GK Software launches retail AI framework GK Agentic

GK Software has launched GK Agentic, an artificial intelligence framework for retail operations aimed at large retailers that want to use AI with their own operational data.

The framework is designed to help retail staff use AI agents for day-to-day tasks such as building promotions, retrieving customer analytics, and answering operational questions. It can run within existing tools and on devices already used by store and head office teams.

GK Agentic is a retail-focused system built around large language models, with support for cloud, on-premise, and hybrid deployments. It connects to retail back-end systems through tooling based on the Model Context Protocol, or MCP.

One of its main elements is a set of standalone retail assistants that sit alongside GK software and third-party systems. These assistants give store employees natural-language access to operational information through point-of-sale devices or mobile hardware already in use across stores.

The assistants draw on a retailer's approved data sources rather than general model responses. This allows staff to receive verified answers from internal materials, including standard operating procedures, product information management systems, and other applications.

A second element embeds AI agents in workflows within GK's CLOUD4RETAIL products. Users can work with the agents inside the software they already use to automate promotion creation and surface analytics without moving between systems.

The approach is intended to reduce the complexity of enterprise software for a wider range of users, including category managers and store operations staff. Configurable workflows also keep people involved at important decision points.

Cost focus

GK is also emphasising cost control as retailers consider broader AI use across large organisations. The framework was built to keep billing more predictable and avoid unexpected token charges as usage grows.

That focus reflects a broader concern in retail, where companies are under pressure to improve store productivity and simplify internal systems without adding new layers of spending or operational risk. By linking AI to existing systems and approved data, suppliers are increasingly making a practical case for adoption rather than positioning AI as a standalone tool.

Matthias Blodig, Chief Strategy Officer at GK Software, said the company had focused on operational use rather than novelty. "Coming from retail, I have learned that new technology earns its place when it solves real operational problems and creates measurable value," he said. "That principle guided our approach to GK Agentic. We give retailers the flexibility to choose the models that work for them, ground AI in their own operational data, and use the touchpoints and devices already in place. This makes AI easier to adopt, more predictable to operate, and ultimately more relevant to everyday retail."

Vendor choice

Another part of the pitch is flexibility over AI models and deployment choices. Retailers do not need to rely on a single model provider because the framework is model-agnostic and can work across different environments.

That may appeal to retailers seeking tighter control over data handling or wary of committing critical operations to one supplier. Retailers can keep data in-house while connecting agents to back-end systems through structured tools.

Jan Lingenbrinck, Senior Vice President of Retail Technology at GK Software, said that approach would remain central to the company's AI plans. "Helping our customers develop the infrastructure for an uncertain economic and technological future requires both cutting-edge capability and platform-agnostic flexibility. We don't think retailers should have to bet their operations on any single model vendor or deployment model," he said. "GK's successful agnostic mindset will continue in the age of GenAI. With strong partners like FSAS Technologies and our colleagues at Fujitsu Research, GK is able to combine domain-specific expertise with cutting-edge technology and can leverage a large ecosystem of foundational technologies, from specialized language models to open-source infrastructure and efficient computing."

GK, which is owned by Fujitsu, said it serves more than 24% of the world's top 50 retailers and has more than 680,000 installations in more than 70 countries.