Now available!

Watch the Bionic Retail launch webinar with Mike Stigers, President of Wakefern, Tom Furphy, CEO of Consumer Equity Partners, Zach Bello, Head of Partnerships for Prodx, and Doug Baker, VP of Industry Affairs for FMI, hosted by Shekar Raman, CEO of Birdzi, and moderated by Gary Hawkins, author of Bionic Retail.
Bionic Retail Launch Webinar from Gary Hawkins on Vimeo.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BIONIC RETAIL

As we pass the inflection point on the exponential growth curve of technology, retailers can harness accelerating innovation to create the future of retail . . . or choose to remain on the path to retail purgatory. But an inspired vision alone is potential.

There is work to be done: setting aside restrictive practices and beliefs, creating an innovation doctrine, and committing to action.

Want to learn more?

“This is Gary Hawkins’ most ambitious and important book to date. Bionic Retail is a consilience of sorts, a unity of knowledge, combining technological innovation with human inspiration, as applied to the consumer goods and food retailing industries. Inventive technology continues to accelerate at an exponential pace, widening the gap between functionality and utility. Those companies that move closer to the former through pipelines, applications, and platforms will enjoy a growing competitive advantage. The laggards will be at risk. Gary deftly lays out the case for cultural and organizational change and preparing for a new technology-enabled world that couldn’t be imagined—much less lived in—not too long ago. This is a must-read for all C-suite food industry executives.”

MARK W. BAUM , Chief Collaboration Officer, FMI, The Food Industry Association

MEET GARY HAWKINS

Gary Hawkins has been described as a visionary and retail industry treasure, whose deep knowledge of the industry combines with operational experience and technology savvy to provide a perspective that is completely unique.
His Odyssean journey across retail began three decades ago, driven by a vision to use data and technology to transform retail, returning the massive industry to its customer birthright.
That inspiration in turn gave rise to successive waves of innovation that continue today. Along the way he’s decimated countless industry practices on a relentless march into the future. That work has taken him to five different continents, helping premier retailers and CPG brand manufacturers discover and understand new technologies while helping the creators of new capabilities understand the massive and dynamic consumer goods retail industry.
Today, drawing from his experiences and learning, Hawkins and his team have created a powerful blueprint to help the retail industry thrive in an exponential world. Retailers have a unique opportunity to set aside outdated beliefs and use accelerating innovation and never-before-possible capabilities to create a powerful vision for retail’s future.
Hawkins leverages his expansive industry view, and early insight into disruptive technology, as a sought-after keynote speaker at conferences in the U.S. and around the world. Hawkins is the author of Building the Customer Specific Retail Enterprise; Customer Intelligence; Retail in the Age of I, and Bionic Retail, along with myriad articles and white papers. Hawkins lives in Colorado with his wife Heather, and Remington, their Bernese Mountain dog.

PRAISE

PRAISE

“Gary has done it again! Bionic Retail is a must-read for leadership in the supermarket industry. Today’s supermarket experience continues to evolve, and Gary has done an excellent job of explaining the speed of technology and how it will impact the supermarket experience in the future. Supermarket leaders should be focused on the speed of retail
change and how those technological advancements can positively impact the customer experience in the future.”

STEVEN C. SMITH, President and CEO, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc.

PRAISE

“In his latest book, Gary Hawkins leverages his extensive experience to provide unique insights on how tech driven disruption is shaking up the retail sector. A very useful read for retailers and other commentators alike, in fact for anyone thinking about how newer technologies eg generative AI, will impact retail.Now more than ever retailers need to embrace change and transformation, and this book will help them on that journey.”

Richard Chamberlain, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets

PRAISE

“Another excellent book from Gary Hawkins. “Bionic Retail” is a MUST READ for today’s grocery industry leaders at all levels. It clearly articulates what is happening in today’s world with impactful examples from the grocery industry of yesterday to today. After reading “Bionic Retail” I have a much clearer understanding of the speed of change and the danger of “doing nothing” or worse, “doing what we have always done.”

Mike Stigers, Associate Teaching Professor of Marketing, Wakefern Food Corp.

PRAISE

“Gary Hawkins has been at a leading voice in the world of retail technology and, with Bionic Retail, Gary is sharing his expertise with retailers at a critical moment in time when technology is changing business faster than we can adapt. This book is a must-read for any retailer, or business leader, looking to develop a customer-focused strategy to prepare themselves for the exponential world into which we are entering.”

Karthik Easwar, Associate Teaching Professor of Marketing, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University

PRAISE

“Amidst the ever-changing landscape of the grocery industry, adopting the rapid technological advancements is not merely an option; it’s the gateway to a future where convenience, sustainability, and innovation harmonize to nourish both our bodies and the world we inhabit. Gary’s book ‘Bionic Retail’ underscores the importance of cultivating the mindset and culture within the grocery industry to embrace the swift pace of technology innovation.”

Doug Baker, Vice President Industry Relations, FMI – The Food Industry Association

PRAISE

“Bionic Retail” by Gary Hawkins is an absolute must-read for anyone in the world of retail, from seasoned veterans to aspiring leaders. Hawkins delivers a compelling wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need for transformation in the face of the exponentially accelerating innovation in the industry. The book is a treasure trove of real-world examples that pull back the curtains behind some of today’s most significant innovations, providing invaluable insights and inspiration. It not only illuminates the path toward cultivating a tech-forward culture but also offers a pragmatic framework for getting started and building the organizational muscle. “Bionic Retail” is the resounding call to action that laggards require and a resounding endorsement for those who have leaned into transformation with enthusiasm. Gary Hawkins has crafted a masterful guide to the future of retail that should not be missed.”

Tom Furphy, CEO, Consumer Equity Partners

PRAISE

“Gary has done it again! “Bionic Retail” is a must read for leadership in the supermarket industry. Today’s supermarket experience continues to evolve, and Gary has done an excellent job of explaining the speed of technology and how it will impact the supermarket experience in the future. Supermarket leaders should be focused on the speed of retail change and how those technological advancements can positively impact the customer experience in the future.”

Steven C. Smith, President & CEO, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc.

PRAISE

“Gary Hawkins’ latest book, ‘Bionic Retail’, is a must-read for anyone in the retail industry. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of the future of retail, where physical automation and artificial intelligence are integrated through a digital nervous system into our human organizations to create a new retail species: Bionic Retail. Hawkins’ deep experience with retailers and technology providers shines through, providing a blueprint for navigating the rapidly changing retail landscape. This book challenges traditional retail operating and business models, urging retailers to look beyond the shiny new innovations and focus on aligning their organizational structures and decision-making processes with the future. ‘Bionic Retail’ is more than just a book; it’s a roadmap to the future of retail.”

ShiSh Shridhar, Global Retail Lead, Microsoft for Startups

PRAISE

“We have come to discover that courage and curiosity are two of the most critical leadership traits. Gary Hawkins expands on these character traits by identifying the outcomes – inspired vision, committed action, and an innovation doctrine. Hawkins is a creative storyteller who is passionate about helping the retail industry leaders learn from his lessons and the lessons of others. In his most recent book, Bionic Retail, Hawkins uses intentional metaphors, historical perspectives, and interesting new facts about technology to enlighten future leaders. Bionic Retail is a must-read for every leader in the retail and CPG industry who is wondering how to compete and win in the future. I encourage all my students to read Hawkins’ books so they are prepared to compete in a world where AI will drive our strategic decisions and enhance our ability to innovate like never before.”

Dr. Cynthia McCloud, Director and Adjunct Professor, USC Marshall School of Business, Food Industry Programs

PRAISE

“Gary Hawkins manages to quote Ray Bradbury and Lewis Carroll, cite “Star Trek” and “The Six Million Dollar Man,” and use his Bernese Mountain Dog puppy as a business metaphor in “Bionic Retail,” which makes him my kind of technology writer – accessible and relevant, making a persuasive case for how to actually act on actionable information.”

Kevin Coupe, MorningNewsBeat.com

PRAISE

“This is Gary Hawkins’s most ambitious and important book to-date. “Bionic Retail” is a consilience of sorts, a unity of knowledge, combining technological innovation with human inspiration, as applied to the consumer goods and food retailing industry. Inventive technology continues to accelerate at an exponential pace, widening the gap between functionality and utility. Those companies that move closer to the former through pipelines, applications, and platforms will enjoy a growing competitive advantage. The laggards will be at risk. Gary deftly lays out the case for culture and organization change and preparing for a new technology enabled world that couldn’t be imagined much less lived in, not too long ago. This is a must read for all c-suite food industry executives”

Mark W. Baum, Chief Collaboration Officer, FMI-The Food Industry Association.

CONNECT

Have questions about Bionic Retail? Contact Gary using the form below.

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