2022 RTIH retail technology awards: categories announced
After launching in 2019 and delivering hugely successful follow up events in 2020 and 2021, the RTIH Innovation Awards return in 2022 with new categories including Most innovative independent retailer and Omnichannel retail initiative of the year.
The fourth edition of the awards will open for entries in early June, with PMC returning as Headline Sponsor.
The event celebrates global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
We received a record number of submissions in 2021, and winners included Metapack, Asda, Carrefour UAE, Situ Live, Starbucks, Oracle, Go Instore and Halla.
Winners and highly commended companies were announced on Wednesday, 8th December at an exclusive roundtable discussion/networking event in central London.
2022 RTIH Innovation Awards categories as follows:
Category 1
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.
Category 2
Supply chain innovation
This award highlights companies that are re-inventing and re-thinking retail supply chains via innovative advancements in technology.
Category 3
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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
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.”
“Competition was tougher than ever in 2021, so to emerge victorious was no mean feat.”
“Congratulations to our winners and highly commended companies. And a huge thanks to PMC for once again supporting the awards as Headline Sponsor.”
“I can’t wait to launch the fourth edition. The 2022 event will be the biggest and best yet.”
For further information on how to enter the 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill out the below form and we will get back to you asap.
