AI and Operational Efficiency Emerge as Key Areas for Convenience in 2026, says PDI Technologies
PDI Technologies has announced new findings from its “AI in Convenience” survey, revealing both strong enthusiasm and gaps in the industry’s AI adoption.
According to the survey, 72% of convenience professionals agree that AI capability is an important feature when evaluating new technology, and 80% say adaptability and optimization are essential for AI solutions.
Even with this level of optimism, the industry is still early in its adoption curve, with one-third of respondents expressing uncertainty about how to effectively deploy AI*.
“AI will be a transformative technology for convenience, and our new survey confirms both the urgency and the opportunity,” said Jeff Hassman, VP, Brands and Consumer Strategy, PDI Technologies. “Retailers see efficiency and productivity gains as early benefits. The next step is moving beyond experimentation to embedding AI into workflows that help organizations make faster, smarter decisions that benefit their team, their customers, and their bottom line.”
As AI becomes a vital part of retail operations, PDI is helping retailers realize the value of intelligent platforms and AI-powered workflows. Earlier this year, the company announced MyPDI, an AI-powered platform that centralizes operations in an intelligent shared hub. By integrating analytics, AI-driven insights, and administration across the PDI retail and energy ecosystem, MyPDI helps empower retailers and wholesalers to modernize operations, streamline engagement, and deliver more personalized, data-driven experiences that create lasting customer loyalty.
“As platforms like MyPDI help bring data, insights, and workflows together, AI delivers its greatest impact when it becomes part of everyday processes—not a standalone tool,” said Raghu Bongula, Chief Technology Officer, PDI Technologies. “The retailers seeing early success are the ones starting with a clear business problem, defining the outcomes they want, and then using AI to help them achieve those goals more efficiently and predictably.”
*Source: PDI Technologies survey of convenience industry professionals about AI adoption (November 2025)
About PDI Technologies
With 40 years of industry leadership, PDI Technologies, Inc. resides at the intersection of productivity and sales growth, delivering powerful solutions that serve as the backbone of the convenience retail and petroleum wholesale ecosystem. By “Connecting Convenience” across the globe, we empower businesses to increase productivity, make informed decisions, and engage faster with their customers. From large-scale ERP and logistics operations to loyalty programs and cybersecurity, we’re simplifying the industry supply chain for whatever comes next. Visit the PDI Technologies website.
