Retail media, AI, and
the opportunities for
retailers in 2026

Retail media has matured into a powerhouse digital advertising channel, but years of margin pressure and rising operational complexity are driving retailers to seek the next frontier of growth. Now, in the age of agentic artificial intelligence (AI), retail media is poised to take its most transformative leap yet.

In this exclusive whitepaper, authored by retail journalist Ben Sillitoe in collaboration with ADvendio and leading industry analysts, we examine the exact intersection where retail media and AI meet. From conversational search engines to autonomous advertising automation, we break down how retailers can protect bottom-line margins while capturing untapped ad revenue streams.

What you’ll discover inside:

  • The Current State of Play: Why commerce media now commands a massive 21.5% share of the total digital advertising market.
  • Omnichannel Sophistication: How industry leaders like Dollar General, Walmart, and Cotswold Outdoor Group are unifying on-site, off-site, and in-store screen inventory.
  • The Power of Agentic Advertising: How autonomous AI agents act as a force multiplier for lean retail media teams to scale ad sales without adding headcount.
  • Safeguarding First-Party Data: Why pre-purchase shopper intent data remains a retailer's ultimate "secret sauce" against LLM data minimization.
  • The 2026 Retailer Playbook: A practical 5-point action checklist to establish C-suite alignment, achieve operational excellence, and stand out in a crowded market.

Whether you are formalizing your very first retail media division or looking to maximize the ROI of mature digital assets, this report provides the strategic insights you need to stay ahead.

Construct Profitable Ad Network

Ovcme Critical Scaling Hurd

Publishers are no strangers to jaw-dropping changes. But now, with AI, it feels more disruptive, more overwhelming than ever.

This white paper aims to turn the noise into actionable clarity. We sifted through 22 resources, including surveys, reports, interviews, and case studies, so you can take the information that really matters and go make an impact for your company and your audience.

Download our Whitepaper

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