Report 14 Jan 2026

Retail & Wholesale - InBrief Analysis - Netherlands

Consumer confidence in the Netherlands is steadily improving, opening new retail technology opportunities for businesses in 2025.  PAC expects 2026 IT services for the sector to grow 4.2%, an improvement over 2025 (3.6%) and 2024 (2.2%). This recovery fuels rising customer expectations, especially for AI-powered features in customer-facing channels.

Market recovery and challenges

The retail sector experiences growth, but data fragmentation among smaller and mid-sized retailers hinders the adoption of modern technologies, resulting in missed growth and automation opportunities.

Key retail technology opportunities

IT service providers and software vendors can capitalize on:

  • Digital workplace automation
  • Unified commerce experiences (inventory management, PIM, real-time stock visibility)
  • AI enablement
  • Cybersecurity

 

Recommended advisory: PAC Leadership Session – AI Adoption in the Retail Industry