AO taps RELEX tech for bricks and mortar move
Online electricals retailer AO is using RELEX’s space planning solution for its first ever physical retail experience.
It is working on five store-within-a-store concepts as part of a six-month pilot with Tesco.
Find out more on its work with RELEX below.
RTIH Innovation Awards
AO was recently named Most Innovative Pureplay at the 2020 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The category rounded up tech deployments, pilots etc to decide which e-tailer was the most consistently forward thinking and customer centric in 2020.
AO impressed our judging panel with the aforementioned Tesco partnership.
Also last year, it expanded its logistics operation and went on a recruitment drive as sales rocketed during the coronavirus outbreak.
Tiffany Lung, Retail Analyst, commented: “It’s a good move to expand its online presence with a store-in-store concept with Tesco as a means to also counter the Argos/Sainsbury’s venture.”
Whilst Luke Phillips, Program Director, Studio Retail, observed: “AO recognise that the most innovative thing they could do was stop being a pureplay.”
“In some categories clever digital tools can only go so far to fill the experiential gap. By choosing the right partner and keeping the scale appropriate they have expanded their market at low risk.”
An AO spokesperson said: “We’re so pleased to win Most Innovative Pureplay in RTIH’s Innovation Awards.”
“In a challenging year, everyone at AO has worked so hard to deliver the best possible experience for customers and it’s rewarding to see our achievements recognised by the judges.”
“Over the past 20 years, AO has built both successful infrastructure and a passionate team which meant that we could support customers and provide a lifeline during the unprecedented situation.”
They added: “We’ve really invested in our operation this year, growing our logistics network, introducing new technology and creating hundreds of jobs.”
“Everyone has seen the huge potential of online retail over the past year and we’re looking forward to discovering more innovative ways to impress our customers in 2021.”
