Only 18% of retailers have actually solved Buy Online Pickup In Store (BOPIS), and the profit winners are 555% more likely to have it optimized. *Greg Buzek* of *IHL Services* breaks down the connected supply chain: RFID, computer vision, edge computing, and the retail returns problem AI is finally starting to fix.
This is Part 3 of our AI in Retail miniseries on the *Data Blades* podcast, the show that slices through retail research for sharp, actionable insights. We started with shelf intelligence and the augmented associate. Now Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden close it out with Greg on the part of retail that keeps executives up at night: the connected supply chain, fulfillment, and reverse logistics.
Inside the connected supply chain you’ll hear why buy online pickup in store (BOPIS) is the single biggest capability gap in IHL's *2026 Retail Transformation study,* how RFID makes leaders 1,600% more likely to be optimized for fulfillment, why computer vision now runs on the edge for under $500, and why over 90% of women’s dresses bought online get returned. If you only watch one episode on the connected supply chain this year, make it this one.
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*This Episode is Brought to You By*
*RetailClub* https://www.retailclub.com/
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*The Retail Razor: Data Blades S2:E9*
*Released on June 19, 2026*
*Resource Links*
*How Retail Leaders Outperform* - https://www.ihlservices.com/product/how-retail-leaders-outperform/
*Shelf Intelligence Report* - https://www.ihlservices.com/product/shelf-intelligence-report-rebuilding-retail-relationships-through-automation/
*Adapt or Be Outpaced* - https://www.ihlservices.com/product/adapt-or-be-outpaced-tech-imperative-for-retails-midmarket/
*Fixing Inventory Distortion* - https://www.ihlservices.com/product/fixing-inventory-distortion-whos-winning-whos-failing-whats-working/
*Closing the Execution Gap* - https://www.ihlservices.com/product/closing-the-execution-gap/
*Guest info*
Greg Buzek. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbuzek/
IHL Group. https://www.ihlservices.com/
Greg Buzek is the Founder, President and Principal Analyst of IHL Group, one of the most respected retail technology research firms in the world. IHL's annual retail transformation study is the largest survey of retail technology leaders in the industry, covering more than 400 brands across every retail segment.
*Chapters*
00:00 Teaser
00:46 Show Intro
04:05 Welcome Back, Greg Buzek!
07:09 Inventory Accuracy Tech Stack
10:01 Computer Vision Goes Edge
15:18 Returns and Reverse Logistics
20:50 Return Fraud and Smart Mirrors
26:04 2026 Priorities Clean Data
29:35 Show Close
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