Retailers recognize the need to transform, but most are missing the crucial first step. In this episode of Talk Retail to Me, Parker Avery’s Dan Wittner joins Snowflake’s Freddy Guard for a candid discussion about one of the most underestimated barriers to retail innovation: disconnected, messy, and misgoverned retail data.
Whether it’s launching AI initiatives, reshaping supply chains, or reimagining omnichannel experiences, true retail transformation begins with a solid data foundation. But legacy systems, siloed functions, and a lack of clear governance continue to block progress, even for Fortune 500 retailers.
Dan and Freddy break down why transformation fails without clean, connected data and outline how progressive retailers are finally getting it right. From AI-enabled data cleanup to demand planning and inventory visibility, they share actionable steps for retailers ready to transform and realize meaningful, sustainable business results.
Key Takeaways
- Transformation begins with data. No technology can deliver ROI without a clean, unified data foundation.
- Retail is at an inflection point. Channel complexity, evolving shopper behavior, and economic volatility demand better data visibility and governance.
- Data strategy must be a business strategy. Aligning IT and business objectives is crucial for driving meaningful change.
- Start small to scale fast. Break inertia by focusing on a high-impact use case, then use that momentum to drive enterprise-wide transformation.
- AI is no longer the barrier. With modern tools, data cleanup and governance are now finally scalable, enabling faster decision-making and smarter planning.
- Organizational change management is critical to successful transformation. Technology alone doesn’t transform a business; people and culture do.
- Success requires vision and leadership. Winning retailers are pairing strategic roadmaps with empowered business champions to drive sustainable change.
Episode Highlights
- Why retailers must rethink data as a transformation enabler, not just a technical asset
- The disconnect between AI hype and data reality
- How legacy thinking is holding back progress
- What meaningful change looks like, from inventory chaos to demand-driven agility
- Real-world case study: how a global grocer unlocked enterprise-wide transformation by modernizing data
- Why transformation efforts fail without business alignment and culture change
- How to build the right capabilities roadmap: assessment, strategy, and execution
“There is no AI strategy without a data strategy. The differentiator isn’t the model—it’s the data behind it.”
– Freddy Guard, Snowflake
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