Agentic Commerce Is Reaching Retail Faster Than Retail Is Ready

Agentic commerce puts an AI agent between retailer and customer, searching, comparing and buying on the shopper's behalf. This SoftServe briefing draws on EHI Retail Institute's survey of 218 decision-makers across German-speaking retail to map how close that shift is and how ready the sector is for it.

Expectation is settled. According to EHI, 86.1% expect AI agents to influence their customers' purchase decisions. Readiness is not: only 39.2% rate their data good enough to support one.

Inside: how fast retailers expect online and in-store buying to change, when investment starts moving, and the three decisions that separate the retailers who will be ready.