The inspiration for Vision Group found its roots while presenting an asset tracking solution at a technology trade show. A conversation between Karan Bakshi, the present CEO of Vision Group, and a Senior Executive from a large Package Goods company during the show shaped the foundation of the company—propelling its vision from a trade show booth to transforming the retail world. Under his visionary leadership, the company is experiencing exponential growth and driving innovation in an unprecedented way. The CEO Views recognizes this unmatched contribution of Vision Group in revolutionizing the retail sector and honors it as one of the “Best Companies of the Year 2025.”
The Genesis
The conversation that eventually shaped the foundation of Vision Group took place between Karan and a representative who later became one of the company’s largest clients. It brought to light a common challenge in the retail world: tens of millions of high-value assets spread across millions of locations, yet no real visibility into their performance.
With a background in IoT and computer vision, Karan recognized this as an opportunity to build a solution that would bring intelligence and connectivity to the physical retail world. “Making physical retail intelligent and connected” has been the mission of Vision Group since its inception. This mission has empowered CPG brands and retailers with real-time visibility, smarter decision-making, and data-driven execution.
A holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Sciences and a Master’s in Computer Science, Karan established and led a company that developed MIS systems for shoe manufacturing and buying houses early in his career. He later launched an IT consulting firm focused on data warehousing, big data, and business intelligence for the financial industry.
The Birth of Vision Group
Building on his extensive academic and professional foundation, the birth of Vision Group was a natural evolution of Karan’s journey. Vision Group Retail is a technology company transforming the CPG and retail landscape through AI and computer vision. The company enables end-to-end visibility—creating digital twins of products, leveraging AI-powered image recognition for compliance tracking, and delivering real-time remote visibility into retail execution. The platform also supports frictionless, checkout-free retail experiences.
Karan’s combined experience in systems architecture, data analytics, and enterprise software enabled him to deeply understand client needs and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that enhance retail visibility across the value chain.
The Entrepreneurial Journey
The road to building Vision Group was anything but easy. The company made a conscious decision to bootstrap the business, prioritizing long-term value over quick revenue gains. For years, it operated with a single client, using that time to rigorously develop a robust and flexible platform. Without external funding, the team wore multiple hats—but belief in the vision never wavered. That resilience and shared sense of purpose carried the company forward.
Physical and Digital Retail: A Coherent Whole
Decisions in retail at the store level are often made based on experience and not data. Even the most sophisticated planning tools typically rely on statistical models that lack store-level granularity. And, once a plan is created, there is no consistent mechanism to ensure that they are executed correctly.
Vision Group addresses this by creating a digital twin of the retail shelf and store environment.“Our AI-driven platform generates space-aware assortments and planograms at the store or cluster level by combining syndicated data, demographic insights, and historical sales patterns—making true personalization at scale a reality,” shares Karan. Real-time monitoring of compliance and execution, and business improvements are made possible with Vision Group through image recognition and continuous data feedback, respectively.
Thriving Amid Volatility
While many industries face uncertainty, CPG and retail have demonstrated remarkable resilience. Market volatility often strengthens the need for visibility and control at the shelf level. As supply chains grow more complex and emerging brands gain shelf space, larger CPGs face increased pressure to protect their base. Vision Group provides real-time data to manage execution, reduce out-of-stocks, and ensure the right products are in the right places at the right time.
Leadership Philosophy and Core Values
Our leadership philosophy is rooted in three key principles:
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Customer-Centric Innovation – Solving real problems, not just building features. It listens closely to its clients and focuses on long-term value.
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Empowered Teams with Shared Vision – Great ideas come from every level. Vision Group fosters collaboration, ownership, and continuous learning.
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Integrity and Impact – Investing in solutions that drive real-world outcomes, not short-term trends.
These principles are reflected in the company’s core values:
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Customers First
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Honesty and Integrity
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Accountability
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Be Pioneers
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Grow Together
Adapting to Change
As the industry evolves with omnichannel strategies, e-commerce growth, and new retail formats, Vision Group continues to expand its platform to meet emerging demands.
Vision Group’s strategy is anchored in AI-led agility. It adapts rapidly to new product types, shifting consumer behavior, and real-time data. Karan proudly shares,“Our leadership team—composed of industry veterans—ensures that our roadmap is shaped by deep domain expertise and frontline experience.”
Staying Ahead of the Curve
Vision Group owns the largest digitized CPG product library in the U.S., with over one million unique SKUs, delivering industry-leading image recognition accuracy. The ability to reuse digital assets across functions drives operational efficiency and cost savings. With more than three decades of experience in planogramming, Vision Group has set new benchmarks in automated space planning—outpacing the market in speed, precision, and adaptability.
Looking Ahead
The future of retail is intelligent, connected, and automated. Vision Group is not just preparing for the future; it is building it. It aims to lead the next retail revolution, with a focus on deepening the AI capabilities, expanding into new formats, and staying ahead of industry trends.
