The pace of technology in retail and hospitality has never been faster. New Tech Now cuts through the noise with recently released solutions, curated for executives who need to know what's deployable today. This content is not sponsored unless noted.

Coveo

Conversational Product Discovery


Released: March 2026



Application: Ecommerce, DTC, AI-powered product search & discovery


Coveo embedded conversational AI directly into its commerce search experience. Shoppers describe what they need in natural language and receive product results drawn from the retailer’s catalog without leaving the search interface. Merchandisers retain control via content guardrails, layout rules, and merchandising directives. 

In-Store Marketplace/ Stater Bros.  

In-Store Retail Media Network


Released: May 2026


Application: Grocery retail, in-store media, programmatic advertising


ISM partnered with Stater Bros. Markets to launch a programmatic in-store retail media network combining ISM’s centralized media platform with Mood Media’s existing in-store hardware. The rollout enables campaign activation, inventory management, targeting, and programmatic buying through a single platform.

 

Popmenu/SpotOn

Direct Integration Restaurant Marketing & Unified Commerce


Released: April 2026


Application: Restaurant marketing, POS, operations


Popmenu and SpotOn launched a direct integration connecting Popmenu’s marketing tools — websites, online ordering, guest communications — with SpotOn’s POS and payments platform. Data syncs automatically between systems, eliminating manual reconciliation. Available to restaurants of all sizes running both platforms. 

ChannelEngine

AI Attribute Builder & Agentic Commerce Connections


Released: May 2026


Application: Ecommerce, marketplace management, agentic commerce, product data


ChannelEngine's Spring '26 Release lets marketplace sellers generate and enrich product attributes across their catalog using plain-language AI prompts — addressing the structured data requirements that AI shopping agents use to compare and recommend products.

 

Mews

Business Intelligence for Hotels


Released: April 2026


Application: Hotel analytics, revenue management, AI insights


Mews BI is a native analytics platform embedded within the Mews hospitality operating system. It gives hotel teams a unified view of revenue, occupancy, and booking data across properties. AI-generated summaries surface key metrics in plain language. Available at no added cost to existing Mews Analytics and Enterprise customers, with 1,000+ properties onboarded before general release.

Logile

Fresh Operations Management Suite


Released: March 2026



Application: Grocery retail, fresh operations, workforce & inventory management


Logile’s Fresh Operations Management suite connects customer demand, labor capacity, and cost data into a single model governing production, inventory, waste control, and food safety execution. When demand shifts during the day, the platform adjusts staffing and production in real time.

 

project44

AI Freight Procurement Agent


Released: March 2026



Application: Retail supply chain, freight procurement, autonomous AI agents


project44’s AI Freight Procurement Agent runs inside its Intelligent Transportation Management System, continuously comparing contracted freight rates against current market rates, evaluating carrier performance by lane, and selecting carriers autonomously. Negotiated rates flow directly into execution and shipment outcomes feed back into future sourcing decisions.

Bites

AI-Native Ordering on ChatGPT


Released: April 2026


Application: Restaurant ordering, agentic commerce, direct-to-consumer



Bites launched food ordering directly within ChatGPT, allowing diners to discover menus and place orders through conversation without leaving the platform. There are no markups or marketplace fees. Restaurants receive orders through their existing POS. No app download is required for the diner.

📊 By the Numbers


52% of hotel guests find most properties comfortable but not memorable, and only 4% feel most hotels are highly personalized.


Source: Mood Media 2026 Hospitality Consumer Survey

Have you recently introduced a new solution and want to be considered for future editions? Click below.

New Tech Now from the Retail & Hospitality Hub occasionally publishes new technology solutions that we believe will interest retail and hospitality executives.