Unforgettable two days at Retail Technology Show 2026, and we’re still buzzing.
From the moment the doors opened, it was non-stop. Great conversations, a packed stand, and the chance to reconnect with customers, partners and meet plenty of new faces across the industry. The energy across the show floor was unreal and the conversations reflected that.
What We Heard on the Ground
Beyond the buzz, what stood out most were the common themes coming through in conversations with CIOs, CTOs and IT leaders.
There’s no shortage of ambition across retail technology right now, especially when it comes to AI. But the reality is, many businesses are still dealing with the same foundational challenges:
- Legacy systems that are difficult to modernise
- Fragmented data limiting visibility and decision-making
- Increasing pressure to improve performance while keeping operations running
- Growing focus on security and resilience across infrastructure
- Increased scrutiny on total cost of ownership, not just upfront investment
- The continued importance of physical stores as part of a wider retail strategy
These aren’t new challenges, but the urgency around them has definitely increased.
A Look Back at RTS 2026
A quick look back at two packed days at RTS 2026. Great conversations, strong energy and a stand you couldn’t miss.
From Strategy to Execution
One of the biggest shifts we saw at RTS this year was the move from strategy to execution. Retailers aren’t just asking what they should do next, they’re asking how to actually deliver it. How to modernise without disruption. How to bring data together. How to make technology work better across stores, networks and operations. That’s where the conversations became more practical, and where we were able to share how businesses are approaching these challenges in real-world environments.
Bringing It All Together
At Barron McCann, we had some great discussions around how a more joined-up approach to technology can make a real difference. From onsite and remote IT support to infrastructure, deployment and lifecycle services, the focus is on connecting everything together, reducing complexity and maintaining performance across the entire technology estate. This year also marked a big step forward with Retail247, now part of Barron McCann.
There was a lot of interest in how Retail247’s platforms support:
- Better inventory visibility
- More accurate stock management
- Stronger control over product data
Bringing services and solutions together in this way positioned us as a truly end-to-end technology partner, connecting support, infrastructure and retail systems into one joined-up approach.
Moments from the Show
A snapshot of the conversations and energy from RTS 2026. From packed discussions to real moments across the stand.
A Huge Thank You
A big thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by the stand. Whether it was a quick chat or a deeper conversation, it was great to connect, share ideas and hear first-hand what’s happening across the industry. And of course, a huge thank you to our team for bringing the energy across both days.
What’s Next
The conversations don’t stop here. If you spoke to us at the show and want to pick things back up, or if you couldn’t make it this year and want to explore some of these topics further, we’d love to continue the conversation.
Continue the conversation
