Health and beauty retailer Boots UK taps Ocula Technologies’ Ocula Boost solution to boost online experience

Boots UK 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 & 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.

Lloyds Banking Group

Earlier this year, Ocula Technologies received new investment from Lloyds Banking Group and its FinTech Investment Team.

The SaaS startup says that it wants to give retailers without in-house data science teams, the ability to access the benefits of AI and not get left behind by the likes of Amazon and Alibaba.  

Lloyds Banking Group’s investment came in the form of new equity capital and completed a funding round previously announced in November 2022.

Less than two years since its formation it valued Ocula on a post new money basis at £10 million.

In addition to Boots UK, the company has worked with retailers such as Hornby Hobbies and AO World.

“This funding will enable us to fuel our ambitious future development and client plans for our two insight modules, Ocula Boost and Price Optimisation. We look forward to further building on our recent success with cornerstone clients such as the Kansas City Chiefs and AO,” said Thomas McKenna, Ocula CEO and Co-founder.

“We are delighted to invest in Ocula to support its ongoing development of a decision intelligence platform,” said Kirsty Rutter, Fintech Investment Director, Lloyds Banking Group.

“Ocula’s proposition integrates well with our existing technology capabilities, and helps the Group continue to meet customer demands for a more personalised service from their banks.”

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.”