Retailers' multi-year AI experimentation

Over the past several years retailers have been actively experimenting with artificial intelligence, running pilots and trials to understand how the technology can be applied across the business.

These efforts were not isolated to research teams; they involved various business units exploring how AI could change day-to-day operations.

Common AI tools deployed in retail

Retailers introduced a range of AI-driven tools as part of those experiments to address different operational needs.

• Chatbots to assist customer interactions and front-line support
• Copilots to aid staff with tasks and decision support
• Analytics tools designed to surface insights and improve planning

Objectives behind early AI projects

The main aims of these deployments were to boost efficiency across processes and to enhance decision-making by providing faster, data-driven recommendations to teams at multiple levels.

Many pilots focused on proving value in measurable operational outcomes rather than purely technical showcases.

Shift from experimentation to operational impact

As adoption has progressed, the industry conversation is moving beyond testing isolated solutions toward measuring and scaling the operational impact of AI across core business functions.

Organizations are increasingly focused on how AI can be embedded into routine workflows to deliver consistent performance improvements.

Industry perspective from SAP

“What’s a little different this year than last year is that retailers are getting, I would say, more serious about AI,”

The remark came from Kristin Howell, who is part of SAP’s retail industry product management team, in comments to Supply Chain Management Review.

The path to realizing AI value

That increased seriousness reflects a recognition that meaningful AI benefits arise when intelligence is woven into core business processes rather than left in separate point solutions.

Delivering that value depends on having clean, real-time data flows and well-defined guardrails so AI can operate reliably and in line with business objectives.

Agreement announced by USTR

The United States and Bangladesh have signed a reciprocal trade agreement designed to reduce tariffs and address related trade issues, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a Monday press release. The USTR published details of the pact and the implementing documents on its website here.

Change to reciprocal tariff rate and exemption rules

Under the terms announced, the United States will lower the reciprocal tariff rate applied to imports from Bangladesh to 19%. The pact also provides that levies will be eliminated entirely for products that meet exemptions outlined in an executive order issued on Sept. 5. The executive order specifies categories of goods eligible for duty-free treatment when covered by finalized trade agreements.

Textile and apparel exemption mechanism

The agreement creates a mechanism to permit a to-be-specified quantity of textile and apparel imports from Bangladesh to receive tariff exemptions. Eligibility for those exemptions will be tied to the volume of U.S. exports of comparable goods, according to a joint White House statement describing the framework here.

Background on previous tariffs

Imports from Bangladesh had been subject to a 20% reciprocal tariff since the Trump administration finalized country-specific levies in August. The new agreement replaces that 20% rate with the 19% level for covered goods, subject to the exemptions described above.

Bangladesh commitments on standards, market access and purchases

Bangladesh agreed to cut tariffs on many American products and to recognize U.S. standards for certain categories such as automobiles and food. The country also committed to expand market access for U.S. agricultural exports and to purchase $3.5 billion in specific U.S. farm commodities. The joint statement lists the planned agricultural purchases as:

• wheat
• soy
• cotton
• corn

Bangladesh further pledged to remove value-added taxes and digital services taxes that affect U.S. suppliers and to strengthen protections for intellectual property, labor rights and the environment.

Energy purchases and measures on below-market exporters

Another provision of the deal commits Bangladesh to buy $15 billion of U.S. energy products over the next 15 years. The agreement also requires Bangladesh to adopt measures addressing practices by entities owned by third countries that sell below-market goods into the United States.

Implementation timeline and termination conditions

The pact becomes effective 60 days after each country notifies the other that it has completed its internal procedures to formalize the agreement. The United States retains the right to terminate the agreement if Bangladesh enters a bilateral trade arrangement that the U.S. determines would harm American interests.

The agreement specifies that if the U.S. rescinds the pact, tariffs on Bangladesh would revert to the higher rate the Trump administration announced last April. At that time, the president had planned to impose a 37% levy on imports from Bangladesh.

Regional context and recent U.S. trade activity

This deal follows the U.S. framework trade agreement with India and a series of reciprocal trade pacts the United States has formalized with partners in Central and South America, including Argentina, Guatemala and El Salvador.

At the same time, the U.S. has created instability for some previously finalized agreements, with recent actions affecting arrangements with the European Union and South Korea.

Attribution and licensing

This article was written by Phil Neuffer for Supply Chain Dive and was legally licensed through DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. For licensing questions, contact [email protected].

FedEx introduces two AI post-purchase solutions

FedEx announced on Feb. 2 that it is rolling out two artificial intelligence–driven post-purchase products designed to boost visibility and streamline the last mile. The offerings, introduced in collaboration with ParcelLab, are called FedEx Tracking+ and FedEx Returns+.

Automated answers and anomaly detection

The new services use AI to respond automatically to routine customer inquiries and to surface irregularities in delivery and returns data. Typical customer questions handled by the tools include:

• Where is my order
• Where is my refund
• Other common tracking- and returns-related queries

Beyond instant replies, the systems analyze patterns and flag anomalies so merchants can spot potential problems or opportunities earlier in the process.

Merchant analytics and policy automation

Merchants receive consolidated insights covering tracking activity and return flows, enabling them to monitor trends across shipments and refunds. The platform also allows shippers to define parameters that can automate parts of their returns policy and adjust the customer experience without manual intervention.

Integration inside the shipper experience

FedEx designed Tracking+ and Returns+ to operate within a merchant’s own post-purchase environment rather than forcing customers to consult a third-party website. That approach keeps tracking and return interactions under the shipper’s brand and control.

Importance of the post-purchase period

FedEx executives framed the tools as a way to strengthen customer relationships after the sale. Jason Brenner, senior vice president of FedEx’s digital portfolio, emphasized that loyalty is frequently determined by what happens after purchase and that a strong post-purchase experience supports lifetime customer value.

Consumer expectations and supporting research

Rising consumer expectations around delivery precision are a key driver for the new products. A recent Locus survey found that 93% of U.S. consumers say delivery performance affects their perception of a brand. Industry observers note shoppers now expect near-real-time accuracy, tight arrival windows, and control over how and when they receive updates.

Jadah Hawkins, senior vice president and global market leader for retail and e-commerce at Alorica, told industry outlets that customers have moved from accepting broad delivery estimates to demanding GPS-level tracking and highly personalized notifications.

Source and licensing information

This article is based on reporting by Bryan Wassel for Supply Chain Dive and was licensed through the DiveMarketplace. For licensing inquiries, contact [email protected].