Top Retailtech Influencers to Follow on Twitter and LinkedIn

The rise of the digital customer, online shopping and global retail giants is placing growing pressure on the retail market to transform virtually everything about how they do business. To keep up, retailers are investing in a wide range of technological solutions to help them better understand and serve the needs of the digitally empowered customer

According to research on retail executives by ASUG, 97% of respondents believe that technology will significantly or moderately affect their customer relationship management (CRM) or customer satisfaction process. Customer satisfaction is critical for companies in retail and consumer products to differentiate themselves from the competition with technology likely being a deciding factor that will help them serve the digitally empowered consumer. For more information on industry trends, see: The State of Retail and Consumer Products Industries.

With the acceleration of technological innovation, it’s difficult to keep up. So, we created this list of top retail technology influencers to help. We recommend using this list as a starting point to stay up to date on this exciting and rapidly changing technological space!

Steve Dresser

Managing Director at Grocery Insight

Steve Dresser | @dresserman

Retail advisor and insight provider for executives worldwide. Recognized influencer focusing on global retailtech trends and the future of retail.

Mary Portas

Chief Creative Officer at Portas

Mary Portas | @maryportas Chief Creative Officer who looks at everything through the lens of people, predominantly in the retail, fashion and service sector. Retail Advisor, journalist, TV presenter, author, Save the Children ambassador and government advisor.

Neil Saunders

Managing Director and Retail Analyst at GlobalData Retail

Neil Saunders | @NeilRetail

Working with retailers to help them make informed commercial decisions based on a thorough understanding of the market and its future direction. Specialized knowledge in consumer behavior, brand preferences, channel dynamics, market forecasts, stores and locations.

Bob Phibbs

CEO at The Retail Doctor

Bob Phibbs | @TheRetailDoctor

Professional speaker on retail sales, training and marketing. Author, blogger, business makeover specialist, and online thought leader.

Nicole Reyhle

Founder of Retail Minded

Nicole Reyhle | @RetailMinded

Experienced retail and wholesale professional who has a passion for small businesses. Recognized retail thought leader, influencer and Founder of a retail blog that shares news, education and support specific to independent retailers.

Doug Stephens

Founder and President at Retail Prophet

Doug Stephens | @RetailProphet

One of the world’s foremost retail industry futurists whose thinking has influenced many of the best-known retailers. Speaker, author of Reengineering Retail and global advisor on the future of retail.

Emma Sharley

Director at Sharley Consulting

Emma Sharley | @emsharley

Working with global brands to shape their future. Co-Founder of Shop You a fashion/AI tech startup, and recognized retail technology influencer.

Jason Goldberg

Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis

Jason Goldberg | @retailgeek

A 4th generation retailer with expert knowledge on the digital disruption of commerce. Voted as retail’s top global influencer by Vend four years in a row, and in 2017, was inducted into the National Retail Federation “The List” of people shaping the future of retail.

Steve Dennis

President and Founder at SageBerry Consulting

Steve Dennis | @StevenPDennis

Strategic advisor, international keynote speaker and writer on retail innovation and the future of shopping who has worked with dozens of retail, luxury and social impact brands to inspire, catalyze and design their journey from boring to remarkable.

Keith Anderson

SVP, Strategy and Insights at Profitero

Keith Anderson | @KeithAnderson

Forward-thinking analyst on retail, e-commerce, online grocery, CPG, and FMCG. Retailtech influencer, author and recognized speaker for the industry.

Deborah Weinswig

CEO and Founder at Coresight Research

Deborah Weinswig | @debweinswig

Retail thought-leader and influencer helping build the future of the global industry. Specializes in the future of the retail ecosystem and how it is impacted by technology.

Tadd Wilson

VP Business Development at ShopRunner

Tadd Wilson | @SmarterRetail

Retail business developer who works to put tools in the hands of retailers and merchants who seek top-line expansion and superior lifetime value. Influential in: the future of retail, retailtech and transitioning to a digital business.

Graham Soult

Owner and Retail Consultant at CannyInsights.com

Graham Soult | @soult

Retail consultant, blogger, writer and media commentator, specializing in retail technology, the future of retail and digital marketing for the industry.

Anil D. Aggarwal

Founder, Chairman and CEO at Shoptalk

Anil D. Aggarwal | @anildaggarwal

Tech Entrepreneur with exits to Google, TSYS, Ascential and Informal. Founder, CEO and Angel Investor with interest in retail technology, digital disruption and the future of the industry.

Scott Galloway

Founder and Chairman at L2

Scott Galloway | @profgalloway

Founder of L2 and a Clinical Professor of Marketing at the NYU Stern School of Business who teaches about brand strategy and digital marketing. Elected to the World’s Economic Forum’s Global Leaders of Tomorrow for having an impact on a global level who has specialized knowledge in the retail industry.

Jason Del Rey

Senior Correspondent, Commerce at Recode

Jason Del Rey | @DelRey

Senior Correspondent who reports on the future of retail, Amazon and e-commerce. Podcast producer well-known for his analysis on the disruption within retail markets and technology.

Bryan Eisenberg

Keynote Speaker and Partner at Eisenberg Holdings

Bryan Eisenberg | @TheGrok

NY Times bestselling author, keynote speaker and award-winning blogger. Internationally recognized thought-leader and pioneer in online marketing, improving conversion rates, and helping improve the customer experience in retail and other industries.

Kasey Lobaugh

Principal – Chief Retail Innovation Officer at Deloitte

Kasey Lobaugh | @klobaugh

Deloitte’s Retail Chief Innovation Officer, influential in digital marketing, improving the customer experience in the retail industry and transitioning to a digital business.

Sucharita Kodali

VP and Principal Analyst at Forrester Research

Sucharita Kodali | @smulpuru

Retail and digital operations executive who specializes in digital transformation in large B2C companies, startups and the retail experience including store operations, marketing and merchandising.

Natalie Berg

Retail Analyst, Author and Founder at NBK Retail

Natalie Berg | @natalie_berg

Retail Analyst, author and Founder of NBK Retail, a consultancy specializing in retail strategy and the future of the industry. Regular TV and radio commentator discussing retail trends and technology.

Consumer Insights Forum 2019

Join us at the Consumer Insights Forum this October 2-3 in Phoenix to learn from leading retail and consumer product professionals who are driving results with people, process and technology.

The Consumer Industries Forum is the only SAP-specific conference for retail and consumer products professionals that is officially endorsed and supported by SAP in North America. The conference provides insights into digital technology trends and the latest solutions from SAP. Learn from the industries leading experts and network with SAP users at this innovative retail and consumer products conference.

Hear expert insights from some of these retail and consumer product professionals:

  • Tony Costa, speaking on Creating Digital Trust with Blockchain in Multi-Party Collaboration
  • Manish Rathi, speaking on How Callaway Golf Drives Intelligent Order Promising
  • Suketu Patel, speaking on Lessons Learned from Tapestry’s Governance, Risk, and Compliance
  • Matt Laukaitis, speaking on the Changing the Game in Consumer Industries
  • Autumn Krauss, speaking on the Return on Experience: Delivering Exceptional Customer Experience Starts with the Workforce

View the full 2019 speakers list here.

Stay up to date on conference content and more by following @CI_Forum on Twitter and @EventfulConferences on Instagram.