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Bionic Retail: How to Thrive in an Exponential World
A new retail species is emerging from the chaos of innovation, a fusion of technological and human capability, making retail better… faster… stronger. Bionic Retail.
But as retail evolves into the future, there is a The pace of change outside organizations is growing faster than within… creating a growing gap. A gap between how we believe the world is and how it actually is. A gap between the processes, practices, and culture that has made retail successful in the past, and what’s required in the time ahead. And a growing gap between shopper expectations and the traditional store.
As we pass the inflection point on the exponential growth curve of technology, retailers can harness accelerating innovation to create the future of retail… or choose to remain on the path to retail purgatory. But an inspired vision alone is potential. There are decisions to be made and work to be done to create the flywheel to the future.
Shedding constraining beliefs and practices must be combined with an ongoing view into new and future technology developments. And those synthesized into an evolving vision for retail’s future.
So you have a decision to Will you purposefully decide to change paths to the bionic future, or remain on the path to retail purgatory?
But as retail evolves into the future, there is a The pace of change outside organizations is growing faster than within… creating a growing gap. A gap between how we believe the world is and how it actually is. A gap between the processes, practices, and culture that has made retail successful in the past, and what’s required in the time ahead. And a growing gap between shopper expectations and the traditional store.
As we pass the inflection point on the exponential growth curve of technology, retailers can harness accelerating innovation to create the future of retail… or choose to remain on the path to retail purgatory. But an inspired vision alone is potential. There are decisions to be made and work to be done to create the flywheel to the future.
Shedding constraining beliefs and practices must be combined with an ongoing view into new and future technology developments. And those synthesized into an evolving vision for retail’s future.
So you have a decision to Will you purposefully decide to change paths to the bionic future, or remain on the path to retail purgatory?
328 pages, Hardcover
Published April 16, 2024
3 people are currently reading
1319 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 6, 2024
This is an excellent book on how technology advancement is changing the Retail industry and how retailers can keep up with the rapid pace of change. Bionic Retail refers to the retail business model built on the backbone of a digital nervous system.
Gary Hawkins ran a family store many years back. He mentions how he always kept abreast of the latest practices; for instance, he started a customer loyalty program, home delivered items etc. Retail is a complex business with several parts needing to come together. Some of these became evident during the pandemic with supply chain issues and shortages.
A considerable portion of the book is devoted to technology advancement in general, as well as how it impacts retail. For instance, he quotes Ray Kurzweil, that a $1,000 computer in 2001 was equivalent to an insect brain, in 2015 to a mouse brain, and now a human brain. In 20 years, it will have the power of all human brains. This is how exponentially technology is progressing. There are references to Moore's law, Quantum computing, AR/VR, Computer vision, Digital Twins, Video analytics, and especially AI. Technology has always been at the forefront of retail industry change – be it barcodes many years back to accelerate check-outs, later personalized offers and now Retail Media Networks. Amazon has been the leader in technology innovation in the recent past, with Just Walk Out stores, palm checkout & robotics being the latest. It is investing more including in food retail.
A lot is happening in the industry and retailers are investing to keep up – Retail Media Networks. Hyper-Personalization, Smart-checkout, Omi-channel, AI based customer support etc. Walmart, for instance has a bot for vendor negotiations and it has turned out to be win-win with fast closures. A number of new technology companies find brief mention including Trigo, AiFi, Grabango, Augmodo, Instacart, Refinition, Birdzi, Symbotic systems, HuLoop, Blutag, Sifter Solutions, ScriptSave.
This is a very well written book with a call for retailers to transform leveraging technology. This transformation requires big picture strategic thinking and openness to change. Each retailer has its own strengths and need to fuse innovation with that. For instance, Walmart is now the largest grocery retailer in US with 90% Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store and this provides it certain advantages. There are other retailers very strong in certain areas etc. There is a lot of good information on upcoming areas, aspects important for retailers to keep in and prepare for the future. Most of the high-level business & technology information is provided in the book itself and there is no specific prerequisite to reading this book.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Amplify Publishing and the author for a free electronic review copy.
Gary Hawkins ran a family store many years back. He mentions how he always kept abreast of the latest practices; for instance, he started a customer loyalty program, home delivered items etc. Retail is a complex business with several parts needing to come together. Some of these became evident during the pandemic with supply chain issues and shortages.
A considerable portion of the book is devoted to technology advancement in general, as well as how it impacts retail. For instance, he quotes Ray Kurzweil, that a $1,000 computer in 2001 was equivalent to an insect brain, in 2015 to a mouse brain, and now a human brain. In 20 years, it will have the power of all human brains. This is how exponentially technology is progressing. There are references to Moore's law, Quantum computing, AR/VR, Computer vision, Digital Twins, Video analytics, and especially AI. Technology has always been at the forefront of retail industry change – be it barcodes many years back to accelerate check-outs, later personalized offers and now Retail Media Networks. Amazon has been the leader in technology innovation in the recent past, with Just Walk Out stores, palm checkout & robotics being the latest. It is investing more including in food retail.
A lot is happening in the industry and retailers are investing to keep up – Retail Media Networks. Hyper-Personalization, Smart-checkout, Omi-channel, AI based customer support etc. Walmart, for instance has a bot for vendor negotiations and it has turned out to be win-win with fast closures. A number of new technology companies find brief mention including Trigo, AiFi, Grabango, Augmodo, Instacart, Refinition, Birdzi, Symbotic systems, HuLoop, Blutag, Sifter Solutions, ScriptSave.
This is a very well written book with a call for retailers to transform leveraging technology. This transformation requires big picture strategic thinking and openness to change. Each retailer has its own strengths and need to fuse innovation with that. For instance, Walmart is now the largest grocery retailer in US with 90% Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store and this provides it certain advantages. There are other retailers very strong in certain areas etc. There is a lot of good information on upcoming areas, aspects important for retailers to keep in and prepare for the future. Most of the high-level business & technology information is provided in the book itself and there is no specific prerequisite to reading this book.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, Amplify Publishing and the author for a free electronic review copy.
January 6, 2026
Bionic Retail is a forward-thinking and insightful guide to the rapidly evolving retail landscape. Gary Hawkins expertly explores the tension between traditional retail practices and the accelerating pace of technological change, offering practical frameworks for organizations seeking to stay ahead. The book combines visionary thinking with actionable strategies, providing readers with tools to harness innovation, enhance operations, and meet the increasingly complex expectations of modern shoppers.
What makes this work especially valuable is Hawkins’ ability to synthesize both human and technological elements into a cohesive “bionic” approach. By examining organizational culture, processes, and strategy alongside emerging technologies, he presents a compelling roadmap for retail leaders aiming to thrive in an era of exponential growth. Bionic Retail is an essential read for executives, managers, and innovators committed to staying competitive in a fast-changing world.
What makes this work especially valuable is Hawkins’ ability to synthesize both human and technological elements into a cohesive “bionic” approach. By examining organizational culture, processes, and strategy alongside emerging technologies, he presents a compelling roadmap for retail leaders aiming to thrive in an era of exponential growth. Bionic Retail is an essential read for executives, managers, and innovators committed to staying competitive in a fast-changing world.
September 28, 2025
Everyone who is in retail, retail tech, sells to retailers or wants to understand how they are marketed to as a consumer should read this topical and accessible book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews