Retailers are currently facing significant pressure to integrate AI into their operations to enhance personalization and supply chain visibility. However, many organizations struggle to scale these innovations due to fragmented technology environments that lack architectural coherence. To address these barriers, Info-Tech Research Group has released its "Build a Next-Gen Retail Tech Stack Roadmap" blueprint. This resource is designed to help CIOs and retail IT leaders map their current landscapes and align technology investments with tangible business outcomes.
Info-Tech Research Group launches a structured roadmap to modernize retail technology stacks.
Fragmented ecosystems and disconnected point solutions are identified as primary AI adoption barriers.
The framework provides a single source of truth to prove ROI on technology investments.
A three-phase methodology guides leaders from executive alignment to roadmap execution.
The "Build a Next-Gen Retail Tech Stack Tool" consolidates assessments and application heatmaps.
Focus remains on moving from legacy dependence to AI-ready, scalable infrastructures.
Modern retail operations often suffer from a sprawl of independent point solutions that increase architectural complexity. This fragmentation obscures visibility into data flows, security, and spending, making it nearly impossible to establish the high-quality data foundation required for AI. Info-Tech's research emphasizes that adding more tools is not the solution; rather, retailers must understand how existing systems connect and where they fail to support core business capabilities.
"CIOs face a paradox where technology is more abundant than ever, yet digital coherence has never been harder to achieve," says Donnafay MacDonald, research director at Info-Tech Research Group. "Retailers will not solve fragmentation by adding another tool. They need to understand what they already have, how it connects, and where it falls short before they can build the foundation for intelligent, connected retail."
The blueprint outlines a definitive three-phase approach to transform disconnected landscapes into actionable plans. This process begins with defining a shared vision between executive and IT leaders, followed by a rigorous evaluation of the technology layers—including experience, operations, data, and AI. By scoring applications and identifying gaps, organizations can transition from anecdotal debates to data-driven decision-making regarding which systems to maintain or transform.
"Retail CIOs do not need another long-range transformation plan that stalls before value is realized," explains MacDonald. "They need a focused way to clarify what the business needs, understand the systems that enable those capabilities, and move forward with a roadmap that balances quick wins with long-term scalability."
Beyond implementing new software, the roadmap stresses the importance of organizational agreement on architectural principles. By following this sequenced methodology, retailers can reduce technical debt and create a coherent foundation for AI-enabled services. This alignment ensures that every modernization step directly contributes to improving the customer journey from the warehouse to the checkout.
About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is the "get things done" partner for over 30,000 IT, HR, and marketing leaders worldwide. The fastest growing research and advisory firm, Info-Tech enables leaders to make well-informed decisions and transform their organizations through AI, strategic foresight, step-by-step methodologies, practical tools, industry-leading advisory, and training programs. For nearly 30 years, tens of thousands of private and public organizations have trusted Info-Tech to lead their most important initiatives through periods of change and deliver outcomes that truly matter.
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