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AI-Powered Store Teams: How Microsoft & SYNQ Are Transforming Retail Frontlines
Season 5 Episode 10
S5E10 From Task Overload to Customer Focus: AI Solutions for Retail Associates
Retailers are asking store associates to do more with less—shorter staffing, longer task lists, and higher customer expectations. In this episode of The Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden explore how AI is reshaping frontline retail teams from overwhelmed to empowered.
Joining the conversation are:
• Jeff Strasser, General Manager of AI Business Solutions for Retail & Consumer Goods at Microsoft
• Nolan Wheeler, CEO & Founder of SYNQ Technologies
Together, they dive into:
• The biggest challenges facing frontline store associates today: task overload, reduced staffing, and customer service trade-offs
• How AI can automate and simplify corporate task lists, freeing up time for customer engagement
• Why voice-first, hands-free AI is a breakthrough for associates, with SYNQ’s solution connecting two-way radios to Azure OpenAI for instant answers in the aisle
• The importance of integration and governance when deploying AI at scale in retail operations
• Real-world examples of AI reducing friction, improving training, and accelerating onboarding
• How to measure success with the right KPIs: time-to-answer, customer satisfaction, and associate productivity
• What’s next for AI in retail over the next 24 months—and how retailers can prepare their teams today
This isn’t about replacing people—it’s about augmenting store teams with AI-powered tools that make their jobs easier, improve morale, and elevate the customer experience.
If you’re a retail leader, innovator, or operator, this episode is packed with insights on how to start small, scale fast, and empower your frontline workforce with AI.
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About our Guests
Nolan Wheeler – CEO & Founder, SYNQ Technologies
Nolan Wheeler founded SYNQ in 2015 after a successful multi-decade career in retail. With experience in asset protection, store operations, and store transformation, Nolan founded SYNQ with a vision for transforming how retailers think about operations and merchandizing. Nolan lives in Victoria, BC with his young family, spending as much of his time on the water as possible.
Retail Clinic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RetailClinic
SYNQ Technologies - www.synqtech.com
Jeff Strasser – GM,
Published on 2 weeks, 6 days ago