How Five Deals Show AI Deals Reshape Retail and Logistics

AI deals reshape retail and logistics is the theme of a wave of strategic moves this week. Major retailers and enterprise software firms made bold acquisitions and partnerships. Therefore, business leaders should look closely. These deals combine digital tools, logistics know-how, and AI capabilities. Additionally, they show how companies are rethinking supply chains, professional channels, sourcing, and customer experiences. In short, the market is accelerating toward more data-driven operations and closer integration between commerce and fulfillment.

## Lowe’s move: AI deals reshape retail and logistics in the Pro market

Lowe’s closing on its $8.8 billion acquisition of Foundation Building Materials marks a big step toward deeper pro-market reach. However, this isn’t just a scale play. The deal also centers on expanding digital capabilities for professional (B2B) customers. Therefore, Lowe’s gains an enhanced footprint in the roughly $250 billion professional building sector. This gives the retailer more direct access to contractors and commercial buyers. Additionally, integrating FBM’s assets forces Lowe’s to rethink retail, operations, and service models to match pro expectations.

For example, pro customers expect fast, reliable delivery, online ordering tailored to trade needs, and streamlined invoicing. Consequently, Lowe’s now has a larger platform to offer those tools. Moreover, the acquisition will likely push Lowe’s to harmonize inventory systems and invest in digital channels that speak to builders and contractors. In the near term, expect operational reassessments and pilot programs to connect stores, distribution, and digital procurement. In the longer term, this kind of deal can lower fulfillment friction and raise customer retention among professional buyers.

Impact and outlook: Lowe’s expanded scale will intensify competition in the pro market. Therefore, rivals will need to accelerate their own digital and logistics responses. The acquisition is a clear signal that physical retail growth is increasingly tied to digital services and distribution strength.

Source: Digital Commerce 360

Ingka’s logistics play: AI deals reshape retail and logistics

Ingka Group’s acquisition of Locus is a direct example of using technology to transform last-mile and home delivery operations. Ingka is the largest franchisee of Ikea, and the move to buy Locus — an AI-heavy logistics technology company — shows a strategic bet on smarter delivery networks. Additionally, this comes as Ikea’s business shifts more online, which increases pressure on home-delivery capacity and efficiency.

Therefore, combining Ingka’s retail scale with Locus’s AI routing and orchestration tools can reduce delivery times and costs. However, success will depend on integrating systems and translating algorithmic gains into real-world improvements, such as better route planning, dynamic driver assignment, and real-time customer updates. Moreover, retailers scaling up home delivery often face variable demand and complex item handling. Consequently, AI-driven logistics platforms can help by predicting demand, optimizing capacity, and improving communication between warehouses, carriers, and customers.

For enterprises, the acquisition shows that logistics tech is now a strategic asset rather than a back-office tool. Additionally, franchise networks and large retailers will likely consider similar moves to own or tightly partner with logistics technology vendors. In short, this deal points to an era where delivery engineering and retail strategy are inseparable.

Source: Digital Commerce 360

Infor’s industry agents: AI deals reshape retail and logistics for enterprises

Infor’s expansion into industry-specific AI agents highlights how enterprise software vendors are making AI practical for distinct sectors. Infor announced new AI agents and a cloud migration program designed to help manufacturers, distributors, and service providers modernize operations and digital commerce. Therefore, the company is taking a tailored approach. Instead of one-size-fits-all tools, Infor’s agents are built for industry workflows, such as production scheduling or inventory replenishment.

Additionally, being a subsidiary of Koch Industries gives Infor real-world grounding in industrial use cases. Consequently, customers can expect AI features that focus on operational efficiency, compliance, and the unique data flows of manufacturing and distribution. For example, an industry agent could surface supply chain risks, recommend order prioritization, or automate routine procurement tasks. However, the main challenge will be adoption: companies must migrate to cloud platforms and adapt processes to benefit from agent-driven automation.

Impact and outlook: Infor’s play suggests that vendors who embed AI into specific industry workflows will gain traction faster than those offering generic models. Therefore, expect more industry cloud solutions that lower the barrier to AI adoption. Moreover, this approach can produce clearer ROI because the use cases map directly to cost centers like production downtime and fulfillment bottlenecks.

Source: Digital Commerce 360

Coupa and supplier discovery: strategic sourcing in a connected market

Coupa’s agreement to acquire Scoutbee shows how AI can change procurement and supplier discovery. Scoutbee offers AI-powered supplier search, data, and collaboration tools. Therefore, combining Scoutbee with Coupa’s total spend management platform strengthens the vendor’s ability to find, vet, and onboard suppliers quickly. Additionally, integrating supplier intelligence into spend management makes sourcing more proactive and less reactive.

For procurement teams, this matters because supplier discovery is often time-consuming and fragmented. Consequently, AI-driven search can surface alternative suppliers, highlight regional risks, and speed cross-border sourcing. Moreover, when supplier data is connected to spend analytics, procurement leaders can make faster, more strategic decisions that reduce costs and risk. However, the success of such integrations depends on data quality and network effects; the more organizations use the platform, the richer the supplier intelligence becomes.

Impact and outlook: This acquisition signals that procurement technology is becoming a central node in enterprise operations. Therefore, companies should expect sourcing cycles to compress and supplier portfolios to become more dynamic. In the medium term, AI in procurement can lead to better pricing, improved supplier resilience, and more agile supply chains.

Source: Digital Commerce 360

Gap and Google Cloud: unifying AI across ecommerce and operations

Gap’s partnership with Google Cloud illustrates a different but complementary approach: using cloud AI platforms to unify ecommerce and internal operations. The two companies said they will build a unified, AI-powered platform to boost innovation and efficiency. Therefore, Gap aims to improve product creation, customer experience, and back-office processes with a single platform. Additionally, a unified platform can reduce fragmentation between merchandising, inventory, and customer-facing services.

For retailers, this kind of partnership can accelerate experimentation. Consequently, Gap can deploy AI features such as personalized recommendations, demand forecasting, or faster design cycles. However, success requires strong data governance and close collaboration between merchandising teams and technologists. Moreover, retailers must balance AI-driven personalization with brand identity and customer trust.

Impact and outlook: Partnerships like Gap and Google Cloud make AI accessible without the need to build everything in-house. Therefore, even mid-size chains can modernize quickly. In the long run, retailers that tie AI into core systems — from product development to order fulfillment — will be better positioned to deliver consistent experiences and lower operational costs.

Source: Digital Commerce 360

Final Reflection: From deals to durable advantage

Together, these five moves show a market that is choosing integration over isolation. Lowe’s bought scale and trade-market reach. Ingka invested in AI routing for home delivery. Infor shipped industry-specific agents that make AI relevant to operations. Coupa bolstered sourcing with supplier discovery intelligence. Gap partnered to unify AI across commerce and operations. Therefore, the common theme is clear: companies are embedding intelligence into the core of their business models rather than bolting it on.

Additionally, this week’s activity signals a shift in how competitive advantage will be built. It will come from combining domain expertise, logistics capability, and AI-driven workflows. Consequently, leaders should focus on data quality, change management, and pragmatic pilots that align AI tools with measurable business outcomes. Looking ahead, expect more strategic deals and partnerships as firms race to own the platforms that connect customers, suppliers, and fulfillment. Overall, these transactions point to a faster, more connected, and increasingly automated future for retail and enterprise operations.