech arm, reported that U.S. Black Friday 2025 foot traffic fell 2.1% versus 2024, mirroring a 2.2% year‑to‑date decline. Despite the dip, traffic jumped 56.7% during Black Friday week and surged 248.9% on the day itself, peaking at 3 p.m. The “golden window” is expected to shift to the days before Christmas, as the holiday lands on a Thursday. Retailers leveraging real‑time sensor, AI, and edge‑computing analytics can optimize staffing, inventory and dynamic pricing, a strategy that helped 77% of top 2024 performers sustain success into 2025.

Instacart launched a suite of AI-powered solutions, including an AI shopping assistant (“Cart Assistant”) and “Store View” for real-time shelf monitoring, to help grocers personalize shopping experiences and optimize operations. Sprouts and Kroger are early adopters. Instacart aims to democratize access to advanced technology, partnering with AI leaders like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google. This move positions Instacart as a key technology partner amid increasing competition from retail giants like Amazon and Walmart investing in their own AI capabilities.