Digital Front Door
The Digital Front Door explores how technology is reshaping the retail industry and redefining the in-store customer experience. Each episode features conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and solution providers who are driving change at the intersection of digital tools and brick-and-mortar retail. From AI-powered shopping carts to retail media, personalization, and operational efficiency, the show dives into the strategies and solutions that help retailers improve shopper engagement, increase loyalty, and grow revenue. Listeners can expect practical insights, forward-looking ideas, and real-world examples of how the “digital front door” is opening new opportunities in retail.
Digital Front Door
AI + People = Retail’s Real Future
Retail is racing ahead, but the smartest move right now isn’t a new platform or a shiny pilot. It’s building the people who can turn technology into results. Scott Benedict unpacks why AI, connected supply chains, and blended physical-digital experiences only pay off when leaders know how to align teams, serve customers, and execute with judgment. We spotlight the NRF Foundation as a force multiplier, connecting more than 80,000 people each year to education, scholarships, and career-launching experiences that translate classroom learning into real impact.
Scott draws on his years at Texas A&M’s Center for Retailing Studies to show how students evolve from curious learners into professionals shaping strategy at major retailers and brands. We walk through programs like customer service and sales training, supply chain and logistics education, University Challenge, the Emerging Leaders Summit, and the Next Generation Scholarship, all designed to deliver day-one readiness and long-term growth. These aren’t résumé lines; they’re live-fire opportunities to meet mentors, present to executives, and practice the art and science of retail decision-making.
Amid the noise about automation and data, we center the human side: retail’s greatest innovation has always been people helping people. That’s the thread tying together better merchandising, faster operations, and memorable service. If you lead a retail team or partner with brands, you’ll leave with a clear takeaway: invest in talent as deliberately as you invest in technology, because the future belongs to companies that do both.
Enjoy the conversation, share it with a colleague who cares about developing leaders, and subscribe to get more insights on building a resilient, people-powered retail future.
Well, hello everyone, and welcome to Scott's Thoughts. I'm Scott Benedict. You know, you've heard this adage, I'm sure, several times before, that the only constant in retail is change. And nowhere is that more evident in my mind than the way and the pace at which change in our industry is unfolding and evolving every day. From AI-driven personalization to connected supply chains to the fusion of physical and digital experiences, retailing is truly moving faster than ever before. And behind all of that technology and transformation, one thing remains true. That's why I've been really admiring the work of the NRF Foundation and believe that their efforts are more important than ever. Each year, the foundation connects more than 80,000 people into the retail industry through education, through scholarships, and real-world career experiences that open doors and, in my mind, shape futures. Programs like the Retail Industry Foundation, customer service and sales programs, supply chain and logistics programs, the NRF Foundation gives students the skills they need to succeed on day one in our industry and far beyond that into future career growth opportunities. They're not just helping trained workers, they're cultivating the next generation of leaders who will guide our industry through its next wave of disruption and growth. And it's not just about classroom learning. The Foundation's University Challenge Program, the Emerging Leaders Summit, and the Next Generation Scholarship Program connect students directly with top retailers, mentors, executives, creating opportunities that literally can change lives and careers. The commitment to developing future leaders is deeply personal to me. During my years at Texas AM University Center for Retailing Studies, I got to see firsthand how transformative retail education can be. I watch students go from curious undergraduates to dynamic retail professionals shaping strategy at some of the world's most successful retailers and brands. That experience is one of the reasons I remain such a passionate advocate for programs like those offered by the NRF Foundation, because they provide a bridge between talent and opportunity, between education and having an impact on the future. Now, as retail continues to evolve with automation, data, and AI transforming everything from merchandising to supply chain, you can't lose sight, in my view, of the human side of the business. The RF Foundation reminds us that retail's greatest innovation has always been people helping people. If you're a retailer, a brand, or a leader listening today, I encourage you to get involved in helping to develop the next generation of leaders in our industry, whether that is as a mentor, as a supporter, or as an advocate, because the future of retail in my mind depends not just on new technology, but on the talent that will make it all work. The NRF Foundation is building that future, and it's something every one of us in the industry should celebrate and support. That's what I've been thinking about. I'm Scott Benedict.