Vusion and Qualcomm Team Up on 'AI-Native Store'
Tech firms Vusion and Qualcomm are partnering to create the "AI-Native Store," a new retail concept. The stores will use edge computing, Bluetooth, and on-device AI to personalize customer experiences and streamline operations, signaling a major shift in brick-and-mortar tech.
VusionGroup, formerly known as SES-imagotag, is a global leader in digital solutions for physical retail, serving over 350 major retail groups. The company recently rebranded to VusionGroup to reflect its expanded portfolio beyond electronic shelf labels (ESLs) to include IoT, data analytics, computer vision, and AI. Under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Thierry Gadou since 2012, VusionGroup has seen its sales grow from $83 million to over $866 million by shifting from basic shelf labels to comprehensive retail technology. The company is considered one of Europe's fastest-growing tech firms, with a five-year compound annual growth rate exceeding 30%. Qualcomm, led by President and CEO Cristiano Amon, is a major player in semiconductor and wireless technology, and has been increasingly focusing on IoT applications for various sectors, including retail. This collaboration aims to leverage Qualcomm's expertise in on-device AI and edge computing to make physical stores more intelligent and responsive. The "AI-Native Store" concept relies on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) infrastructure to interact with the billions of BLE-native devices shoppers already carry, such as smartphones and wearables. This enables stores to sense a shopper's intent, personalize their experience in real-time, and connect engagement with conversion. The partnership anticipates significant operational benefits for retailers, including a potential 1.5 to 2 point increase in operating margin. They also project that the technology can save 60-90 minutes of an employee's time per shift and lead to double-digit improvements in on-shelf product availability. This collaboration is part of a broader trend of retail automation, with the global electronic shelf label market alone valued at $2.2 billion in 2025 and projected to grow significantly. VusionGroup is a dominant player in this market, which is driven by the need for dynamic pricing and improved operational efficiency.
