DEPT® named a Strong Performer in The Forrester Wave™: Commerce Services, Q1 2026

In the report, Forrester states that “As brands, retailers, distributors and software vendors race to capitalize on next-gen commerce, services providers are rewriting their commerce playbooks with AI – from agentic commerce to commerce operating systems.”

For context, in its April 2025 report, The Future of Commerce (US), Forrester shared that “today’s evolving distributed strategies (think social channels) and dynamic strategies (think GenAI-created interaction data driving each commerce interaction) are paving the path to tomorrow’s intelligent commerce.”

Forrester added that “distributed and dynamic commerce strategies have already begun generating the content and data that will power future-state intelligent commerce” and that “intelligent commerce focuses less on omnichannel transformations and more on curating exclusive, personalized, or live experiences that solve existing or even as yet unforeseen pain points for customers.”

In this environment, commerce success is less about individual channels or platforms and more about how well systems connect data, content, technology, and experience across the customer lifecycle.

The Forrester Wave evaluated 12 vendors across 23 criteria grouped into three main categories: Current Offering, Strategy, and Customer Feedback. DEPT® received the highest possible score in the dynamic commerce strategy criterion in the Current Offering category and in the vision criterion in the Strategy Category.

In its vendor profile in the report, Forrester writes, “DEPT’s notable commerce vision is to help brands move from transactional commerce to intelligent systems that anticipate needs, drive growth, and preserve human connection and brand emotion. DEPT supplements this vision with its innovative approaches to better applying AI.” And that “customers value the level of partnership DEPT brings….” And, “DEPT is a good fit for midmarket or enterprise clients with a smaller, targeted commerce focus and that are positioning themselves for hypergrowth through cutting-edge digital experiences.”

Forrester’s research points to a clear shift in how commerce leaders need to operate. As discovery fragments, journeys collapse, and intelligence becomes embedded across the lifecycle, brands need partners who can help them design and run commerce systems that are adaptive, connected, and built for change.

We’re super proud of the recognition from Forrester and will continue to focus on helping brands move toward intelligent systems that support growth today and prepare them for what comes next.