Consumers expect seamless, mobile-first retail experiences - yet many F&B and retail businesses remain stuck in offline processes or reliant on platforms that erode margins and strip away customer data. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with David Brunier, Founder and CEO of Cata, a retail technology company, to explore the global digital gap and why reclaiming customer ownership is critical for SMEs. From the rise of white-label SaaS to Singapore’s role as a retail tech launchpad, we ask: can businesses close the gap before platforms define the future of retail?