2022 RTIH Innovation Awards - last call for entries, no time to waste!

Time is fast running out to enter the 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by PMC, 3D Cloud by Marxent, CADS, FreedomPay, and Critzr, and celebrating global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Deadline for submissions is end of play today, with the aforementioned judging panel then deciding upon the winners who will be announced at an exclusive event in central London on Tuesday, 6th December.

It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories.

2022 RTIH Innovation Awards categories as follows:

Category 1

Bricks and mortar innovation - SPONSORED BY CADS

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.

Click here to enter.

Category 2

Supply chain innovation

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

Click here to enter.

Category 3

Payments innovation - SPONSORED by FreedomPay

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.

Click here to enter.

Category 4

Most innovative UK retailer

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

Judges are asked to look at the tech deployments, pilots etc listed alongside each retailer and decide which one has been the most consistently forward thinking and customer centric in 2022.

Click here to enter.

Category 5

Most innovative retailer (rest of world)

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

Judges are asked to look at the tech deployments, pilots etc listed alongside each retailer and decide which one has been the most consistently forward thinking and customer centric in 2022.

Click here to enter.

Category 6

Most innovative pureplay

Who has been the most innovative, customer focused pureplay this year?

Judges are asked to look at the tech deployments, pilots etc listed alongside each retailer and decide which one has been the most consistently forward thinking and customer centric in 2022.

Click here to enter.

Category 7

Most innovative independent retailer - NEW CATEGORY

Who has been the most innovative, customer focused independent retailer this year?

We’re looking to reward a retailer that has survived and thrived during the Covid-19 outbreak, supported its local community, and tapped innovative technologies to build stronger businesses under the toughest of circumstances.

Click here to enter.

Category 8

Customer service excellence - NEW CATEGORY

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, via innovative use of technology.

Click here to enter.

Category 9

Omnichannel retail initiative of the year - NEW CATEGORY

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.

Click here to enter.

Category 10

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.

Click here to enter.

Category 11

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.

Click here to enter.

Category 12

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).

Click here to enter.

Category 13

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 November 2021 and November 2022.

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

Click here to enter.

Category 14

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 November 2021 and November 2022.

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

Click here to enter.

Category 15

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.

Click here to enter.

Category 16

Overall Winner

Our judging panel will pick the stand out entry from across the 15 aforementioned categories.

Category 17

RTIH Editor’s Choice Award - SPONSORED BY 3D Cloud by Marxent

RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, will pick his stand out entry from across the 15 aforementioned categories.

Thompson says: “Innovation and technology play a critical role in the success of the retail sector, so it is great to recognise standout examples through our awards.”

“I’m excited to launch the fourth edition. The 2022 event will be the biggest and best yet.”

Judging panel

RTIH recently announced the judging panel for the 2002 Innovation Awards, featuring representatives from the likes of Selfridges, Marks & Spencer, Boots, Stanley Black & Decker, and Compass Group.

Judging panel as follows:

Mike Cadden, Technology and Business Transformation Director, Start-Rite Shoes

Peter Waugh, Digital & Data Director, Compass Group

Paula Bobbett, Chief Digital Officer, Boots

Dan Saunders, Retail E-commerce Manager, Stanley Black & Decker

Martin Newman, Founder, The Customer First Group

Toby Pickard, Global Insight Leader, IGD

Matt Taylor, Technology Transformation Leader at EY, Retail and Consumer Products

Amodini Chhabra, Investor, Compass Digital Ventures

Gary Newbury, Supply Chain Advisor and Delivery Executive

Sharon Peters, Head of Technology - Corporate Functions, Marks & Spencer

Nadine Neatrour, Marketing Director, Selfridges