Jump to content

Draft:Retalon (software)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  • Comment: GPTZero says "54% AI generated" Theroadislong (talk) 14:25, 18 June 2025 (UTC)
Retalon Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail IT
Founded2001
Founder
  • Mark Krupnik, Ph.D
  • Joseph Sheinis, Ph.D
Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario
,
Canada
Key people
  • Mark Krupnik, Ph.D (Co-founder, CEO)
  • Joseph Sheinis, Ph.D (Co-founder, CTO)
  • Jean-Philippe Vorsanger (COO)
ProductsSaas for Retail Business Operation
Websiteretalon.com

Retalon is a Canadian software company that specializes in retail predictive analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. It was founded[1] in 2002 in Toronto, Ontario, by Mark Krupnik, Ph.D., who has published multiple papers in the field of applied mathematics[2] and Joseph Sheinis, Ph.D, inventor who holds two patents in software engineering - particularily in the areas of application internationalization and component interception logic.[3][4]

In its early years, Retalon developed a unified analytics platform designed to handle multiple aspects of retail operations (such as inventory, pricing, and planning) on a single predictive engine.[5] Retalon's research and development of retail AI tools have had an impact on the retail industry by providing insights and commercial applications, as discussed in the Artificial Intelligence in Business section of the Handbook of Artificial Intelligence Applications For Industrial Sustainability, by Princi Gupta and Nisha Singh.[6]

By the 2010s, the company's products were adopted by several North American retailers.[7]

In 2014, Retalon announced that Shane Co., a U.S.-based jewelry retailer in 2013, implemented Retalon's analytics to optimize inventory and assortment planning.[8]

Another early client was Follett Corporation (an educational materials retailer), which used Retalon's tools to streamline product planning processes.[9]

Today, Retalon remains a privately held company focused on retail analytics driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). It expanded its client base internationally, serving retailers in North America, Europe, and the.[10] In 2020, the Canadian fashion retailer La Maison Simons deployed Retalon's AI-based forecasting and inventory optimisation software to manage its extensive product assortment.[11] Simons credited Retalon with enabling a more granular, data-driven approach to inventory and promotions, and with improving decision-making as the retailer grew its e-commerce operations.[12]

Products and Technology

[edit]

Retalon's core offering is a suite of retail analytics software built on a unified platform that uses AI and predictive analytics to optimize retail operations. The platform encompasses end-to-end merchandise planning, demand forecasting, inventory management, pricing, promotions, and markdown optimization.[13]

Retalon's technology was developed to address the insufficiency of the solutions that addressed a single aspect of retail, such as pricing or inventory, in isolation. Retalon approached the issue by integrating data from across the entire retail process. Today, all of its analytics modules operate on a common platform, which can integrate with retailers' existing enterprise systems (ERP platforms), increasing consistency and accuracy in forecasting and resulting sales performance.[14]

According to an article by Dan Berthiaume,"After integrating the Retalon system into its enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, Hard Rock has been able to increase and consistently maintain in-stock percentage to 97%, and they expect to get up to very close to 100% across all retail locations globally. Rock Shop stores are now able to trust with 99.9% certainty their new demand forecasts."[15]

Artificial Intelligence

[edit]

The company was an early pioneer in applying AI and predictive analytics to retail planning and has been active in research and development of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation and technology.

Retalon has been actively involved in both academic and applied research in fields such as mathematics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The company's founder and CEO, Mark Krupnik, holds a PhD in applied mathematics and began his career as a researcher in linear algebra and operator theory.[16]

In the 1990s, he co-authored several papers in mathematical journals—for example, he and Nahum Krupnik (his father, a mathematician) collaborated on a 1996 study titled "A simple proof of the classification of normal Toeplitz matrices," published in the SIAM Journal on Matrix Analysis and Applications.[17][18]

Nahum Krupnik has remained active in academia while affiliated with the company, and Retalon has provided financial support for his research. Notably, a survey on one-dimensional singular integral operators authored by Nahum Krupnik, published in the conference proceedings Topics in Operator Theory: Volume 1. Operators, Matrices and Analytic Functions, acknowledges that "the work was partially supported by Retalon Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada."[19]Similarly, other peer-reviewed papers in mathematics have credited Retalon's support.[20]

Machine Learning

[edit]

In 2021, Retalon announced a new neural network training methodology called "Progressive Learning," which allows AI models to learn in stages by first training on the most reliable data and gradually incorporating noisier[21]

This approach was designed to improve the robustness of deep learning models for retail decision-making, helping to automatically detect anomalies in data and reduce the need for manual intervention in the model training process.

Partnerships

[edit]

Retalon has formed several partnerships to expand its market reach and integrate its technology with larger platforms.

Microsoft

[edit]

In 2022, Retalon became an official Microsoft partner. Through their participation with Microsoft Dynamics 365. Retalon's AI and analytics solutions can be deplyed as an add-on to Microsoft Dynamic 365 through.[22] Retalon was among the first to participate in Microsofts' role out of Dynamics, becoming an early partner of the program in January 2013.[23]

ThinkMax

[edit]

Retalon also partnered with the Canadian IT consulting company Thinkmax in October 2022,.[24][25] This alliance was aimed at accelerating digital transformation for retail clients by leveraging Thinkmax's implementation services alongside Retalon's analytics software.

Tech Mahindra

[edit]

In January 2023, Tech Mahindra, a global IT services and consulting firm, announced a strategic partnership with Retalon.[26][27] The partnership was geared towards providing "full spectrum" digital solutions for the retail and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. Tech Mahindra characterized Retalon as a leader in retail AI and predictive analytics, and the two companies agreed to jointly offer a unified analytics platform for retailers and CPG companies worldwide.[27]

The collaboration combines Tech Mahindra's expertise in systems integration and digital transformation with Retalon's analytics tools to help retail clients improve customer insights, decision-making, and operational efficiency. For example, the joint solution was promoted as enabling smarter inventory and fulfillment decisions and potentially improving gross profit margins for retailers by an estimated 9–12% annually.[26][27]

Recognition and Awards

[edit]

Retalon's technology and market presence have been noted by independent industry analysts and publications, which has helped establish the company's notability in the retail technology sector.[28]

Gartner, a leading technology research firm, has included Retalon in several of its industry reports. In 2021, Retalon was listed as a "Representative Vendor" in Gartner's Market Guide for Retail Forecasting and Replenishment Solutions[29][30]

In 2022, Retalon received an industry award from Retail Today magazine. The company was selected as a winner in two categories in the "Retail CIO Radar 2022" list: Supply Chain[31] and Merchandising technology.[32]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "MRAS Business Registry Search". ised-isde.canada.ca.
  2. ^ Krupnik, M. (n.d.). MathSciNet author profile. American Mathematical Society. Retrieved June 9, 2025, from https://mathscinet.ams.org/mathscinet/MRAuthorID/321045. (Access requires subscription or institutional login.)
  3. ^ "Joseph Sheinis Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications." Justia Patents, n.d., https://patents.justia.com/inventor/joseph-sheinis. Accessed 9 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Who's Who at the COR: Joseph Sheinis, Software Developer." Kashruth Council of Canada, 24 Oct. 2011, https://cor.ca/2011/10/whos-who-at-the-cor-joseph-sheinis-software-developer/. Accessed 9 June 2025.
  5. ^ CB Insights. (n.d.). Retalon - Products, Competitors, Financials, Employees. Retrieved June 9, 2025, from https://www.cbinsights.com/company/retalon. (Access requires subscription.)
  6. ^ Gupta, P., & Singh, N. (2024). Artificial Intelligence tools for reshaping e-business and trade. In V. Garg, R. Goel, P. Tiwari, & E. S. Döngül (Eds.), *Handbook of artificial intelligence applications for industrial sustainability: Concepts and practical examples* (1st ed., pp. 25). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003348351.(subscription required).
  7. ^ "Retalon - 2025 Company Profile - Tracxn". tracxn.com. April 26, 2025.
  8. ^ "Solutions Section". Supply Chain World magazine. November 20, 2014.
  9. ^ "Follett Perfects Planning In A Volatile Sales Environment". www.retailitinsights.com.
  10. ^ "Simons keeps in style using Retalon AI". IoT M2M Council.
  11. ^ "Fashion Retailer Boosts Inventory, Fulfillment with AI." Retail Customer Experience, 7 May 2020, https://www.retailcustomerexperience.com/news/fashion-retailer-boosts-inventory-fulfillment-with-ai/#:~:text=Canadian%20fashion%20retailer%20Simons%20is,predictive%20analytics%20technology%20from%20Retalon.Accessed 16 April 2025.
  12. ^ RetailToday. (2020, May 5). Fashion retailer Simons optimizes 250,000 style/colors using Retalon’s artificial intelligence. https://retail-today.com/fashion-retailer-simons-optimizes-250000-style-colors-using-retalons-artificial-intelligence/
  13. ^ "Advantage2Retail (A2R) Provides Linen Chest with Optimized Inventory Allocation Through Retalon Technology." Advantage2Retail, 25 Nov. 2015, https://a2r.ca/advantage2retail-a2r-provides-linen-chest-with-optimized-inventory-allocation-through-retalon-technology/. Accessed 16 April 2025.
  14. ^ Gartner, Inc. "Market Guide for Unified Price, Promotion and Markdown Optimization Applications." Gartner, 2024, https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/unified-price-promotion-and-markdown-optimization-applications. Accessed 23 May 2025.
  15. ^ "Rock Shop Rolls Right Products to Individual Stores." Chain Store Age, 30 Oct. 2019, https://chainstoreage.com/technology/rock-shop-rolls-right-products-to-individual-stores#:~:text=After%20integrating%20the,new%20demand%20forecasts, Accessed 16 April 2025.
  16. ^ Krupnik, Mark. "Mark Krupnik - Author Biography". Entrepreneur.
  17. ^ Farenick, D. R., Krupnik, M., Krupnik, N., & Lee, W. Y. (1996). Normal Toeplitz matrices. SIAM Journal on Matrix Analysis and Applications, 17(4), 1037–1043. https://doi.org/10.1137/s0895479895287080
  18. ^ European Journal of Mathematics. (2002). A normality condition for certain automorphic functions. European Journal of Mathematics, 9(1), 108-111. Retrieved June 9, 2025, from https://www.emis.de/journals/ELA/ela-articles/articles/vol9_pp108-111.pdf
  19. ^ Krupnik, Nahum. "Survey on the Best Constants in the Theory of One-dimensional Singular Integral Operators." In Topics in Operator Theory: Volume 1. Operators, Matrices and Analytic Functions, edited by A. Gheondea, H. Langer, and T. Constantinescu, 319–332. Birkhäuser, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0346-0158-0_21
  20. ^ On the inverse-closedness of matrix subalgebras. Krupnik, N. (2014). Operators and Matrices, 8(4), 1175–1180. https://doi.org/10.7153/oam-08-67
  21. ^ AIT News Desk. (2021, March 19). Retalon announces breakthrough application of deep learning technology in business-specific predictive analytics. AiThority. Retrieved June 9, 2025, from https://aithority.com/machine-learning/neural-networks/deep-learning/retalon-announces-breakthrough-application-of-deep-learning-technology-in-business-specific-predictive-analytics/
  22. ^ "Retalon - Retail Planning 365". Retalon - Retail Planning 365.
  23. ^ Rosencrance, L. (2013, January 25). Microsoft Dynamics Partner Roundup: New Partnerships. MSDynamicsWorld.com. Retrieved April 19, 2025, from https://msdynamicsworld.com/story/microsoft-dynamics-partner-roundup-retail-var-merger-master-var-adds-affiliate-crm-go-live#:~:text=The%20company%20will,AX%20for%20Retail.
  24. ^ Thinkmax. (2022, October 10). Retalon and Thinkmax bring AI to Canada's top retailers. Thinkmax. Retrieved June 9, 2025, from https://www.thinkmax.com/en/blog/retalon-and-thinkmax-bring-ai-to-canadas-top-retailers/
  25. ^ LeadIQ. (n.d.). Retalon. LeadIQ. Retrieved June 9, 2025, from https://leadiq.com/c/retalon/5a1d9fc0230000590090777f
  26. ^ a b TimesofIndia.com. (2023, January 11). Tech Mahindra partners with Retalon to offer digital solutions for retail, consumer packaged goods industry. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/tech-mahindra-partners-with-retalon-to-offer-digital-solutions-for-retail-consumer-packaged-goods-industry/articleshow/96915506.cms
  27. ^ a b c SAMENA Telecommunications Council. (2023, January–February). SAMENA Trends: A resilient, sustainable digital future (Vol. 14). https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_trends/files/SAMENA_Trends_January-February_2023-v2.pdf
  28. ^ FeaturedCustomers. (2025, Spring). Spring 2025 Customer Success Report: Demand forecasting software. https://cdn.featuredcustomers.com/customer_success_report/FC-CUSTOMER-SUCCESS-REPORT-SPRING-2025-DEMAND-FORECASTING.pdf
  29. ^ Gartner. (2025, June 17). Market Guide for Unified Price, Promotion and Markdown Optimization Applications. https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/unified-price-promotion-and-markdown-optimization-applications
  30. ^ Gartner. (2024, April 22). Market Guide for Retail Unified Price, Promotion and Markdown Optimization Applications — Short Life Cycle. https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3995226
  31. ^ RetailToday. (2022, January 7). Supply chain. In Retail CIO Radar 2022. https://retailtoday.h5mag.com/cio_radar_2022/supply_chain
  32. ^ RetailToday. (2022, July 1). Merchandising. In Retail CIO Radar 2022. https://retailtoday.h5mag.com/cio_radar_2022/merchandising

Category:Predictive analytics Category:Artificial intelligence Category:Software Category:Retailing

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Retalon_(software)&oldid=1296293755"