Only 1 In 4 UK Retailers Are Actually Ready For AI In Commerce, Patchwork Finds

Only 1 in 4 UK retailers say their technology can handle AI driven commerce, according to new research from Patchworks. The study found that 27% have systems that are fully connected and scalable, which Patchworks describes as the basic requirement for autonomous shopping tools.

There’s a gap between interest in AI and the reality of current systems. Around 40% of retailers already use AI to automate or improve operations, but many admit the foundations are weak.

Another 31% use fragmented systems and manual workarounds, while 29% say their integration reacts to problems rather than preventing them. Another 17% say their current setup would not support AI adoption at all, even though interest in the technology continues to grow.

Why Is Integration Important As Agentic AI Takes Shape?

Predictions from global consultancies show why this readiness gap is worth paying attention to. Deloitte forecasts that 25% of enterprises using generative AI will deploy autonomous agents in 2025. Gartner expects agentic AI to handle most routine customer interactions before the end of the decade.

Agentic commerce refers to AI agents that shoppers complete purchases, from search to checkout. These systems depend on accurate, real time access to stock, pricing, customer and order data. Disconnected platforms struggle to deliver that flow of information.

Jim Herbert, chief executive of Patchworks, said many retailers underestimate what is required. “Agentic commerce sounds futuristic, but it relies on something very unglamorous. Clean, connected data,” he said. “If your stock, orders, customer data and payments don’t talk to each other reliably today, an AI agent will simply amplify those problems rather than solve them.”

Herbert added that poor integration already costs retailers money. Patchworks found that 60% report losses linked to disconnected systems, and one in ten lose more than £1 million a year because of integration failures. During peak trading periods, 48% rely on temporary fixes just to keep systems running.

What Happens To Retailers That Fall Behind?

Herbert said the divide between retailers is widening… “AI agents will soon be buying trainers before your current pair wears out, reordering household staples automatically, or booking last-minute outfits based on your calendar,” he said.

“Retailers with modern, connected platforms will benefit from that shift. Those running on brittle, patched-together stacks risk being invisible to the machines doing the buying.”

Patchworks views agentic commerce as an acceleration of trends already under way. Platforms such as Shopify are becoming easier for AI interfaces to access, making integration the foundation for real time data flows across ecommerce, ERP, warehouse, CRM and payments.

“AI will change how people shop, but it won’t magically tidy up messy systems,” Herbert added. “Retailers need to fix the plumbing first. Integration is what turns AI from hype into something commercially useful.”

Retail groups working on this groundwork say the pressure is real. David Webster from Bollin Group said: “Tech stacks must be scalable, and app based as you don’t know what functionality you’ll need in five years. That’s why working with partners who keep pace with reducing complexity and cost is crucial.

“We already use AI extensively in our team, freeing up time and resource for where we can add the most value. AI’s impact is now being felt in how we all interact with sites and content, and as a team we need to keep pace with this important development too.”