AI agents are revolutionizing commerce today, transforming how consumers discover, evaluate, and purchase products. However, a survey of leading consultancy partners, including Deloitte and Adobe, reveals significant gaps in retailer readiness for this shift. While AI-driven commerce reshapes consumer behavior—eliminating traditional site visits and altering buying patterns—retailers have not adequately prepared. Three major areas of concern include:
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Catalog Readiness: Retailers lack structured, machine-readable data that AI agents require for effective product comparisons.
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Visibility and Monitoring: Many retailers are unaware of their visibility in AI-driven searches, hindering their competitive edge.
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Operational Reliability: Retailers must ensure real-time inventory accuracy and consistent operational promises to satisfy AI agents.
The shift towards agentic commerce makes it crucial for brands to optimize their data and infrastructure to remain competitive. Marketplace strategies focusing on structured data and wider assortments will likely lead the way in this transformative era.
