DFI Retail Partners with SymphonyAI to Drive AI-Driven Merchandising Capabilities

Leading Asian retailer aims to strengthen its merchandise planning foundation with unified, data-driven retail intelligence

Mar. 24, 2026 at 6:21am

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DFI Retail, a leading Asian retailer, has launched a pilot with SymphonyAI, a global leader in Vertical AI platforms, to evaluate advanced retail intelligence capabilities designed to enhance enterprise merchandise planning. The initiative reflects DFI's disciplined, customer-first approach to assessing how next-generation retail insights can support better decisions across promotions, assortment, clustering, and space planning.

Why it matters

As competition intensifies and customer expectations evolve, DFI is investing in a proven and scaled AI solution that aims to strengthen retail fundamentals, improve process efficiency, and support more agile merchandising decisions. This strategic partnership highlights the broader industry evolution toward connected retail intelligence, where data, planning, and execution insights coalesce to inform decision pathways and support retailer priorities.

The details

DFI's decision to work with SymphonyAI reflects the alignment between DFI's future performance aspirations and the platform's retail specialization, unified data and architecture, and proven presence in enterprise retail environments. The initiative is expected to help DFI make better and faster merchandising decisions to continuously improve quality and value for its customers across Asia, all enabled by AI.

  • The pilot program was launched in March 2026.

The players

DFI Retail Group

A leading Asian retailer driven by its purpose to 'Sustainably Serve Asia for Generations with Everyday Moments'. As of December 2025, the Group and its associates operated 7,580 outlets and employed more than 79,000 people across 12 markets.

SymphonyAI

A global leader in Vertical AI platforms that help enterprises solve complex, high-value challenges. The company's retail platform is designed to support customers as they evaluate advanced intelligence capabilities in real operating conditions and build foundations for longer-term transformation.

Crystal Chan

Group Chief Technology and Information Officer, DFI Retail Group.

Manish Choudhary

President, SymphonyAI Retail.

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What they’re saying

“This strategic initiative with SymphonyAI reflects DFI's commitment to improve our core data foundation and technology solutions for our team members. We aim to make better and faster merchandising decisions to continuously improve quality and value for our customers across Asia, all enabled by AI.”

— Crystal Chan, Group Chief Technology and Information Officer, DFI Retail Group

“Leading retailers are investing in connected, data-centric platforms that help align planning and execution while strengthening decision confidence. Our retail platform is designed to support customers as they evaluate advanced intelligence capabilities in real operating conditions and build foundations for longer-term transformation.”

— Manish Choudhary, President, SymphonyAI Retail

What’s next

DFI Retail plans to evaluate the advanced retail intelligence capabilities provided by SymphonyAI's platform in real operating conditions, with the goal of strengthening its merchandise planning foundation and supporting more agile merchandising decisions.

The takeaway

This partnership between DFI Retail and SymphonyAI highlights the growing importance of connected, data-driven retail intelligence platforms that can help retailers like DFI make better and faster merchandising decisions, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the overall customer experience across their extensive store networks in Asia.