NEC Unveils AI Arsenal to Reshape APAC Retail at NRF 2026

SINGAPORE – May 13, 2026 – As the retail world converges on Singapore for the highly anticipated NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show Asia Pacific, technology giant NEC Corporation is set to capture the spotlight. From June 2-4 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo, the company will unveil a comprehensive suite of advanced retail solutions, signaling a major push to redefine the region's retail landscape through the power of artificial intelligence and data analytics.

NEC's participation in the Asia-Pacific edition of the world's largest retail conference underscores a strategic focus on a market undergoing profound digital transformation. The company aims to demonstrate how its cutting-edge technologies can address pressing industry challenges, from enhancing the customer journey to boosting employee efficiency and fortifying digital defenses.

The AI-Powered Retail Revolution

The timing of NEC's showcase aligns perfectly with the explosive growth of AI adoption across the Asia-Pacific retail sector. Themed 'The Next Now,' NRF 2026 APAC is expected to draw over 13,000 professionals eager to discover the next wave of innovation. Industry reports project the AI in Retail market for the APAC region to skyrocket from approximately $2.9 billion in 2024 to over $28 billion by 2032, a testament to the technology's perceived value.

This enthusiasm is palpable on the ground, where retailers are moving beyond theoretical interest to active implementation. According to recent market studies, the adoption of sophisticated AI agents among consumer businesses in the region is predicted to leap from 29% to 76% within the next two years. These AI systems are poised to handle everything from inventory forecasting to personalized customer engagement, fundamentally altering store operations.

However, this rapid adoption is not without its challenges. Many retailers grapple with managing vast datasets and lack the in-house technical expertise required for successful AI integration. It is within this context of immense opportunity and significant hurdles that NEC is positioning its integrated suite of solutions as a key enabler for the future of retail.

From Lost Leads to Intelligent Operations

Moving beyond the buzz of AI, NEC's demonstrations focus on solving tangible, real-world problems for retailers. A centerpiece of its exhibition is Mi-Eye, a technology that transforms existing in-store security cameras into powerful analytical tools. Instead of requiring costly new hardware, Mi-Eye leverages computer vision to analyze customer behavior, identify points of friction in the shopping journey, and uncover the reasons behind lost sales. This allows retailers to move from simply recording footage to generating actionable intelligence that can directly recover lost revenue, a concept already being proven in markets like Japan where similar technologies are streamlining checkout processes.

Another key innovation is Supervity's AI Employees, a solution branded as 'Agentic Retail.' This platform is designed to automate and intelligently manage fragmented retail workflows. These digital employees can execute high-volume, repetitive transactions, learn from exceptions, and scale across an enterprise to create frictionless, error-free operations. This directly addresses the industry's need for greater efficiency in back-office and supply chain processes.

NEC is also tackling the persistent problem of retail shrinkage with its AI-Powered Integrity solution. By using AI to monitor transactions and in-store activities, the system helps eliminate revenue leakage from theft and operational errors, safeguarding profitability while ensuring a secure environment for customers. For store-level execution, the Connected Retail Operations platform utilizes smart glasses to guide employees through tasks, stream live video for remote support, and provide real-time alerts. This hands-free approach promises to improve task consistency and employee productivity across a retail network.

Underpinning these offerings is a commitment to a true Online-Merge-Offline (OMO) strategy. NEC will demonstrate how it can merge beacon-based in-store data with online customer insights to power AI-driven actions, creating the seamless, unified shopping journey that modern consumers demand.

Securing the Digital Storefront

Perhaps the most critical component of NEC's holistic vision is its focus on cybersecurity. The rapid digital transformation across the APAC region has created a vastly expanded attack surface, making retailers a prime target for cybercriminals. Industry data reveals a troubling trend: the retail sector has suffered the most cyber breaches in APAC over the past two years, largely due to insufficient investment in security. The region now accounts for over a third of global cyber incidents, with system intrusions and ransomware attacks dominating the threat landscape.

In response, NEC is highlighting CyIOC, its next-generation cybersecurity service. More than just a defensive tool, CyIOC is a proactive intelligence and operations center that combines advanced AI with human expertise to predict and prevent attacks before they cause disruption. The service is designed to strengthen cyber resilience across complex global supply chains, a critical concern for retailers who depend on a web of international partners. By providing predictive threat intelligence, automated analysis, and rapid incident response, CyIOC aims to build the trust and data integrity necessary for a secure digital retail ecosystem.

Navigating a Competitive Landscape

NEC enters the bustling NRF 2026 APAC floor alongside other technology powerhouses like Blue Yonder and Diebold Nixdorf, each vying to equip retailers for the future. The competitive environment reflects the immense demand for technological solutions that can deliver a clear return on investment. According to leading analyst firm Gartner, an overwhelming 91% of retail IT leaders have identified AI as their top technology priority for implementation by 2026.

While the appetite for AI is strong, industry experts caution that the path to transformation is complex. Successful implementation requires not only sophisticated technology but also robust data governance and a commitment to upskilling the workforce. By presenting a comprehensive portfolio that spans from in-store analytics and operational automation to foundational cybersecurity, NEC is making a compelling case that it can be a strategic partner in this journey.

As retailers across the Asia-Pacific region seek to navigate economic pressures and evolving consumer expectations, the integration of intelligent, secure, and efficient technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity for survival and growth. The solutions on display in Singapore will offer a clear glimpse into this new reality, where data-driven insights and automated processes form the backbone of modern commerce.