Artificial Intelligence paves the way for a new cycle in retail

As national retail adapts to new tax, digital and logistics requirements, a silent but decisive transformation begins to happen with the arrival of autonomous Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents. More than support tools, these systems are beginning to operate as intelligent digital resources, with the ability to learn, decide and act on behalf of the company, directly influencing commercial and operational performance.

According to the latest PwC report, 79% of executives surveyed say their companies already use AI agents and 88% intend to increase AI investments in the next 12 months.In another survey, Deloitte projects that 25% of companies will adopt agents by 2025, reaching 50% in 2027. This demonstrates that agents are no longer promising, they are already part of the business infrastructure.

More than automating tasks, AI agents are redefining leadership by providing contextual intelligence for high-impact decisions.The leader goes from being the centralizer of information to becoming an orchestrator of human talent and digital capabilities. This change requires more data-driven action, capable of transforming AI-generated insights into inspiring actions and concrete results.In practice, the focus of leadership migrates to vision, organizational culture and strategy, while AI takes over execution and analysis in real time.

If digital transformation has given scale and visibility to business, AI agents are taking retail to a new level, that of computational autonomy.

From operational gain to applied intelligence

Retail now enters the era of intelligent digital performance. For CEOs and directors, postponing the integration of AI agents is to risk efficiency and relevance in the market. The data already indicate that those who lead this adoption creates competitive advantage, reduces costs, accelerates decisions and promotes more fluid buying experiences. But you need to act with strategy, governance and clear purpose, it is not enough to just implement the technology, you need to redesign the business around it.

AI agents are not just chatbots, but FAQ assistants.We are talking about systems that interact with different platforms, analyze large volumes of data in real time, and can perform routines such as automatic product repricing, intelligent inventory redistribution, demand forecasting, fraud detection, or personalized service based on predictive behavior, without relying on human triggers.

The adoption of artificial intelligence agents begins with tangible gains such as more efficiency, predictability, productivity and less operational friction. But the potential goes beyond. It is already possible to connect models that monitor sales channels in real time and adjust campaigns based on variables such as regional performance, consumer behavior and stock availability without manual intervention.Before restricted to robust centralized intelligence structures, these capabilities are now made possible by cloud solutions and the advancement of AI as a service, accessible even to networks operating outside large centers.

This new scenario also changes consumer expectations. According to the Capgemini Research Institute, 71% of people expect retail to incorporate generative AI capabilities into their shopping experiences.And 58% already prefer recommendations made by these agents to traditional search engines.More than a technological choice, the incorporation of AI becomes a strategic response to the new consumer logic.

Are Brazilian retailers ready?

Despite recent advances, Brazilian retail is still moving with caution. Many businesses, especially outside the major centers, are still stuck with legacy systems and manual processes.On the other hand, there is a concrete opportunity for those who want to reposition themselves. The adoption of intelligent agents has become more viable and accessible with the growth of AI as a service, the advancement of models open source and the consolidation of interoperable platforms, creating a favorable scenario for those who want to start now.

In retail, where tight margins and agility define competitiveness, AI is revolutionizing the entire operational journey, from inventory planning to personalized service.Smart agents analyze consumption behavior, purchase history, local trends and even external variables, such as climate and seasonality, to predict demand, adjust prices and recommend products accurately. The result is a more proactive retail, able to anticipate customer needs and reduce waste.

In addition, AI allows you to simulate scenarios before executing them, reducing risks and increasing the return on investment. Thus, the decision-making process no longer depends on subjective intuitions to rely on predictive analysis based on concrete data, without giving up human sensitivity, still essential in the consumer experience.