Retail technology innovation of the week: Boots UK deploys AI powered Ocula Boost solution

Retail Technology Innovation of the Week is a new series brought to you by RTIH and sponsored by 3D Cloud by Marxent, highlighting stand out deployments, launches, and initiatives by retailers and tech suppliers.

Every week, we will showcase forward thinking tech plays that have impressed our Editor and the Retail Technology Innovations Report judging panel, in the run up to the publication of the 2024 report early next year.

So far, we’ve showcased work being done by Ocado Retail, Decathlon, Lacoste, Downtown Spirits, TalkShopLive, Huck’s, Rovertown, Wing, McDonald’s, Nobody’s Child, IKI, Pixevia, Walmart, A.L.C., Archive, Therabody, Outform, Kingfisher, PMC, and Żabka Polska.

And this week, we’re focusing on Boots UK, which is deploying Ocula Technologies’ Ocula Boost solution.

The AI platform addresses abandoned shopping carts by analysing sites to: identify actions to improve the customer experience, accessibility and performance; rank insights based on predicted value and effort; and ensure teams focus on the right areas.

In a LinkedIn post, Ocula Technologies said: “We could not be happier to be working with Boots UK, the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer.”

It added: “Ocula Boost will be aiming to further contribute to their incredible success: Boots.com recently posted a 28.9% sales increase over quarter and it was the retailer’s tenth consecutive quarter of market share growth.”

"Ocula Boost is about ensuring the Boots.com experience continues to be best in class and relevant for our customers. The AI capabilities it provides ensure we are making use of the latest technologies to stay ahead,” commented Paula Bobbett, Chief Digital Officer at Boots.

RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Ocula Technologies was highly commended in the Startup of the Year (UK) category at the 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards.

Our 2022 winners were revealed at a sold out event in central London on Tuesday, 6th December.

RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, said: “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 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.”

“Congratulations to our 2022 retail technology hall of fame entrants.”