Trends are one thing. What matters is how they change everyday operations.
What really matters is how trends affect daily work. In category management, in the store, in marketing, and in operational processes.
This article translates key developments into practical implications and shows which levers you can already start using today.
The following seven points are not abstract future scenarios. They are changes that have already begun and will become widely relevant by 2026. For each development you will find a practical recommendation that can be implemented without large budgets or complex IT projects.
1 POS data become the basis for decisions
Every transaction at the checkout tells a story.
Which products are bought together.
At what times certain categories perform best.
How purchasing behavior changes over weeks and months.
For a long time, these stories remained unused. POS data were stored but rarely analyzed. This is now changing fundamentally. Modern analytics and purchase intelligence solutions make these data accessible without the need for a dedicated data team.
Example:
A DIY retailer discovers through basket analysis that customers forget underlay insulation in 45 percent of laminate purchases. Previously this insight was invisible. Now it becomes the basis for targeted cross-selling measures.
How to implement:
Ask your IT department for an export of the transaction data from the last twelve months. Analyze the most common product combinations. Even a simple analysis is often enough to identify the first patterns.
2 Personalization starts with the receipt
Personalized offers do not need to be complex. The simplest entry point is the receipt.
The customer has just made a purchase, the basket is known, and the receipt will definitely reach the customer.
Digital receipts transform this moment into a personalized touchpoint. Instead of a static document, the customer receives relevant information, recommendations, or offers based on the purchase.
Example:
A drugstore chain displays a coupon for hair treatment on the digital receipt when hair dye is purchased. The redemption rate reaches 18 percent, significantly higher than traditional mass advertising.
How to implement:
Check whether your POS system supports digital receipts. Define three meaningful product combinations where a recommendation or coupon would provide value.
3 Assortment decisions become data-driven
Which products belong next to each other on the shelf.
Which items occupy shelf space without contributing to revenue.
Which category requires more space.
For a long time these decisions were based on experience or intuition.
By 2026, assortment decisions will increasingly become data-driven. Basket analyses reveal real purchasing relationships. Sales data show which products perform and which do not.
Example:
A fashion retailer discovers that belts are purchased together with jeans in 35 percent of transactions, but only when both items are available at the same time. The belts are placed directly next to the jeans. Sales increase by 40 percent.
How to implement:
Select one category with optimization potential. Analyze common product combinations and test a new shelf placement in one store.
4 Manual reports disappear
How much time does your team spend on Excel reports, data exports, and presentations?
This way of working is no longer up to date in 2026.
Modern analytics platforms provide real-time dashboards. Questions about category performance or time periods can be answered immediately. In some cases even through natural language queries using AI.
Example:
A fuel station operator uses Purchase Intelligence to analyze purchasing behavior and product sales. Previously the monthly report took several days to complete. Today all key figures are available at any time, including concrete recommendations for action.
How to implement:
List all regularly created reports. Identify the most time-consuming ones. Then evaluate which of them can be automated.
5 Campaigns become measurable all the way to the checkout
Did a campaign actually generate revenue.
How many customers redeemed a coupon.
Which promotion performed better.
In e-commerce these questions are standard. In brick-and-mortar retail they often are not.
Digital touchpoints such as apps, newsletters, and digital receipts make campaigns measurable all the way to the purchase. Marketing activities can be clearly attributed and compared.
Example:
A grocery retailer tests two coupon variants on the digital receipt. After two weeks it is clear which version performs significantly better. The insight is directly applied to the next campaign.
How to implement:
Define clear metrics before launching a campaign. Ensure that the technical infrastructure allows these results to be measured.
6 Customers expect consistency across channels
An offer from the newsletter must work in the store.
Loyalty points must apply everywhere.
Product availability should be consistent.
Breaks in the customer journey are becoming less acceptable.
Customers expect a consistent experience across all channels. This requires connected systems and clean data.
Example:
A sports retailer introduces a central customer profile. Purchase history becomes visible in the app, the online shop, and the store. Sales staff can provide more targeted advice and customer satisfaction increases measurably.
How to implement:
Test your own customer journey. Redeem online coupons in the store and document every obstacle.
7 Advertising becomes a new revenue stream for retailers
Retail media is no longer a topic only for large platforms. By 2026 it will also become relevant for mid-sized retailers.
Brands want to be close to the moment of purchase. Retailers own these touchpoints.
Whether through digital receipts, newsletters, or in-store displays, many contact points can be monetized and create new revenue streams with manageable effort.
Example:
A regional drugstore chain offers brands placements on the digital receipt. Billing is based on each displayed coupon. The retailer generates additional revenue without increasing operational workload.
How to implement:
Identify brands interested in greater visibility. Start conversations about potential placements.
Conclusion: Small steps, big impact
All seven developments have one thing in common.
The data already exist.
What is needed are not large transformation projects but the willingness to use existing information more effectively and test ideas systematically.
The best time to start was yesterday.
The second-best time is today.
Your checklist for Q1 2026
Analyze transaction data from the past twelve months
Evaluate the technical feasibility of digital receipts
Optimize one category based on data
Identify and reduce manual reporting
Ensure campaign measurability
Test your own customer journey
Start discussions with brands about retail media
From trends to implementation
Many of the described opportunities revolve around one central question:
How can POS data be analyzed in a way that leads to concrete decisions for assortment, shelf placement, marketing campaigns, and new revenue models?
This is exactly where Purchase Intelligence comes in.
Instead of static reports, the solution analyzes real purchase transactions, identifies product affinities, basket patterns, and developments over time. The result is clear answers to operational questions in brick-and-mortar retail.
Webinar on January 28: Purchase Intelligence in Brick-and-Mortar Retail
We will show what this looks like in practice during our webinar on January 28.
Topics include:
Which questions retailers can realistically answer today using POS data
Concrete use cases from category management, campaign optimization, and retail media
How analytics works without a data science team
Which quick wins can be achieved within the first weeks
👉 Register now for the webinar
Learn more about Purchase Intelligence
Purchase Intelligence by anybill makes POS data immediately usable. The platform automatically analyzes transactions, identifies relevant patterns in purchasing behavior, and translates data into concrete recommendations for brick-and-mortar retail.
More information is available at:
anybill.de/purchase-intelligence
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