Convenience Store Tech Budgets Slip as AI Use Grows
The 2026 study found 47% of operators expect to raise technology budgets, down from 62% last year.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Shopping — General
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Convenience store technology leaders gathered in Las Vegas on Oct. 7 for the 2026 Technology Leadership Roundtable & Awards Dinner, where EnsembleIQ's Beth Brickel shared findings from the 2026 Convenience Store News Technology Study. The study shows operators are pulling back on technology spending while AI adoption is climbing.
Why it matters
The study findings point to a tighter budget picture for technology upgrades among convenience store operators in 2026, even as AI use grows. For Las Vegas-area readers working in or around the convenience and fuel sector, the numbers signal how operators are weighing new tools against cost pressure.
The 2026 Convenience Store News Technology Study found 47% of operators expect to raise technology budgets this year, down from 62% in 2025. AI use among operators rose from 17% in 2025 to 37% in 2026, and the study's sample size and methodology are not described in the available material.
The players
Beth Brickel
Vice president of research at EnsembleIQ, parent company of CSNews, who presented the 2026 Convenience Store News Technology Study findings.
EnsembleIQ
Parent company of Convenience Store News, which hosted the roundtable and released the 2026 technology study.
The details
Technology executives gathered at the roundtable and awards dinner, held in conjunction with the 2026 NACS Show. Beth Brickel, vice president of research at EnsembleIQ, parent company of CSNews, shared the top highlights and takeaways from the study, which identified four key themes. The event also honored the CSNews Technology Leader of the Year award winners and was sponsored by Altria Distribution Group Co., Diebold Nixdorf and Mako Networks.
Timeline
2025: 17% of operators reported using AI and 62% expected to raise technology budgets.
Oct. 7, 2026: Technology Leadership Roundtable & Awards Dinner held in Las Vegas.
2026: 47% of operators expected to raise budgets and 37% reported using AI.
Beyond the Strip
The 2026 figures compare directly against the 2025 Convenience Store News Technology Study, where 62% of operators expected to raise technology budgets. This year's drop to 47%, paired with AI use rising from 17% to 37%, marks a shift in how operators are allocating technology spending.
If you shop at or work for a Las Vegas-area convenience store, the study suggests technology upgrades may be slower to arrive in 2026 even as AI tools spread. Watch for changes in self-checkout, payment and fuel-island systems as operators adjust their budgets.
The takeaway
Operators are spending less on technology overall while AI adoption accelerates, so the tools that reach Las Vegas stores may skew toward AI-driven features. Check the 2026 Convenience Store News Technology Study for the full findings.
Further reading
For related retail coverage, see Shopping — General in our Las Vegas section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Convenience Store News.
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