Arcade Acquires Upduo and Launches Arcade AI Sales Leader to Boost Retail Management
Arcade, a leading sales gamification platform for frontline retail teams, has acquired Upduo, an AI-driven coaching technology company focused on retail sales. This acquisition brings to life a new product called Arcade AI Sales Leader, created to help retailers scale the skills of their best store managers across all locations.
Store managers are key to retail success, yet training often falls short of creating lasting leadership impact. Without ongoing coaching and reinforcement, leadership skills can fade, leading to inconsistent store results and higher turnover. Arcade AI Sales Leader tackles this challenge by providing continuous development and clear execution tools for managers right on the sales floor.
Turning Every Manager Into a Top Sales Leader
David Cherrie, Arcade’s Co-Founder and CEO, explains the goal: “How do you capture the magic of your best sales leader and replicate it everywhere? By combining Arcade’s expertise in frontline motivation with Upduo’s AI coaching engine, we empower every manager to coach effectively.”
Key Benefits for Retailers and Teams
- Accelerate onboarding for new hires
- Speed up new product rollouts
- Lower turnover among new employees
- Boost both customer and employee satisfaction
- Increase sales conversion rates in stores
For store managers, the platform offers real-time coaching guidance, AI-driven role-playing for practice, and automated performance scorecards with clear action items. Associates benefit from ongoing learning during downtime, quality coaching, and recognition that drives consistent effort.
AI Coaching at Scale
Wei Sun, Co-Founder of Upduo and now Arcade’s Chief Technology Officer, shares, “Our vision was always to make skill development more effective and accessible through AI. Joining Arcade allows us to bring this vision to a much larger audience, delivering measurable results for retailers and their teams.”
Industry Support
Investors also note the strategic value of this move. Adam Rogers from Next Coast Ventures commented, “Arcade’s acquisition of Upduo shows clear foresight. Their question—how AI can enhance business value—is exactly what industry leaders should be asking.”
Arcade AI Sales Leader is available now. To learn more about optimizing your sales leadership, visit arcade.co.
Arcade specializes in helping retailers improve frontline productivity using gamification, AI, and mobile technology. Their solutions focus on practical tools that drive better sales outcomes directly on the shop floor.
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