Retail Workforce Reimagined: the transformative power of AI


People capabilities Services Banking and Finance Competition, Trade and Foreign Investment Construction and Engineering Corporate and M&A Corporate Crime Data Privacy, Security and Technology Employment, Labor and Pensions Financial Services Regulation Heinonen Insurance Intellectual Property Litigation & Dispute Resolution Private Client Real Estate and Planning Strategic Contracts Tax Industries Consumer Consumer overview Hospitality and Leisure Luxury Energy Energy overview Hydrogen Financial Services Governments and Infrastructure Industrials Life Sciences and Healthcare Real Estate Technology & Digital Technology & Digital overview Digital Infrastructure Resources Insights Client tools Events and training Business topics About About us Firm leadership Purpose and values Responsible business Community Diversity and inclusion Environmental sustainability Pro bono Reports News Careers Global careers Applications Why us? Lawyers and partners Business professionals Students and recent graduates Offices Finland Visit global site Select a local version of the site Angola Asia Austria Belgium Bulgaria Czech Republic Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iraq Ireland Italy Jordan Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Mauritius Mozambique Netherlands Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Saudi Arabia Slovakia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Tunisia United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Rest of the world en Select language English Retail Workforce Reimagined: the transformative power of AI \| Eversheds Sutherland Home Resources Insights Home Resources Insights Retail Workforce Reimagined: the transformative power of AI Retail Workforce Reimagined: the transformative power of AI December 09, 2025 GlobalUnited KingdomUnited StatesFranceGermanyUnited Arab Emirates GlobalUnited KingdomUnited StatesFranceGermanyUnited Arab Emirates Global Read our latest thought leadership report, produced in collaboration with Retail Economics for practical insights based on research undertaken across France, Germany, the UAE, UK and the US. The research included surveys of 250 retail businesses with revenues over £10m and economic modelling, and has been combined with insights from Eversheds Sutherland’s lawyers, helping you stay ahead in the rapidly evolving retail workforce landscape. The retail sector stands at a pivotal moment. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant prospect – it is rapidly reshaping how retailers operate, compete, and serve customers. The report covers the evolution, drivers and application of AI in retail, quantifies the retail workforce shift and sets out strategic considerations for retailers, including: How to build an AI-ready workplace Key areas to strengthen legal preparedness in the AI era Tips on partnerships, leadership and governance Please get in touch with our Consumer team if you would like to discuss any of the topics further. Launch webinar We hosted a deep-dive webinar discussing the report’s findings and key strategic implications for retailers, with Richard Lim from Retail Economics and key contributors from Eversheds Sutherland. The webinar focused on fostering a culture of continuous learning, prioritizing ethical and legal preparedness, and aligning human-AI collaboration with strategic objectives – three key pillars of building resilient, innovative and future-ready retail businesses. The materials on the Eversheds Sutherland website are for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. While reasonable care is taken to ensure accuracy, the materials may not reflect the most current legal developments. Eversheds Sutherland disclaims liability for actions taken based on the materials. Always consult a qualified lawyer for specific legal matters. To view the full disclaimer, see our Terms and Conditions or Disclaimer section in the footer. Eversheds Sutherland is a provider of legal and other services operating through various separate and distinct legal entities. For further information about these entities and Eversheds Sutherlands' structure please see the Legal Notice page of this website. Services Employment, Labor and Pensions Industries Consumer Business Topics Artificial Intelligence Key contacts Andrew James Todd Partner United Kingdom Catherine Detalle Partner Paris, France Wie-Men Ho Partner United Kingdom Rebecca Denvers Principal Associate United Kingdom Latest Insights legal updates EU WEEE Directive Reform: Tighter Rules, Rising Costs guides and reports EU Cyber Resilience Act: Single Reporting Platform Goes Live legal updates Hong Kong: PCPD issues further guidance on best practices in the use of agentic AI legal updates Global Life Sciences & Healthcare Bulletin Latest News client news We advised Santa's Holding Oy, Lappset Group Oy and the Länkinen family on a landmark Arctic tourism partnership client news We advised Ruby Group on a hotel development project in Helsinki client news We advised TMF Finland Oy on its acquisition of Navigator Partners Oy client news We advised Ilkka Oyj on its acquisition of Custobar Oy Latest Events in-person \| September 17, 2026 Basic foundations of US employment law in-person \| September 23, 2026 2026 BDC Roundtable virtual \| September 29, 2026 Employment law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in-person \| October 08, 2026 Labor relations conference - turning legal change into workplace reality Tabs Label legal updates September 10, 2026 EU WEEE Directive Reform: Tighter Rules, Rising Costs guides and reports September 10, 2026 EU Cyber Resilience Act: Single Reporting Platform Goes Live legal updates September 10, 2026 Hong Kong: PCPD issues further guidance on best practices in the use of age... legal updates September 10, 2026 Global Life Sciences & Healthcare Bulletin Legal notices General Terms Privacy notice Cookies Distance Selling Whistleblowing LinkedIn YouTube Connect Contact us Client login Staff login Subscribe About us About Eversheds Sutherland Purpose and values Responsible business Alumni Insights Client tools Events and training Business topics Careers Offices © Eversheds Sutherland 2026. All rights reserved. Eversheds Sutherland is a provider of legal and other services operating through various separate and distinct legal entities. For further information about these entities and Eversheds Sutherlands' structure please see the Legal Notice page of this website. Eversheds Sutherland is the name and brand under which the members of Eversheds Sutherland Limited (Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP) and their respective controlled, managed and affiliated firms and the members of Eversheds Sutherland (Europe) Limited (each an "Eversheds Sutherland Entity" and together the "Eversheds Sutherland Entities") provide legal or other services to clients around the world. Eversheds Sutherland Entities are constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local regulatory and legal requirements and operate in accordance with their locally registered names. The use of the name Eversheds Sutherland, is for description purposes only and does not imply that the Eversheds Sutherland Entities are in a partnership or are part of a global LLP. The responsibility for the provision of services to the client is defined in the terms of engagement between the instructed firm and the client. For further information about these Eversheds Sutherland Entities and Eversheds Sutherlands’ structure please see the Legal Notices page of this website.

Read our latest thought leadership report, produced in collaboration with Retail Economics for practical insights based on research undertaken across France, Germany, the UAE, UK and the US.

The research included surveys of 250 retail businesses with revenues over £10m and economic modelling, and has been combined with insights from Eversheds Sutherland’s lawyers, helping you stay ahead in the rapidly evolving retail workforce landscape.

The retail sector stands at a pivotal moment. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant prospect – it is rapidly reshaping how retailers operate, compete, and serve customers.

The report covers the evolution, drivers and application of AI in retail, quantifies the retail workforce shift and sets out strategic considerations for retailers, including:

How to build an AI-ready workplace
Key areas to strengthen legal preparedness in the AI era
Tips on partnerships, leadership and governance

Please get in touch with our Consumer team if you would like to discuss any of the topics further.

Launch webinar

We hosted a deep-dive webinar discussing the report’s findings and key strategic implications for retailers, with Richard Lim from Retail Economics and key contributors from Eversheds Sutherland.

The webinar focused on fostering a culture of continuous learning, prioritizing ethical and legal preparedness, and aligning human-AI collaboration with strategic objectives – three key pillars of building resilient, innovative and future-ready retail businesses.

The materials on the Eversheds Sutherland website are for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. While reasonable care is taken to ensure accuracy, the materials may not reflect the most current legal developments. Eversheds Sutherland disclaims liability for actions taken based on the materials. Always consult a qualified lawyer for specific legal matters. To view the full disclaimer, see our Terms and Conditions or Disclaimer section in the footer. Eversheds Sutherland is a provider of legal and other services operating through various separate and distinct legal entities. For further information about these entities and Eversheds Sutherlands' structure please see the Legal Notice page of this website.