Highlights from ICSC Vegas 2025

The annual whirlwind of ICSC Las Vegas has come and gone again and is always a great opportunity to connect with clients and industry partners face-to-face. For two days straight, we demonstrated the Kalibrate Location Intelligence platform nonstop, and it became crystal clear that companies of all sizes understand that growth through technology, data, and analytics is a crucial part of their success. Below, we’ve summarized just a few key themes.

AI in location intelligence is just getting started

Our new location intelligence assistant, k.ai, was premiered at the show and we received rave reviews. Even in its early stages, clients can see how the assistant can take complex reports or scenarios and break them down into easy takeaways in seconds. The enthusiasm for AI-powered analytics was palpable, with attendees eager to understand how this technology could streamline their decision-making processes and provide instant insights from their data.

Market Optimizer – the art of possible

Clients that are trying to maximize their investment in a market were impressed with Market Optimizer and how quickly infill or growth scenarios could be run with the new tool. The ability to rapidly map different expansion strategies and assess potential returns resonated strongly with brands that face the challenge of in market expansion and cannibalization. This tool is proving essential for companies seeking to optimize their market presence efficiently.

Steady growth with strategic patience

The overall consensus from the conference was that growth is happening, but it’s measured and strategic. Brands are willing to wait for the right piece of real estate before entering a market, and they’re using analytics to prevent making bad decisions. This patient approach, backed by robust data analysis, represents a mature shift in how retailers and service providers approach expansion in today’s competitive landscape.

Single source of truth resonates across organizations

When our team talked about the KLI platform being a single source of truth for every department – from the C-suite to real estate to operations and marketing – that message resonated strongly and is something that all of our clients are looking to improve upon. The need for centralized visibility into both customer data and real estate portfolios was a consistent theme throughout our conversations, highlighting the importance of breaking down data silos within organizations.