Global Convenience Vision Group (GCVG) has released its latest Vision Report, “Everyday AI: Practical AI Applications in Convenience Retailing,” examining how artificial intelligence is moving beyond buzzwords to deliver real business value through theft prevention, operational efficiency, and enhanced customer experiences in convenience retail.
The latest GCVG quarterly virtual meeting held on July 22, 2025, was facilitated by Christian Warning, founder and managing partner of The Retail Marketeers. The meeting featured guest speaker Joerg Heilingbrunner, CEO of Scheidt & Bachmann, who presented “The Power of AI in Energy Retail,” discussing generative AI with a focus on real, applied use cases.
The Vision Report explores how retailers can implement AI as an everyday problem solver, addresses privacy and ethical considerations, and examines workforce transformations in the age of artificial intelligence.
Key takeaways in the report include:
- AI’s Real-World Focus: The meeting emphasized moving beyond AI as a mere buzzword to focus on practical applications that deliver genuine business value in convenience and mobility retail. “My message is very simple today: AI is an everyday problem solver. You can use it for everything,” said Joerg Heilingbrunner, CEO of Scheidt & Bachmann.
- AI, Privacy, and the Path to Responsible Use: Companies must navigate strict data privacy regulations and ethical considerations when implementing AI solutions, particularly regarding energy consumption and sustainability goals. “One concern…is the ethical use of AI. That is really on the top of the agenda, especially on the C-level teams. What are we going to do with AI, because it takes an enormous amount of energy to run, especially if you’re learning large language-model-based solutions?” said Zsuzsa Hordai, Head of Strategic Projects, SPAR International.
- AI in Action: Fighting Theft, Boosting Efficiency: AI-powered systems are being successfully deployed for theft prevention, fraud detection, and operational efficiency, though cost remains a barrier for smaller operators. “My concern with AI, for a small company like us, is I can’t afford it. I just can’t afford the cost of this, particularly when I have to watch overhead costs that are killing us,” said Claudio Reboredo, Partner/Owner, FGC Fuels Marketing.
- AI in Marketing and Customer Experience: Retailers are leveraging AI for loyalty programs, retail media networks, and content creation, though the challenge remains creating authentic customer connections rather than just discount programs. “We have a loyalty program and if we should continue developing that, we need to make sure that first of all, it’s profitable. Secondly, that it sticks out because everybody does something, said Jesper Østergaard, CEO, Reitan Convenience Denmark.
- Workforce Shifts in the Age of AI: Organizations are adopting both formal and informal approaches to AI integration while recognizing that AI will be essential for future competitiveness without necessarily replacing human workers. “Our approach to innovation isn’t limited to purchasing technology. It’s built on integrating it into our company’s business models, culture, and customer-centered structure,” shared Mert Dunder, head of operational technology for Petrol Ofisi Group.
- The Global Convenience Vision Group (GCVG) brings together convenience retail leaders from around the world for quarterly virtual meetings. During these sessions, members identify trends, challenges and disruptions in retail as well as present possible solutions and opportunities. The group is committed to sharing its views and perspectives in order to advance the convenience retailing and mobility industry globally. GCVG is an initiative with The Retail Marketeers and is a part of the Vision Group Network.
