The Pace of Change in Retail Has Never Been Faster with Richard Lim | RTS 2026
About this episode
Chris Walton interviews Richard Lim about the accelerating pace of change in retail and the impact of AI on consumer behavior and discoverability.
In this Omni Talk Retail episode, recorded live at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London from the Vusion podcast studio, Chris Walton speaks with Richard Lim, CEO and Founder of Retail Economics, about the accelerating pace of change reshaping retail. Richard shares how today’s macroeconomic environment, from inflation pressures to global energy shifts, is forcing retailers to rethink how they operate and respond to rapidly evolving consumer behavior. At the same time, AI is fundamentally changing how people discover, research, and increasingly purchase products. He outlines a three-stage framework for how AI is transforming retail, from off-site discovery through platforms like ChatGPT, to on-site AI assistants, to the rise of agentic browsers that can act on behalf of consumers. Across all of it, one theme stands out: discoverability is the next battleground. The conversation also dives into how different categories will be impacted at different speeds, why high-consideration purchases are especially vulnerable to AI disruption, and how retailers need to rethink search, data, and digital presence for an AI-driven future. Key Topics Covered: • Why the pace of change in retail is…
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