Can you become a company chosen by customers in the AI era? Hosting a business networking event for retail and EC on May 13
Sprocket has released a report on the 'end of stores without a reason to visit' based on US store inspections, and will host a networking event on May 13 to discuss physical store strategies in the AI era.
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 18:00
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Sprocket Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Koji Fukada), a provider of CX improvement platforms, today published the "US Store Inspection Summary Report: The End of Stores Without a 'Reason to Visit'", which summarizes the findings from inspecting 20 advanced retail stores in New York City in January 2026. Along with this, we will host a special talk session & networking event on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, starting from the questions raised in this report.
Targeting executives and business managers of retail, EC, and brand companies, the business networking event titled "Can you become a company chosen by customers in the AI era? ~Customer experience Japanese retail must face directly in 2026~" will discuss how companies can build relationships with customers and continue to be chosen as AI becomes deeply involved in consumer purchasing behavior, together with three speakers well-versed in industry practices.
Where are physical stores heading in an era where AI handles feature comparisons on our behalf?
In global arenas such as NRF, one of the world's largest retail conferences, the arrival of 'agentic commerce'—where AI acts as a purchasing agent—is being discussed. Consumers will no longer need to hesitate in front of products; AI agents will present the 'optimal choices'. Meanwhile, under such circumstances, the question of 'what will be the reason for customers to take the trouble to visit physical stores?' has become unavoidable for retailers.
To see the reality with his own eyes, Sprocket CEO Fukada visited 20 advanced retail stores in New York City in January 2026.
US Inspection Report Released - Organizing the experiential value of physical stores into 5 strategic elements
The "US Store Inspection Summary Report: The End of Stores Without a 'Reason to Visit'" released today organizes the experiential value unique to physical stores created by various companies into five strategic elements, including 'Embodiment of brand worldview', 'Experiences that deepen product understanding', and 'Creative and participatory experiences'.
In an era where the same products can be bought anywhere, if you cannot intentionally design a unique store experience, the store may simply become a showroom or an inventory pickup location.
This report provides a perspective for thinking about winning patterns for your own stores in the AI era, and can be downloaded from the link below.
▼ Download the US Store Inspection Summary Report here
https://www.sprocket.bz/download/inspection-report-newyork/
A place to discuss the "reality" that is hard to write in report materials
When systemized as a report, there are always stories that cannot be fully told. Behind the scenes of implementing excellent customer experiences and AI/OMO measures in the field, there are always barriers of data integration, divisions between organizations, and gritty struggles involving store staff.
As a place to directly discuss the "reality of AI and data utilization in Japan" across industries—which is hard to write in such materials—we will hold a special talk session & networking event on Wednesday, May 13.
Welcoming Mr. Takuto Hayashi, Representative Director of the Retail AI Study Group, and Mr. Daijiro Ban, CEO of db-lab LLC, as guests, we will have an honest discussion on "Customer experience strategies to be chosen by customers in an era where AI provides the correct answers." Please also utilize this as a place to expand your network among marketers facing the same challenges.
Event Overview
Date & Time
Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 18:00 - 21:00 (including networking)
Venue
Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (Details will be provided after registration)
Target
Limited to retail, manufacturers, and operating companies
Capacity
45 people (Advance registration required; lottery if capacity is exceeded)
Participation Fee
Free
Registration
https://www.sprocket.bz/event/20260513_seminar/
Co-hosts
Sprocket Inc., EmberPoint Co., Ltd.
Program
17:30 Registration Starts
18:00 Opening Remarks (Introduction of organizers)
18:10 Talk Session
Theme: 'Can you become a company chosen by customers in the AI era? ~What is the customer experience Japanese retail must face directly in 2026~'
19:10-21:00 Networking (Drinks and light meals available, business card exchange, free chatting)
Speakers
- Mr. Takuto Hayashi (Retail AI Study Group
Targeting executives and business managers of retail, EC, and brand companies, the business networking event titled "Can you become a company chosen by customers in the AI era? ~Customer experience Japanese retail must face directly in 2026~" will discuss how companies can build relationships with customers and continue to be chosen as AI becomes deeply involved in consumer purchasing behavior, together with three speakers well-versed in industry practices.
Where are physical stores heading in an era where AI handles feature comparisons on our behalf?
In global arenas such as NRF, one of the world's largest retail conferences, the arrival of 'agentic commerce'—where AI acts as a purchasing agent—is being discussed. Consumers will no longer need to hesitate in front of products; AI agents will present the 'optimal choices'. Meanwhile, under such circumstances, the question of 'what will be the reason for customers to take the trouble to visit physical stores?' has become unavoidable for retailers.
To see the reality with his own eyes, Sprocket CEO Fukada visited 20 advanced retail stores in New York City in January 2026.
US Inspection Report Released - Organizing the experiential value of physical stores into 5 strategic elements
The "US Store Inspection Summary Report: The End of Stores Without a 'Reason to Visit'" released today organizes the experiential value unique to physical stores created by various companies into five strategic elements, including 'Embodiment of brand worldview', 'Experiences that deepen product understanding', and 'Creative and participatory experiences'.
In an era where the same products can be bought anywhere, if you cannot intentionally design a unique store experience, the store may simply become a showroom or an inventory pickup location.
This report provides a perspective for thinking about winning patterns for your own stores in the AI era, and can be downloaded from the link below.
▼ Download the US Store Inspection Summary Report here
https://www.sprocket.bz/download/inspection-report-newyork/
A place to discuss the "reality" that is hard to write in report materials
When systemized as a report, there are always stories that cannot be fully told. Behind the scenes of implementing excellent customer experiences and AI/OMO measures in the field, there are always barriers of data integration, divisions between organizations, and gritty struggles involving store staff.
As a place to directly discuss the "reality of AI and data utilization in Japan" across industries—which is hard to write in such materials—we will hold a special talk session & networking event on Wednesday, May 13.
Welcoming Mr. Takuto Hayashi, Representative Director of the Retail AI Study Group, and Mr. Daijiro Ban, CEO of db-lab LLC, as guests, we will have an honest discussion on "Customer experience strategies to be chosen by customers in an era where AI provides the correct answers." Please also utilize this as a place to expand your network among marketers facing the same challenges.
Event Overview
Date & Time
Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 18:00 - 21:00 (including networking)
Venue
Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (Details will be provided after registration)
Target
Limited to retail, manufacturers, and operating companies
Capacity
45 people (Advance registration required; lottery if capacity is exceeded)
Participation Fee
Free
Registration
https://www.sprocket.bz/event/20260513_seminar/
Co-hosts
Sprocket Inc., EmberPoint Co., Ltd.
Program
17:30 Registration Starts
18:00 Opening Remarks (Introduction of organizers)
18:10 Talk Session
Theme: 'Can you become a company chosen by customers in the AI era? ~What is the customer experience Japanese retail must face directly in 2026~'
19:10-21:00 Networking (Drinks and light meals available, business card exchange, free chatting)
Speakers
- Mr. Takuto Hayashi (Retail AI Study Group