Ready to roll: 2023 RTIH retail technology awards are now open for submissions
After launching in 2019 and delivering hugely successful follow up events in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the RTIH Innovation Awards return in 2023 with a discussion panel and awards ceremony to be held in central London venues during December.
The fifth edition of the awards is now open for entries.
The event celebrates global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
We received a record number of submissions in 2022, with winners including Sook, B&Q, 3D Cloud by Marxent, Compass Group, AiFi, Walmart, Ribble Cycles, Obsess, HyperFinity, Red Ant, Pets at Home, and TPP Retail.
Our winners and highly commended companies were announced at a sold out event in central London on Tuesday, 6th December.
For 2023, we are introducing new categories and expanding the awards ceremony in December to accommodate more attendees (further details on that will be revealed in the near future).
Scott Thompson, Editor and Founder of RTIH, says: “Our awards celebrate the dynamic, resilient and innovative retail sector and the companies and technologies that drive it forward.”
“Competition was tougher than ever in 2022, so to emerge victorious was no mean feat.”
“Congratulations to our winners and highly commended companies. I’m excited to launch the fifth edition of the awards. The 2023 event will be the biggest and best yet.”
Deadline for 2023 submissions is Friday, 27th October, with winners being revealed at the aforementioned event in central London during December.
Entries are free and you can submit in multiple categories.
2023 RTIH Innovation Awards categories:
Category 1
Bricks and Mortar Innovation - SPONSORED BY CADS
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.
Download an entry form here.
Category 2
Supply Chain Innovation
This award highlights companies that are re-inventing and re-thinking retail supply chains via innovative advancements in technology.
Download an entry form here.
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.
Download an entry form here.
Category 4
FinTech of the Year - NEW CATEGORY
This award will go to a FinTech firm that has produced stand out work with a retailer or brand during the past 12 months.
The winning entry will detail how the innovative aspects of the FinTech’s product or service met customer needs and requirements.
What are the product/service’s unique selling points and what differentiates it from the competition? How did it help the client’s business unleash its full potential?
Download an entry form here.
Category 5
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 2022/23.
Download an entry form here.
Category 6
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 2022/23.
Download an entry form here.
Category 7
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 2022/23.
Download an entry form here.
Category 8
Virtual Store of the Year - NEW CATEGORY
The winner of this award will have either launched a new virtual store in the past 12 months, or overhauled and significantly enhanced an existing one.
We’re looking for retailers/brands delivering seamless and personalised shopping experiences, engaging with customers in exciting and innovative ways via the likes of gamification, livestream commerce, and the metaverse, and boosting online sales.
Download an entry form here.
Category 9
Digital Transformation Project of the Year - NEW CATEGORY
This award celebrates those who are at the forefront of digital transformation in the retail space, achieved through the deployment of innovative technologies.
Our judges will be looking for a company that has delivered a significant transformation project for a customer, such as integrating disparate systems, updating legacy technology, empowering the client to create seamless and personalised shopping experiences, and unlocking new possibilities to grow the business.
Download an entry form here.
Category 10
Customer Service Excellence
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.
Download an entry form here.
Category 11
Omnichannel Retail Initiative of the Year
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.
Download an entry form here.
Category 12
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.
Download an entry form here.
Category 13
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.
Download an entry form here.
Category 14
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).
Download an entry form here.
Category 15
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 2022 and November 2023.
Judges will be looking for clear project objectives, effective and innovative implementation and tangible and demonstrable results.
Download an entry form here.
Category 16
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 2022 and November 2023.
Judges will be looking for clear project objectives, effective and innovative implementation and tangible and demonstrable results.
Download an entry form here.
Category 17
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.
Download an entry form here.
Category 18
Overall Winner
Our judging panel will pick their stand out entry from across the 16 aforementioned categories.
Category 19
RTIH Editor’s Choice Award
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, will pick his stand out entries from across the 17 aforementioned categories.
2023 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel
Mike Cadden, Technology and Business Transformation Director, Start-Rite Shoes
Peter Waugh, Digital & Data Director, Compass Group
Paula Bobbett, Chief Digital Officer, Boots
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
Nadine Neatrour, Marketing Director, Selfridges
David Polinchock, Co-Founder/President, Unified Brand Experience Lab
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