RTIH Innovation Awards: UK Technology Vendor of the Year shortlist announced

Jisp, Red Ant, LoyaltyLion, and Xiatech are among the nominees in the Technology Vendor of the Year (UK) category at the 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards.

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

2022 shortlist as follows:

Anthill

In a fast moving, omnichannel world, Anthill enables leading KBB retailers to provide a consistently outstanding experience across teams, channels, and locations.

Combining CRM, process management and automation, Anthill’s cloud-based technology provides maximum insight over customer activities, no matter how many locations retailers operate in, how many teams they have or how many channels they sell through.

Jisp

Jisp, a money saving and rewards app, celebrated its Scan & Save solution’s first anniversary on 13th September 2022

This follows a hugely successful 12 months, which saw the company become the market leading app in the UK for helping shoppers save and earn at local Nisa convenience stores.

Since its launch with Nisa on 13th September 13th, Scan & Save growth has accelerated exponentially and is now operational in over 170 Nisa stores nationwide, helping shoppers save and earn with the Jisp app.

LoyaltyLion

LoyaltyLion is a data driven loyalty and engagement platform.

Having originally secured funding from Jan Bolumniski, founder of one of the world's largest loyalty programme, the business has kept growing. LoyaltyLion became the first Shopify Plus technology partner and secured additional investment from James Hart of Asos. 

Over the past year, it has expanded its global team, been included in the 2022 FT1000 fastest growing companies, and continued to add improvements including integrations with e-commerce technologies, better reporting and more ways to embed loyalty within the customer journey.

Red Ant

Led by CEO Sarah Friswell, Red Ant helps retailers transform their brands in the challenging digital landscape using its retail tech platform, RetailOS, to connect their online and offline retail estates as part of an omnichannel strategy.

Retail247

Retail247 is the company behind the Origin Retail PIM Solution and Quantum Retail Stock Solution.

In its submission, the company says: “Some very high profile retailers use our solutions to support critical areas of their business, and this carries certain obligations. It’s a given that our software does what we say it can and performs consistently.”

“We must be visible and accountable, especially when there are challenges to overcome.”

“Our technical skills and experience must rival our best competitor, but our retail knowledge and expertise must be second to none. Retail is not just one of our sectors, it’s the only sector we work in, so there’s no margin for error.”

Rotageek

Rotageek is changing scheduling with its rota software.

But even creating schedules digitally doesn’t guarantee they’re as optimised as possible for both the workforce and the organisation. Enter Autoscheduler, the company’s algorithm-based, AI driven solution that makes the impossible possible.

Used by leading retailers, it builds on the features of Rotageek’s fundamental digital scheduling solution, to automate and optimise retail rotas in the click of a button. 

Xiatech

Xiatech is on a mission to create hyper-connected businesses that can respond to and anticipate the needs of customers in real-time.

The company has developed a hyper-integration platform, a new category of software that unifies and provides real-time system integration, process automation, data management and advanced analytics in a single, cloud-based solution for retailers.

In the words of Xiatech’s founder and CEO, Jonathan Summerfield: “It is impossible to find one Gartner Magic Quadrant or Forrester Wave that provides buyers and users of technology with a single platform that provides real-time system integration, data management, reporting, analytics and automation - until we built Xfuze, the world’s first hyper-integration platform.”  

Zyler

Zyler is a solution for fashion brands and retailers that allows customers to shop for, and try on anything in just a few simple steps. With only a selfie and basic measurements, this creates a unique, personalised experience for retail.

The only input required from the brand is a picture of a model wearing the clothing. Zyler does not need the physical item or any digital scanning. Its AI technology shows the user in the clothing in a photorealistic way.

And the winner is…

It’s now over to our judging panel to decide the winner, who will be revealed at an exclusive event in central London on Tuesday, 6th December.

If you’re interested in attending this networking/roundtable discussion/three course Christmas themed meal event, please fill out the form at the end of this article and we’ll get back to you asap.

RTIH Editor, Scott 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.”

“Thanks to all those who have entered the 2022 event. We received a record number of submissions and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.”

“I’m now looking forward to deciding the winners with our judging panel and announcing them at our central London event in December.”

2022 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel as follows:

Warren Richmond, CEO and Founder, Situ Live and Revium Group

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 

Wizz Selvey, CEO, WIZZ&CO

Simon Curtis, Chief Commercial Officer, PMC Retail 

David Polinchock, Co-Founder/President, Unified Brand Experience Lab

FOURTH TIME AROUND

Now into their fourth year, the RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by PMC, 3D Cloud by Marxent, CADS, FreedomPay, and Critzr, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Stay tuned for more shortlists over the next few days.