InStore.ai announced this week a commercial agreement with SAASOA (Strategic Alliance for Affiliated Store Owners of America) to deploy InStore.ai across SAASOA’s 5,200+ member convenience stores beginning in February 2026.

“Independent c-store owners need results that are easy to implement and fast to realize,” said Jigar Patel, vice president of SAASOA USA and CEO of FASTIME. “By capturing and analyzing the everyday conversations at the counter, InStore.ai gives our retail members clear transparency into what’s working and what isn’t, so they can coach their teams, tighten operations, and consistently execute loyalty and promotional programs. We’re excited to bring this capability to our more than 5,200 member locations.”

According to press release from Instore.ai, the collaboration “will equip independent operators with timely alerts, reports and actionable insights to improve day-to-day operations and strengthen cashier engagement in loyalty enrollment, upselling, and promotion mentions at the counter.”

SAASOA and InStore.ai will begin coordinated deployments in February 2026, with phased installation and enablement across regions. Member stores will receive implementation support, best-practice playbooks and access to insights tailored for owners, district leaders and store managers.

“This is a major milestone for independent retail,” said co-founder & CEO of InStore.ai Jay Blazensky. “Frontline employees hold the key to in-store execution. SAASOA’s commitment to deploy InStore.ai system-wide means thousands of stores will gain a durable operating advantage—higher team member engagement, cleaner execution of promotions and a better overall shopper experience.”

Read more about practical ideas to strengthen your AI strategy in “How to Build Your AI Toolbox” from the July 2025 issue of NACS Magazine.