Momentum 2026: Built for the Agentic and Unified Commerce Era

Momentum 2026 continued at the Bellagio in Las Vegas with a clear focus on how companies are already implementing unified commerce and putting AI into action across commerce and supply chain operations.

Day two brought the unified commerce and agentic era to life through customer stories, operational insights, and conversations centered on how businesses are already witnessing value. Across every session, leaders shared how unified platforms, contextualized data, and intelligent automation are helping teams move faster, simplify complexity, and operate with greater confidence.

From stores and fulfillment centers to transportation networks and customer experiences, the energy throughout the day reinforced a clear message: the future is now, and businesses across the Manhattan community are already shaping what comes next.

The Store Experience Is Becoming Intelligent

Manhattan’s SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Katie Foote, opened the morning mainstage with leaders from Arc'teryx, Vineyard Vines, and Belk for a conversation centered on unified commerce and AI-powered customer experiences.

Despite operating very different businesses, all three brands shared the same goal: creating seamless experiences across every channel and every customer touchpoint.

Erin Harrington, VP of Customer Transformation at Vineyard Vines, talked about the importance of technology that absorbs complexity so teams can focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Whether it’s bought online, picked up in store (BOPIS), shipped-from-store, an endless aisle, or clienteling, the expectation is simple. Customers want every interaction to feel seamless.

Leaders from Arc'teryx and Belk shared how Manhattan helps orchestrate inventory, fulfillment, and order flows across stores and digital channels, so operations move together through one unified platform.

The conversation reinforced one of the biggest themes of the week: Unified Commerce is real and brands are already using AI to accelerate results across stores, fulfillment operations, and supply chains every day.

AI Starts With the Right Foundation

That momentum continued as Jared Skinner, Managing Director of Americas Retail at Google, joined Manhattan’s Chief Operating Officer Greg Betz for a discussion about the foundations driving successful AI adoption.

Jared emphasized that data sits at the center of every successful AI strategy.

“If you don’t have good data, you have bad AI,” he said.

The teams creating meaningful AI momentum are turning unified data into action across the enterprise.

For Manhattan customers, that creates a significant advantage. The structured, contextualized data foundation inside ActivePlatform™ already gives businesses a strong starting point for enterprise AI and intelligent automation.

Greg connected the conversation back to a theme that’s been carried throughout the conference: AI advantage comes from unified systems, connected data, and operational alignment working together seamlessly.

Human Courage Still Matters

The Women in Tech Luncheon brought another powerful perspective to the day.

Michelle Poler, founder of Hello Fears, encouraged attendees to embrace uncertainty, take action before they feel fully ready, and push beyond the limits fear can create. Her message resonated throughout the conference.

Businesses everywhere are navigating rapid transformation. AI is reshaping workflows, operations, and decision-making at breakneck speed. But progress still depends on people willing to lead through change, rethink assumptions, and move forward with confidence.

Technology accelerates possibilities. People drive transformation.

Unified Commerce for Wholesale and Distribution Companies

Later in the afternoon, Liz Sophia, VP of Field Marketing at Manhattan, moderated a panel with Sucharita Kodali, VP and Principal Analyst at Forrester, and Geoff Goetz, COO at KeHE, focused on unified commerce inside complex B2B environments – specifically for wholesale and distribution companies.

The session explored how the same forces reshaping retail - rising B2B customer expectations, labor complexity, fragmented legacy systems, and the emergence of AI, are converging in distribution right now, and what leading operators are doing about it.

While Sucharita talked about the accelerating pace of digital transformation across B2B as companies continue modernizing operations and creating more seamless customer experiences, Geoff brought the conversation back to operational alignment and consistency.

The biggest breakthroughs happen when workflows, teams, and operations move together toward the same goals.

Geoff emphasized the importance of building trust, simplifying processes, and creating operational consistency across the business.

That idea surfaced repeatedly throughout the week: AI delivers the greatest value when companies unify systems, simplify complexity, and empower teams to move faster together.

Standards Create Staying Power

The day closed with one of the most anticipated sessions of the conference as Mike Krzyzewski, better known as Coach K, took the stage and shared leadership lessons honed on the basketball court.

His message centered on leadership, teamwork, and standards. He highlighted his core values and spoke about the 3As - adaptability, accountability, and attitude, that create sustained success.

Coach K talked about the relationship between talent and standards. Talent opens opportunities. Standards create consistency, trust, and long-term performance under pressure.

That message connected naturally with the broader conversation happening throughout Momentum around navigating complexity and leading through transformation.

AI is accelerating innovation across every industry. Customer expectations continue to evolve. The companies that stay ahead will combine technology, discipline, and operational alignment to move with speed and confidence.

Built to Stay Ahead

After Coach K left the stage, Manhattan President and CEO Eric Clark closed the day by bringing the conversation back to what has defined Momentum 2026 from the start: the agentic era is already creating real business value.

Eric pointed to customers already deploying AI agents, the successful hands-on AI bootcamp sessions that took place even before the conference officially began, and the operational outcomes customers shared throughout the week.

“The technology to keep you one step ahead isn’t coming,” he said. “It’s already here.”

But he also reminded attendees that technology itself isn’t what creates differentiation. “What we’ve always been after is not smarter machines. It’s smarter organizations powered by people, unified by technology, accelerated by AI.” That idea continues to define Momentum 2026 and Manhattan’s belief.

The future of supply chain commerce isn’t coming. It’s already being built across the Manhattan community through intelligent operations, connected platforms, and the power of people and AI working together.

Momentum closed with one final celebration of the customers, partners, and teams shaping what comes next before the community comes together again at Momentum 2027.