2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS FINALISTS

We're pleased to present the finalists and shortlists for the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by Vista Technology Support, STRATACACHE, 3D Cloud, EdTech Innovation Hub, and Retail Technology Show.

We received a record number of entries this year and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.

Congratulations to all those who made it through the initial submission process!

It’s now over to our judging panel who will decide the winners to be announced at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London.

The event will be held on Thursday, 16th October and consist of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.

To book your place at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony on Thursday, 16th October, click here.

Our 2025 runners and riders as follows:

Bricks and Mortar Innovation

This award will go to a retailer enabling physical spaces to thrive via innovative technology, even as online shopping continues to grow.

We’re looking for examples of reducing friction in the customer journey, offering improved experiences, and blurring the lines between channels.

Shortlist:

Currys, Vestcom and SOLUM

East of England Co-op

Iceland, Gander and Olio

Lekkerland SE

Oh Polly

Retail AI

Sonae MC and Sensei

Varner and Sitoo

Supply Chain Innovation

This award highlights companies that are re-inventing and re-thinking retail supply chains via innovative advancements in technology.

Shortlist:

Belle AI

Bloq.it and Vinted Go

Dropit

Predyktable

Shiplify

Shoeby and WAIR

Uber Direct and TradeKart

ZigZag

Payments Innovation

This award recognises payment initiatives that are both innovative and customer and retailer friendly.

We’re looking to reward a project that has the potential to increase a retailer’s competitiveness and effectiveness, and to improve the shopper experience. Bonus points if the project could be considered a first in the market.

Shortlist:

BLogic Systems

Ecommpay

Habitum

Oh Polly

payabl.

Sitoo

VenHub Global

Most Innovative UK Retailer - Sponsored by 3D Cloud

Who has been the UK’s most innovative, customer focused retailer this year?

Judges are asked to look at highlighted tech deployments, pilots, initiatives etc and decide which retailer has been the most consistently forward thinking and customer centric over the last 12 months.

Shortlist:

British Heart Foundation

Currys, Vestcom and SOLUM

Oh Polly

Pharmacy2U and Commerce

Tesco and LiveRamp

White Stuff and AbsoluteLabs

Most Innovative Retailer (Rest of World) - Sponsored by STRATACACHE

Who has been the most innovative, customer focused retailer (rest of world) this year?

Shortlist:

Habitum

ICA Gruppen, Cleveron and Ingrid

MUJI Europe and Commerce

Sonae MC and Sensei

VenHub Global

Verkkokauppa.com

Digital Transformation Project of the Year (UK)

This award celebrates those who are at the forefront of digital transformation in the UK retail space, achieved through the deployment of innovative technologies.

Our judges will be looking for a company that has delivered a significant transformation project for a customer, such as integrating disparate systems, updating legacy technology, empowering the client to create seamless and personalised shopping experiences, and unlocking new possibilities to grow the business.

Shortlist:

Currys, Vestcom and SOLUM

Harvey Nichols and AbsoluteLabs

Osprey London and Sitoo

PMC and WHSmith

Sellfware Technology and VJ Technology

VoCoVo and Currys

Digital Transformation Project of the Year (Rest of World)

This award celebrates those who are at the forefront of digital transformation in the global retail space, achieved through the deployment of innovative technologies.

Shortlist:

Busy Beaver and Zipline

Habitum

Harding+ and TPP Retail

ICA Gruppen, Cleveron and Ingrid

Longchamp and Yocuda

Customer Experience Excellence

The Covid-19 outbreak has reshaped customer behaviour and their expectations of retailers.

This award will go to an online and/or physical retailer that has understood and reacted in a positive fashion to these customer trends and patterns, by providing exceptional omnichannel customer experiences, powered by innovative technologies.

Shortlist:

Akeneo and N Brown Group

Courir, New Balance and Sinch

Furniturebox and Commerce

Hanshow Technology

ICANIWILL and nShift

Mamas & Papas and Poq

Molton Brown and SAP Emarsys

thortful

Omnichannel Retail Initiative of the Year

This award will go to a tech centric approach to retail that provides customers with a fully integrated shopping experience across bricks and mortar stores, online, mobile, and everything in between.

Shortlist:

Blueiot

Instaleap

Longchamp and Yocuda

Picard and Sinch

Retail247

7thonline

Shopopop

Sitoo

AI Innovation (UK)

After a barrage of hype, the retail space is now seeing many examples of artificial intelligence creating value and efficiency.

This award will highlight AI projects across the UK omnichannel retail landscape that have gone beyond the proof-of-concept stage, scaling and delivering results.

Shortlist:

Amperity

East of England Co-op and Retail Insight

FoundIt!

Kindred

Retail AI

Retail Express and Metcash

ShopAi

thortful

AI Innovation (Rest of World)

After a barrage of hype, the retail space is now seeing many examples of artificial intelligence creating value and efficiency.

This award will highlight AI projects across the global omnichannel retail landscape that have gone beyond the proof-of-concept stage, scaling and delivering results.

Shortlist:

Constructor

Legion Technologies

Riskified

RNV.ai

Scientific Games

Sodaclick

Trigo Vision

WorkJam

Sustainable Retail Innovation

Traditionally, the biggest problem with sustainable technology solutions has been in the relatively high cost of implementation, often meaning that scaling them was not viable.

Things change, however, with incentives, targets and climate pledges as well as the rapid iteration of innovative technologies driving down costs in various areas.

This award will go to a retailer or brand that has worked with technology suppliers to put sustainability at the core of its values. The winning entry will show how a company has boosted its green credentials whilst also demonstrating the tangible business benefits of sustainable practices.

Shortlist:

British Heart Foundation

East of England Co-op and Retail Insight

Gander, Iceland and Olio

Longchamp and Yocuda

Nextail

Shopopop

Best Data Analytics Driven Retail Initiative - NEW CATEGORY

This category shines a spotlight on innovative approaches to connecting, integrating and unifying data within retail organisations.

We’re looking for solutions that help retailers turn vast amounts of data into actionable strategies, whether through customer segmentation, demand forecasting, product optimisation, or real-time decision-making.

Entries should demonstrate how data analytics powered by cutting-edge technology solutions is helping retailers deliver measurable improvements across the business.

Shortlist:

Augmodo

Datitude

EDITED

Intelligence Node

Mixpanel

SHEKEL AI

Tata Consultancy Services

Tesco and LiveRamp

Walkbase

Best Use of Automation in the Retail Sector - NEW CATEGORY

Many retailers are now embracing automation as they tackle various challenges and tap in to numerous opportunities across their businesses.

This award will highlight automation projects across the omnichannel landscape that have resulted in retailers rethinking their operations, resulting in improved productivity, enhanced customer experiences, and competitive advantages.

Shortlist:

Corvus Robotics

Flipkart Commerce Cloud

ICA Gruppen, Cleveron and Ingrid

Nextail

Retail247

Sinch and Clarins

Staxel

Zipline and Pacsun

Technology Vendor of the Year (UK)

This category celebrates companies that have developed innovative technologies and worked with retailers to transform the customer experience or back-end operations or both.

Shortlist:

Barron McCann and Retail Assist

PMC

Red Ant

Trust Retail

Yocuda

ZigZag

Technology Vendor of the Year (Rest of World)

This category celebrates companies that have developed innovative technologies and worked with retailers to transform the customer experience or back-end operations or both.

Shortlist:

Cust2Mate

Hanshow Technology

Kevel

Legion Technologies

Logile

Onebeat

Riskified

VTEX

Startup of the Year

This award will recognise the startup with the most innovative technology offering and the company which is best placed to succeed in the long-term (management, funding, the retailers it is working with etc).

Shortlist:

AiDA Intelligent Solutions

Finmile

frnt

Kindred

RetailNext

Staqu Technologies

Staxel

VenHub Global

WeCarryBags

Zyntrix

Technology Implementation of the Year (UK)

This award recognises UK retail technology project excellence, both in delivery and outcomes.

Implementation should have been completed between September 2024 and September 2025.

Judges will be looking for clear project objectives, effective and innovative implementation and tangible and demonstrable results.

Shortlist:

Bayer Consumer Health, Zappar and GS1 UK

Boxbar Tech and Rock N Roll Circus Sheffield

Currys, Vestcom and SOLUM

Gander, Iceland and Olio

PMC and WHSmith

Trust Retail and East of England Co-op

Vista Technology Support and WHSmith

ZigZag and Land's End

Technology Implementation of the Year (Rest of World)

This award recognises rest of world retail technology project excellence, both in delivery and outcomes.

Implementation should have been completed between September 2024 and September 2025.

Judges will be looking for clear project objectives, effective and innovative implementation and tangible and demonstrable results.

Shortlist:

ICA Gruppen, Cleveron and Ingrid

Nextail

nsign.tv and AREAS

Sensei and Sonae MC

Sodaclick and KFC Americana

Zipline and Helzberg Diamonds

Best Retailer/Technology Supplier Relationship

This award recognises a successful partnership between a retailer and a technology supplier, with an emphasis on the last 12 months and how said partnership has gone from strength to strength during that period.

Shortlist:

BoxBar Tech and Rock N Roll Circus Sheffield

Everseen and Tesco

Retail247 and Piglet in Bed

Retail Response and New Look

Tata Consultancy Services and Asda

Tesco and LiveRamp

Trust Retail and John Bell & Croydon

Varner, Sitoo and Zebra Technologies

Vista Technology Support and WHSmith

VoCoVo and Currys

Overall Winner

Our judging panel will pick their stand out entry from across the 20 aforementioned categories. To be announced at our awards ceremony in Central London on Thursday, 16th October.

RTIH Editor’s Choice Award

RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, will pick his stand out entries from across the 20 aforementioned categories. To be announced at our awards ceremony in Central London on Thursday, 16th October.