SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Nov 11, 2025 — Algolia, the AI retrieval platform orchestrating over 1.75 trillion queries each year, trusted by more than 18,000 businesses, and used by millions of developers around the world, today unveiled a new market research report, ‘Retail Media Networks: Insights and Emerging Trends’—an in-depth exploration of how retailers are transforming on-site discovery into a powerful new revenue streams in digital commerce.
Drawing on global data and expert perspectives, the report reveals how brands and retailers are reimagining digital advertising, and moving away from intrusive, cluttered experiences toward intelligent, design-led personalization that enhances both engagement and trust.
Michelle Adams, President, Field Operations, Algolia said: “The future of retail media isn’t about serving more ads, it’s about creating smarter discovery. The winners will be those who blend data, design, and technology to elevate both the shopper and the brand experience. Every search, every recommendation, every product grid should create not just relevance, but engagement and conversion.”
Redefining the Retail Media Moment
The ‘Retail Media Networks: Insights and Emerging Trends’ report highlights how the explosion of retail media is reshaping ecommerce strategy. With global retail media spend projected to total $180 billion in 2025, the opportunity is vast. The research reveals that:
- 76% of retail media buyers use sponsored listings on search pages; the most effective strategy to reach customers at the moment of intent.
- Most retail media users focus on product discovery, with 83% operating sites or apps that help customers find specific products. Another 25% use retail media to drive content discovery, such as articles or videos.
- The greatest challenge isn’t technology, it’s maintaining consumer trust in a world of ad saturation and misplaced relevance.
Beyond the Retail Media Network
Algolia expertise in AI-powered search and discovery plays a pivotal role in the next generation of Retail Media Networks innovation. Algolia’s composable architecture allows retailers to seamlessly integrate sponsored results and media placements into their on-site search experiences that bridge commerce, content, and advertising with precision and speed.
Adams added: “Retailers hold some of the most valuable real estate in commerce with their own digital shelves. Our goal is to help them transform those experiences into high-performing media ecosystems without compromising user experience.”
Design, Data, and Trust: The New Pillars of Retail Media
The report underscores that modern retail media depends on more than algorithms, it depends on experience design.
Adams noted: “Retailers that balance personalization with transparency are seeing the greatest returns, both in monetization and customer loyalty. By focusing on data-driven design, retailers can create meaningful, non-intrusive advertising that aligns with their brand and values.”
Market Opportunity at a Glance
- Retail Media projected to reach 25% of all U.S. ad spend by 2028
- Retailers like Amazon already generate billions annually from RMNs
- Yet most retailers still leave their product grid unmonetized, an untapped opportunity Algolia’s research explores in depth
About the Report
‘Retail Media Networks: Insights and Emerging Trends’ is published by Algolia’s Research & Insights team and provides a data-rich, design-focused exploration of the rapidly growing retail media landscape.
The report details emerging strategies, risks, and solutions across industries, from ecommerce and luxury retail to B2B and media. It will help organizations understand how to build, scale, and optimize their own retail media strategies.
Researchers spoke with respondents from companies of every shape and scale. Mid-sized organizations formed the largest group — 36% of participants — with small businesses close behind (35%), and larger enterprises (29%) completing the balance.
Download the full report here.
About Algolia
Algolia is an AI Retrieval platform, powering over 1.75 trillion searches a year for more than 18,000 businesses and millions of developers worldwide. Built on a developer-first, API-first foundation, Algolia combines keyword, vector, and hybrid retrieval with powerful rules, personalization, and analytics to deliver the world’s fastest, most scalable AI search and discovery technology.
Backed by more than a decade of innovation, Algolia is redefining how businesses and builders create agentic, retrieval-powered experiences—from Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to LLM-based applications through its MCP server and next-generation tools like AskAI and Agent Studio. With unmatched speed, trust, and simplicity, Algolia is shaping the future of intelligent discovery and AI agents.
