2023 RTIH Innovation Awards: Retail Technology Startup of the Year shortlist announced
We’re pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards Startup of the Year category.
We received a record number of submissions this year and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, which will take place at the Barbican Centre in central London.
The event will be held on Wednesday, 29th November, maintaining its popular evening format, with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a Christmas themed three course meal, and awards presentations in the Garden Room.
Congratulations to all those who made the shortlist.
To book your place at the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony on Wednesday, 29th November, click here.
Startup of the Year shortlist as follows:
This award will recognise a 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).
1MRobotics
1MRobotics develops robotics for hyperlocal logistics. It makes supply chains automated, shorter, agile, and efficient, thereby creating novel commerce models and new revenue channels.
Its hyperlocal capabilities offer two distinct use cases: intralogistics, focused on automating existing processes, and last mile, centred on creating new strategic opportunities. For typical retailers, a combination of both is essential to establish a cohesive logistics solution.
The automated, off-the-shelf container sized solutions that the company has developed can be easily deployed anywhere, while reducing headcount to the bare minimum and ensuring operational efficiencies at scale.
Clix Technologies
Clix has introduced a Click & Collect ecosystem with its VaultOS technology, revolutionising the customer and colleague journey for in-store collections.
Having developed the industry’s first Progressive Web App (PWA), the company set out to surpass the services already on the market by eliminating customer queues. Clix technology enables collection without compromise. Customers can retrieve their goods from an allocated smart locker in under ten seconds.
The system is proven to enhance customer experience, increase colleague satisfaction and streamline retailer operations, while offering a future-proof solution to the ever evolving BOPIS trend.
ConverSight
ConverSight helps retailers gain visibility into buyer demand and trends to accurately forecast demand, analyse buying patterns and plan for the future.
Remove non-moving inventory, and gain insight into products customers are most likely to purchase next to better forecast inventory levels.
ConverSight perfects the demand planning curve through accurate forecasts and real-time information on the whole supply chain, all with the power of advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Automatically optimise purchase orders for cost, risk, and timeliness. Context-based hypothesis and forecasting delivers dynamic demand and supply forecasts. Navigate unexpected and seasonal demand changes with real-time insights through a single search bar. Get proactive alerts on the high priority items with recommended next steps.
Dropit
In a retail environment marked by e-commerce growth and supply chain disruptions, Dropit is on a mission to resolve critical industry challenges. It empowers retailers with data driven solutions that optimise decision-making in real-time for more efficient fulfilment and returns.
Its AI powered decision engine seamlessly integrates with existing systems to consolidate data ensuring more informed sourcing decisions that balance inventory, reduce costs, and minimise waste creating a smarter, more sustainable retail ecosystem.
Good2Go
Good2Go provides businesses with secure automated access and virtual queueing solutions for restrooms, fitting rooms, and locked merchandise that deter theft, vandalism, and other security risks.
It’s a simple web app with nothing to download. Customers use their smartphones to get frictionless access with a QR code and virtual queue system - no longer do customers have to wait in line or search for an employee.
As a result, businesses gain compelling ROI on loss prevention, asset protection, employee and customer satisfaction while driving profitability and protecting brand reputation. Securing high-risk areas has never been more efficient.
Jellibeans
Launched in 2023, jelli.studio, an AI enabled end-to-end collaboration fashion design-to-production intelligence platform, performs trend forecasts upon a comprehensive data infrastructure, and utilises AI technology to rapidly prototype or optimise new collections, all accomplished in one single click.
With $1 million investment from Aussco, a prominent knitwear supplier, the endeavour seeks to bridge the gap between fashion and data, serving both independent designers and established brands.
Aptly dubbed as a fusion of Canva, Bloomberg Terminal, and Midjourney for fashion, the platform harmoniously marries the worlds of fashion design, data analytics, and AI image generation. It empowers decision-makers with enhanced transparency, ushering in a new era for the fashion industry.
mirrAR
mirrAR is an AR/AI technology company for the global fashion retail industry.
Its proprietary technology enables 50+ brands and retailers like Forevermark and Lakme to serve 3D and 360-degree shopping experiences on their websites, mobile apps and social channels via their 3D Commerce Cloud.
It lets shoppers virtually try-on products on themselves or virtually interact with them in their physical environment (i.e. preview placement) before making a purchase, leading to increase in confidence for the shoppers and higher conversions for the categories like beauty, skincare and jewellery.
RetailNext
Used by 450+ of the world’s most popular brands in 95+ countries like Macy’s, Sephora, and Bloomingdale’s, RetailNext is a hybrid IoT and SaaS platform for the physical world.
Using AI powered in-store sensors, RetailNext brings e-commerce-style analytics to big box and specialty stores, brands, and malls, focusing on foot traffic and benchmarking performance to improve the shopper experience and drive sales.
In 2023, it unveiled Retail Labs, an AI powered store performance solution that takes the guesswork out of store expansion efforts, layout upgrades, and remodels. Retail Labs has been piloted in brands, including those in the jewellery, department store, and convenience sectors.
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