RELEX’s Madhav Durbha on Building an AI-First Mindset in Grocery | FMI 2026

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from FMI 2026 in San Diego at the Simbe booth, Chris Walton connected with Madhav Durbha, Group Vice President of CPG & Manufacturing at RELEX Solutions. Madhav shares a practical and grounded perspective on what it really means to adopt an AI-first mindset in grocery and supply chain organizations. Drawing from his experience working with leading companies, he outlines a portfolio-style approach to AI adoption, balancing proven solutions, emerging use cases, and aspirational moonshots. The conversation emphasizes why people remain at the center of supply chain transformation, even as AI accelerates. Madhav explains why organizations must invest heavily in education, culture, and change management, and why successful AI adoption requires as much unlearning as learning. The discussion also explores how leaders are navigating AI with cautious excitement, filtering hype from reality, and rethinking processes instead of simply automating legacy workflows. Key Topics Covered: - What an AI-first mindset really looks like - A 70/20/10 framework for AI adoption - Why people and culture determine AI success - Filtering AI hype from real business value - Rethinking processes instead of automating them - The role of unlearning in digital transformation Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from FMI 2026, recorded live from the Simbe booth in the FMI Tech section. #FMI2026 #OmniTalkRetail #ArtificialIntelligence #SupplyChain #RetailTechnology #AIFirst #RELEX #FutureOfRetail