Hanshow and Microsoft Forge Alliance to Drive Smart Retail Innovation Forward
In a significant move for the retail industry, Hanshow, recognized globally for its innovative digital store solutions, has entered into a Strategic Partner Agreement with Microsoft. The formalization occurred at the Microsoft Executive Briefing Center located in Redmond, Washington. This agreement signals a new chapter in the partnership between the two companies, with the objective of further driving digitalization in retail.
The newly signed agreement is set to deepen existing collaborations focused on areas such as Store Digital Twin technology, Microsoft Azure, and joint go-to-market strategies. Hanshow and Microsoft’s goal is to empower retailers by enhancing the connection between physical store intelligence and secure cloud capabilities. This advancement aims to create store operations that are more visible, agile, and responsive, ultimately delivering an improved experience for customers.
Since joining Microsoft’s AI IoT Insider Lab in 2019, Hanshow has progressively transitioned its approach from large-scale IoT implementations to innovative solutions driven by artificial intelligence specifically tailored for physical stores. The partnership has already seen substantial achievements, with over 200 million electronic shelf labels managed via Microsoft Azure infrastructures. Additionally, various co-sell solutions have been introduced to enhance the services and products available within the Microsoft ecosystem.
One of the latest initiatives stemming from this collaboration is the launch of xPilot, revealed at NRF 2026 APAC. xPilot acts as a real-time AI assistant for retail execution, utilizing Hanshow’s Store Digital Twin and Azure technologies to provide retailers with insights that lead to quicker decision-making, streamlined workflows, and measurable operational impacts.
Liangyan Li, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Sales at Hanshow, emphasized the importance of this agreement, stating that it heralds a new phase in their long-standing alliance with Microsoft. He highlighted that the collaboration is instrumental in providing trustworthy, scalable, and future-proof digital solutions to a broader audience of retailers worldwide. By reinforcing their relationship with Microsoft, Hanshow plans to enrich global retail customers’ technological foundations, enhancing their operational flexibility and long-term value.
Philippe Brochard, Chairman of Hanshow’s Advisory Committee, also noted that the transformation in retail is increasingly reliant on effective ecosystems. He stressed that by collaborating with Microsoft and other strategic partners, Hanshow is contributing to an open and scalable innovation ecosystem that facilitates digital transformation in real store operations.
In line with these developments, Sandy Gupta, Vice President of Microsoft and head of Global ISV Business, remarked on the necessity for cloud technology, AI, and partner ecosystems to cooperate in addressing tangible operational challenges faced by retailers. He pointed out that the combination of Microsoft’s cloud and AI tools with Hanshow’s extensive experience in retail digitalization will unlock new levels of intelligence and efficiency, along with innovative enhancements in physical retail.
As the landscape of retail continues to evolve, this agreement between Hanshow and Microsoft not only strengthens their partnership but also signifies a collective effort to advance cloud-enabled retail innovation, foster community ecosystems, and bolster customer engagement worldwide. Through these initiatives, retailers can expect to see a paradigm shift in how they operate, ultimately leading to a more informed and intelligent retail environment.
The newly signed agreement is set to deepen existing collaborations focused on areas such as Store Digital Twin technology, Microsoft Azure, and joint go-to-market strategies. Hanshow and Microsoft’s goal is to empower retailers by enhancing the connection between physical store intelligence and secure cloud capabilities. This advancement aims to create store operations that are more visible, agile, and responsive, ultimately delivering an improved experience for customers.
Since joining Microsoft’s AI IoT Insider Lab in 2019, Hanshow has progressively transitioned its approach from large-scale IoT implementations to innovative solutions driven by artificial intelligence specifically tailored for physical stores. The partnership has already seen substantial achievements, with over 200 million electronic shelf labels managed via Microsoft Azure infrastructures. Additionally, various co-sell solutions have been introduced to enhance the services and products available within the Microsoft ecosystem.
One of the latest initiatives stemming from this collaboration is the launch of xPilot, revealed at NRF 2026 APAC. xPilot acts as a real-time AI assistant for retail execution, utilizing Hanshow’s Store Digital Twin and Azure technologies to provide retailers with insights that lead to quicker decision-making, streamlined workflows, and measurable operational impacts.
Liangyan Li, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Sales at Hanshow, emphasized the importance of this agreement, stating that it heralds a new phase in their long-standing alliance with Microsoft. He highlighted that the collaboration is instrumental in providing trustworthy, scalable, and future-proof digital solutions to a broader audience of retailers worldwide. By reinforcing their relationship with Microsoft, Hanshow plans to enrich global retail customers’ technological foundations, enhancing their operational flexibility and long-term value.
Philippe Brochard, Chairman of Hanshow’s Advisory Committee, also noted that the transformation in retail is increasingly reliant on effective ecosystems. He stressed that by collaborating with Microsoft and other strategic partners, Hanshow is contributing to an open and scalable innovation ecosystem that facilitates digital transformation in real store operations.
In line with these developments, Sandy Gupta, Vice President of Microsoft and head of Global ISV Business, remarked on the necessity for cloud technology, AI, and partner ecosystems to cooperate in addressing tangible operational challenges faced by retailers. He pointed out that the combination of Microsoft’s cloud and AI tools with Hanshow’s extensive experience in retail digitalization will unlock new levels of intelligence and efficiency, along with innovative enhancements in physical retail.
As the landscape of retail continues to evolve, this agreement between Hanshow and Microsoft not only strengthens their partnership but also signifies a collective effort to advance cloud-enabled retail innovation, foster community ecosystems, and bolster customer engagement worldwide. Through these initiatives, retailers can expect to see a paradigm shift in how they operate, ultimately leading to a more informed and intelligent retail environment.
Topics Consumer Technology）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.