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 problem: 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 make: Will you purposefully decide to change paths to the bionic future, or remain on the path to retail purgatory?

$28.00
ISBN: 979-8-89138-063-9
Imprint: Amplify Publishing, Mascot Books, RealClear Publishing, 100 Coaches Publishing
SKU: 18-1222-01
Categories:Imprints, Amplify Publishing, Nonfiction, Business and Finance, Thought Leadership, Industries, Technology

“Gary has done it again! Bionic Retail is a must-read for leadership in the supermarket industry. Today’s supermarket experience continues to evolve, and Gary has done an excellent job of explaining the speed of technology and how it will impact the supermarket experience in the future. Supermarket leaders should be focused on the speed of retail change and how those technological advancements can positively impact the customer experience in the future.” —STEVEN C. SMITH, President and CEO, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc.

“In his latest book, Gary Hawkins leverages his extensive experience to provide unique insights on how tech-driven disruption is shaking up the retail sector. A very useful read for retailers and other commentators alike, and in fact, for anyone thinking about how newer technologies (e.g. generative AI) will impact retail. Now more than ever, retailers need to embrace change and transformation, and this book will help them on that journey.” —RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN, Managing Director, General Retail, RBC Capital Markets

“Amidst the ever-changing landscape of the grocery industry, adopting the rapid technological advancements is not merely an option; it’s the gateway to a future where convenience, sustainability, and innovation harmonize to nourish both our bodies and the world we inhabit. Gary’s book Bionic Retail underscores the importance of cultivating the mindset and culture within the grocery industry to embrace the swift pace of technology innovation.” —DOUG BAKER, Vice President of Industry Relations, FMI, The Food Industry Association

“We have come to discover that courage and curiosity are two of the most critical leadership traits. Gary Hawkins expands on these character traits by identifying the outcomes: inspired vision, committed action, and an innovation doctrine. Hawkins is a creative storyteller who is passionate about helping retail industry leaders learn from his lessons and the lessons of others. In his most recent book, Bionic Retail, Hawkins uses intentional metaphors, historical perspectives, and interesting new facts about technology to enlighten future leaders. Bionic Retail is a must-read for every leader in the retail and CPG industries who is wondering how to compete and win in the future. I encourage all my students to read Hawkins’ books so they are prepared to compete in a world where AI will drive our strategic decisions and enhance our ability to innovate like never before.” —DR. CYNTHIA MCCLOUD, Director and Adjunct Professor, USC Marshall School of Business Food Industry Programs

“Another excellent book from Gary Hawkins. Bionic Retail is a must-read for today’s grocery industry leaders at all levels. It clearly articulates what is happening in today’s world with impactful examples from the grocery industry of yesterday and today. After reading Bionic Retail, I have a much clearer understanding of the speed of change and the ‘danger of doing nothing’ or worse, ‘doing what we have always done.’” —MIKE STIGERS, President, Wakefern Food Corporation

“Bionic Retail by Gary Hawkins is an absolute must-read for anyone in the world of retail, from seasoned veterans to aspiring leaders. Hawkins delivers a compelling wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need for transformation in the face of exponentially accelerating innovation in the industry. The book is a treasure trove of real-world examples that pull back the curtains behind some of today’s most significant innovations, providing invaluable insights and inspiration. It not only illuminates the path toward cultivating a tech-forward culture but also offers a pragmatic framework for getting started and building the organizational muscle. Bionic Retail is the resounding call to action that laggards require and a resounding endorsement for those who have leaned into transformation with enthusiasm. Gary Hawkins has crafted a masterful guide to the future of retail that should not be missed.” —TOM FURPHY, CEO, Consumer Equity Partners

“Gary Hawkins has been a leading voice in the world of retail technology, and with Bionic Retail, Gary is sharing his expertise with retailers at a critical moment in time when technology is changing business faster than we can adapt. This book is a must-read for any retailer or business leader looking to develop a customer-focused strategy to prepare themselves for the exponential world into which we are entering.” —KARTHIK EASWAR, Associate Teaching Professor of Marketing, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University

“This is Gary Hawkins’ most ambitious and important book to date. Bionic Retail is a consilience of sorts, a unity of knowledge, combining technological innovation with human inspiration, as applied to the consumer goods and food retailing industries. Inventive technology continues to accelerate at an exponential pace, widening the gap between functionality and utility. Those companies that move closer to the former through pipelines, applications, and platforms will enjoy a growing competitive advantage. The laggards will be at risk. Gary deftly lays out the case for cultural and organizational change and preparing for a new technology-enabled world that couldn’t be imagined—much less lived in—not too long ago. This is a must-read for all C-suite food industry executives.” —MARK W. BAUM, Chief Collaboration Officer, FMI, The Food Industry Association

“Gary Hawkins’ latest book, Bionic Retail, is a must-read for anyone in the retail industry. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of the future of retail, where physical automation and artificial intelligence are integrated through a digital nervous system into our human organizations to create a new retail species: Bionic Retail. Hawkins’ deep experiences with retailers and technology providers shines through, providing a blueprint for navigating the rapidly changing retail landscape. This book challenges traditional retail operating and business models, urging retailers to look beyond the shiny new innovations and focus on aligning their organizational structures and decision-making processes with the future. Bionic Retail is more than just a book; it’s a road map to the future of retail.” —SHISH SHRIDHAR, Global Retail Lead, Microsoft for Startups

“Gary Hawkins manages to quote Ray Bradbury and Lewis Carroll, cite Star Trek and The Six Million Dollar Man, and use his Bernese Mountain Dog puppy as a business metaphor in Bionic Retail, which makes him my kind of technology writer: accessible and relevant, making a persuasive case for how to actually act on actionable information.” —KEVIN COUPE, “Content Guy,” MorningNewsBeat.com

Gary Hawkins

Retail Industry Expert, Author, and Lecturer

Gary Hawkins has been described as a visionary and retail industry treasure, whose deep knowledge of the industry combines with operational experience and technology savvy to provide a perspective that is completely unique.

His Odyssean journey across retail began three decades ago, driven by a vision to use data and technology to transform retail, returning the massive industry to its customer birthright. That inspiration in turn gave rise to successive waves of innovation that continue today. Along the way he’s decimated countless industry practices on a relentless march into the future. That work has taken him to five different continents, helping premier retailers and CPG brand manufacturers discover and understand new technologies while helping the creators of new capabilities understand the massive and dynamic consumer goods retail industry.

Today, drawing from his experiences and learning, Hawkins and his team have created a powerful blueprint to help the retail industry thrive in an exponential world. Retailers have a unique opportunity to set aside outdated beliefs and use accelerating innovation and never-before-possible capabilities to create a powerful vision for retail’s future.

Hawkins leverages his expansive industry view, and early insight into disruptive technology, as a sought-after keynote speaker at conferences in the U.S. and around the world. Hawkins is the author of Building the Customer Specific Retail Enterprise; Customer Intelligence; Retail in the Age of I, and Bionic Retail, along with myriad articles and white papers. Hawkins lives in Colorado with his wife Heather, and Remington, their Bernese Mountain dog.

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