​Editors' Picks: This Week's Tech Thought Leadership​​

Understanding QSR Resilience: A Look at Taco Bell Through Location Insights

When a restaurant brand makes headlines, how quickly does that attention show up in visits? And how far does the effect reach? [Azira].
Tags: Outbreak‑Driven Demand Shock, Market‑Level Foot Traffic Declines, QSR Recovery Signals

Beyond the Contact Center: Connecting the sales floor to the Customer Journey

To deliver a connected customer journey for retail stores, brands must take customer experience intelligence beyond the contact center and bring it directly onto the store floor [Talkdesk].
Tags: Connected Store Intelligence, Unified Customer Context, AI‑Powered In‑Store Support

Movie Theaters Are Having a Blockbuster Year

Dive into visits to AMC Theatres, Cinemark, and Regal Cinemas to see which releases coincided with the biggest traffic spikes – and how those busy weekends are adding up [Placer.ai].
Tags: Blockbuster‑Driven Foot Traffic, 2026 Theater Visit Surge, Release‑Triggered Audience Spikes

The Difference Between The Ads That Add Value and Ones That Don’t

Not all advertising creates value. Learn how retailers, advertisers, and commerce partners can create experiences that drive engagement and protect GMV [Fluent].
Tags: Additive Ad Experiences, GMV Protection, Post‑Purchase Relevance

How Restaurants Should Budget for AI in 2027

Restaurants are adopting AI fast, but budgets built for fixed software can’t keep up. Costs rise with every interaction, and the real budget breaker isn’t where most expect [Qu].
Tags: Usage‑Driven AI Costs, Restaurant AI Budgeting, Variable‑Ops Cost Modeling

Why Cart Abandonment Rates Are So High For International Shoppers

International shoppers aren’t abandoning carts at random; there’s a hidden friction point in the cross‑border checkout that quietly kills conversions long before payment [ESW].
Tags: Cross‑Border Checkout Friction, Currency & Payment Barriers, International Delivery Drop‑Offs

The Hidden Weak Spot Fueling Today’s Gift Card Fraud Boom

With no major security innovation since 2009, activation‑stage vulnerabilities are letting organized fraud rings drain cards at scale [Digimarc].
Tags: Activation‑Layer Security Gap, Organized Card‑Draining Fraud, Outdated Gift Card Protections

RH-Hub is a 2027 Media Partner

---

Rollout! The Latest in Retail & Hospitality Tech​​

• Burger King backs off AI-only drive-thru ordering, will make it easier to reach a human.
• McDonald's to scale its ArchIQ AI operating system, with Archy voice ordering, starting in 2027.
• Lowe's launches drone delivery pilot with Wing and DoorDash.
• Dollar General goes live on Instacart, starting at 7,000 stores and scaling to 20,000 this fall.
• Walmart CEO pledges digital shelf labels won't use shopper data as chain-wide rollout nears.
• Airbnb takes Instacart grocery delivery nationwide, with Canada next.
• Macy's moves AI replenishment forecasting from pilot to broader rollout.

---

Leaders Making Us Think​​

Seeing AI Influence Isn’t the Same as Rewarding It

Matt Gilbert, CEO, Partnerize

The Connective Layer Retailers Need Before Another AI Tool

Q&A with Alexandra Franco, Founder at Empact

In Defense of the Em Dash (and everything else on this 'AI tell' trial)

Leah Messenger, Senior Content Marketing Manager, Optimizely

New Research Confirms It: Smart Shopping Will Define Holiday 2026

Questions & Answers with Rodney Mason, Chief Marketing Officer for Minty

The Hidden Costs of Unsecured Pickup Shelves 

Q&A with Ashley McNamara, Vice President, Global Marketing at Apex Order Pickup Solutions

View More thought LEADERS

---

We maintain editorial independence. Content is not sponsored unless indicated.

---