AI and data hold the key to surviving the 'Amazonization' of the retail sector

An ever-increasing number of retailers are facing up to the fact that Amazon is encroaching on their territory. In recent years, for example, Amazon has spent billions on acquiring Whole Foods, and trialled'checkoutless' retail concepts, as it looks to forge a path into the future of physical retail. Since Amazon's takeover of Whole Foods, the supermarket has been changed considerably to appeal to a broader market. With Amazon continuing to disrupt the status-quo of the retail industry, and now entering the grocery sector, adding this element should be a stark warning to traditional retailers that they need to embrace new technologies to help them win customer loyalty. 'As for the question, did Amazon buy Whole Foods for the groceries or the data?