ontap.daily (July 9th 2026)

Retailers are pouring record sums into AI, but is the investment paying off? In today's episode, John unpacks a major KPMG survey revealing that over half of retailers now spend $50 million or more on digital technology annually, yet most are capturing less than 40% of the expected value from their AI tools. He connects this to a troubling new finding about ChatGPT's citation system, where hidden search pipelines can silently switch, making AI-driven brand discovery less predictable than many marketers assumed. Plus, practical updates from the Hyvä and Shopify partner ecosystems, and why the back-to-school season is shaping up to be the most competitive in years.Topics covered in this episode:KPMG survey: 52% of retailers spending $50M+ on technology, with AI and cybersecurity as top prioritiesChatGPT's hidden search pipelines and what they mean for AI-driven brand visibilityWhy original data earns 3.3x more AI citations than other contentHyvä Checkout Airwallex 1.1.0 brings Express Checkout to product pages and mini cartsShopify POS API change: per-unit discount calculation breaking changeBack-to-school spending trends and Kohl's AI-powered shopping assistantWhy you should opt out of Google Search Partners in your ad campaignsWant to learn more? Visit www.ontapgroup.com for insights, strategies, and expert guidance on building better eCommerce experiences.