RFID technology isn’t exactly a brand-new concept in retail, but the way it’s being applied is changing fast. As AI meets RFID, the goal is no longer just efficiency—it’s personalization. Retailers are finding that the same tools that improve accuracy and automation can help fuel data-driven insights, predictive analytics and smarter customer experiences. 

JW Franz, TRG’s Director of Innovation, said the convergence is reshaping how retailers think about their data. “AI and RFID are finally starting to work together,” he said. “You’ve got these layers of information—transactions, movement, behavior—and now we can connect them in real time. That’s what’s making personalization possible.” 

From Insight to Experience

In the past, personalization meant marketing messages or loyalty programs. Today, it’s about the entire journey—from how items are stocked to how customers are recognized and served. 

“Once you have accurate inventory,” Franz explained, “you unlock everything else. Predictive analytics, targeted offers, dynamic pricing—it all starts with clean data.” 

 “When the data’s right, the associate can find the item faster, fulfill the order correctly and spend more time helping customers,” added TRG Enterprise Account Executive Ami Stephens. “That’s what personalization looks like on the floor.” 

Stephens explained that AI-driven systems are also extending beyond well inventory into store operations. “Retailers are using computer vision to monitor patterns—things like line length, unattended doors, even whether displays are being maintained,” she said. “AI is helping them understand what’s really happening in real time.” 

Connecting the Dots

As technology matures, retailers are starting to see how these systems reinforce each other. RFID provides the visibility. AI delivers the intelligence. Together, they can turn disconnected data into predictive, actionable insight. 

Franz said the shift mirrors a larger mindset change. “Retailers used to think about technology in silos,” he said. “POS over here, inventory there, marketing somewhere else. Now everything’s blending. You can’t talk about checkout without talking about data, and you can’t talk about data without talking about AI.” 

He added that software partners are becoming just as critical as hardware. “RFID is just a data collection tool—it’s the analytics and intelligence layers that make it valuable,” Franz said. “The future is about how AI can interpret those signals and turn them into business action.” 

Stephens agreed this is where innovation is heading. “Everyone’s looking for what’s next,” she said. “But the real breakthrough is connecting the dots between systems that already exist. The retailers getting ahead are the ones breaking down those walls.”

The Personalization Payoff

“AI, RFID, analytics—they’re all just tools,” Franz said. “The real win is when technology feels invisible to the customer but invaluable to the brand.” 

Stephens sees that same opportunity every day. “We talk a lot about modernization, but what it really means is meeting the customer where they are,” she said. “That’s what these tools enable—more responsive, more personalized retail.” 

Looking Ahead  

We expect to see both AI and RFID discussions front and center at large industry gatherings like NRF 2026, as retailers look for ways to connect data, automation and experience without adding complexity. 

TRG will be there, showcasing how data, automation and insight come together to power the next generation of retail technology. Visit our NRF 2026 page to learn more and schedule a time meet the TRG team.