AI is making physical stores more important, not less

A new report by Colliers found that retailers are increasingly using AI to optimize store performance while expanding brick-and-mortar footprints. Physical stores aren’t just shopping destinations anymore, but are actually transforming into fulfillment hubs and support systems for both digital and physical commerce. Or at least that’s what Collier’s new report on how AI is redefining retail and real estate in 2026 found.