Same Models, Same Data, and Same Results: Why Retail AI Needs Competitive Potency

This IDC Perspective discusses the role of competitive potency in retail AI. AI has proven measurable ROI in retail. Companies such as Sephora, Kroger, Tesco, The Home Depot, and Dollar General have all witnessed the benefits of AI. However, widespread adoption erodes competitive advantage. The new game is competitive potency. This is the ability to exceed your competitors using AI, grow faster, capture more market share, and move ahead in the game. The gains AI brings are just table stakes; to move faster requires something more. More than just nuances of AI technology, one should learn how to use it to build competitive potency for their organization."When everyone has AI, competitive advantage vanishes. True potency lies in how you secure, differentiate, and trust your data, processes, and people," says Ananda Chakravarty, VP Research, IDC Retail Insights.