Only 7% of Retailers Achieve Unified Commerce Leadership as AI and Fulfillment Costs Reshape Industry — Manhattan Associates Inc.

Event summary

Manhattan Associates' 2026 Global Unified Commerce Benchmark reveals only 7% of specialty retailers have achieved leadership in unified commerce, while 33% remain at basic maturity levels.
Leaders in unified commerce are experiencing nearly 2X higher growth rates compared to their basic peers.
AI is projected to unlock $500 billion in global retail value by 2030, shifting focus from task automation to intelligent systems.
Global logistics and fulfillment costs have risen by over 20% in the last three years.
38% of capabilities that differentiated leaders in 2024 have become table stakes by 2026.

The big picture

The 2026 benchmark highlights a new competitive reality in specialty retail where scale, assortment, and brand presence alone no longer guarantee growth. The industry is shifting towards data-driven, customer-centric experiences enabled by AI and real-time inventory intelligence. Retailers that fail to invest in connected experiences risk falling behind as leaders translate these capabilities into higher growth rates and stronger customer loyalty.

What we're watching

AI Integration: How the rapid adoption of AI in retail will affect operational efficiency and customer experience.
Regional Disparities: Whether regional differences in unified commerce maturity will persist or converge over time.
Cost Pressures: The pace at which rising fulfillment costs will force retailers to innovate or risk margin compression.