Including Nextail, Living Map, and Clekt: these are our biggest retail technology articles on LinkedIn right now

We’re big fans of LinkedIn and are busy building an amazing community of retail tech enthusiasts on the social media platform. As we head towards the 20,000 followers mark, these are the articles that are currently on their radars, including Trafford Centre, EE, DSQUARED2, ESW, Harrods, Global-e, BOXTEC, Pavers, Athleta, and the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards.

2024 RTIH Innovation Awards: shortlisted entries announced including Ikea, Currys, Lowe’s, and Tesco

We’re pleased to announce the shortlists for the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards.

We received a record number of entries this year and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.

Congratulations to all those who made it through the initial submission process!

It’s now over to our judging panel who will decide the winners to be announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, taking place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.

The event will be held on Thursday, 21st November and consist of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

To book your place at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony on Thursday, 21st November, click here.

The awards, sponsored by  Vista Technology Support, Scala, CADS, 3D Cloud, Brightpearl by Sage’s Lightning 50, Business France, and Retail Technology Show 2025, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Trafford Centre in Manchester taps Living Map tech to allow people to navigate the shopping mall

Living Map has become a mapping and wayfinding partner navigating shoppers through the Trafford Centre in Manchester.

At 2.2 million square feet, with over 200 stores, restaurants and leisure activities, navigating Trafford Centre can often be a challenge for some visitors. 

A live, digital map is now available on its website and on screens throughout the mall.

The map details each retailer within the centre, car parks, entrances and services such as toilets, guest services and escalators/lifts. It offers live intelligence on each of these retailers and services, for example, if an escalator is out of service this will be highlighted on the map.

Customers can also input where they want to go, such as a particular store, and the map will provide a direct route to that location.

Boots becomes the first retailer to tap LiveRamp omnichannel retail media partnership with Criteo in UK

LiveRamp has announced a tie up with Criteo, and Boots is onboard as a launch partner.

Uniting Boots’ Advantage Card data with online exposure and offline sales data, the collaboration aims to provide advertisers with more transparent attribution across the retailer’s digital and physical retail environments for improved ROAS.

Ollie Shayer, Omni-Media Director, Boots UK and Boots Media Group, says: “I am proud Boots is at the forefront of this groundbreaking collaboration with two of our key retail media partners. As omnichannel behaviour among consumers accelerates, we now possess unparalleled insights into our customers' shopping journeys.”

“This powerful partnership empowers our brand partners to fully grasp the true omnichannel impact of their on-site activities on Boots.com, driving enhanced performance and deeper consumer understanding."

AI powered retail technology firm Nextail announces new CEO and multi-million euro investment from current investors

Nextail, an AI driven merchandise planning and execution platform for fashion retailers, has turned ten,  and also announced a leadership change and a multi-million euro cash injection from existing investors.

Effective immediately, Carlos Miragall, Co-Founder of Nextail, steps into the role of CEO. Joaquín Villalba, Co-Founder and former CEO, will remain on the board.

Miragall says: “I am thrilled to re-join the leadership team as CEO at such a pivotal moment in Nextail’s journey. The commitment to additional investment from our current investors reinforces their confidence in our mission, and I am excited to drive our company forward with innovation, ambition, and a renewed focus.”

“Together with our talented team, we are ready to achieve new milestones and deliver even greater value to our partners."

Luxury retailer Harrods partners with Global-e as it looks to enhance its global e-commerce offering

Global-e, a platform powering global direct-to-consumer e-commerce, has announced a partnership with luxury department store Harrods.

The collaboration will enable Harrods to bolster its e-commerce strategy in over 200 markets worldwide, woyj the aim of offering customers around the globe a seamless online shopping experience.

Harrods will leverage Global-e’s platform to offer a localised experience for its customers.

Key features include browsing and payment in local currencies, a wide range of local and alternative payment methods, attractive shipping offerings, advanced duty and tax calculations and prepayment for a guaranteed final cost of purchase, and an easy return process.

Luxury apparel brand DSQUARED2 announces international DTC tie up with e-commerce specialist ESW

DSQUARED2 is partnering with ESW to power its international DTC expansion.

Through the tie up, ESW has enabled DSQUARED2 to offer ship-from-store capabilities, which has resulted in a 12% increase in GMV across its entire online business in the first four months of implementation.

In addition, the latter has seen an 8% increase in checkout conversions this year and an improvement in customer satisfaction ratings, up from 1.5 to 4 on Trustpilot.

"Partnering with ESW has been a game-changer for us,” says Raffaele Nardo, Chief Digital Officer at DSQUARED2. “Its expertise in luxury e-commerce has helped us expand globally and improve our operations. With ESW’s support, we’ve streamlined our import processes and enhanced our online shopping experience, making ESW a key part of our success in reaching more customers around the world."

Customer engagement technology never felt so good: Andrew Busby takes on adviser role at BOXTEC

Andrew Busby has joined customer engagement technology specialist BOXTEC as Senior Industry Adviser.

In a LinkedIn post, Busby said: “Can't wait to get started with the incredible team at BOXTEC and to working once more with Steve Powell (Sales Director), a true friend and colleague.”

“We'll be shaping strategic planning for future growth alongside the senior management team, as well as utilising industry knowledge to develop go to market plans, identify potential new customers, partners, and markets. Customer engagement technology never felt so good!”

A member of the RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List, Busby is the founder of Redline Retail (formerly Retail Reflections) a retail consultancy firm that provides strategic advice and insights to the industry community.

He is a regular contributor to various media outlets and author of the book, Harry Was Right All Along. He is also an international keynote speaker, covering topics such as digital transformation, consumer behaviour and customer experience in retail.

Bullring Birmingham here we come! EE preps opening of latest Experience store in UK’s second largest city

EE is gearing up to launch the next instalment of its new Experience store format, with an opening at The Bullring in Birmingham City Centre set for later this month.

In a LinkedIn post, Asif Aziz, Retail Director at EE/BT Group, said: “We are brining the latest in technology to combine with our award winning network to help customers get the best from their experience.”

“Tech can be complicated, however to help we have our expert trained guides who are on hand to support our customers and the community. Earlier this week it was pleasure to visit the store to see behind the scenes as to what’s in the making. It will be special!”

“Come and visit from 28th November and experience the latest tech, game zones, racing rigs, extended reality and so much more.”

Focus on Snowflake as Clekt teams with UK shoe retailer Pavers on its journey to become a data driven business

Pavers has announced Clekt as its official data partner in a tie up that involves the Snowflake platform.

"We’re thrilled to partner with Pavers on their journey to becoming a data driven business. This partnership reflects our commitment to helping organisations unlock data’s full potential, leveraging our commercial expertise and Snowflake’s world class data platform," says Andy Tudor, CEO at Clekt and former fashion retail CIO.

“Clekt shares our vision that data holds the key to unlocking the potential to drive more value and happiness into our customers. Working in partnership with Clekt, we’re excited to collaborate to become a data first business,” says Dan Arden, Marketing Director at Pavers.

Pavers will be achieving a single view of company data on the Snowflake platform, to be leveraged for analytics, as well as operational, data science and AI use cases.

Social and digital transformation specialist Michelle Goad takes on Chief Digital Officer role at Athleta

Athleta has appointed Michelle Goad as its new Chief Digital Officer.

Goad’s CV includes stints at Nike (as GM, NbG) and PS Dept. (as CEO and Co-founder).

In a LinkedIn post, Athleta said: “Michelle will play a critical role in enhancing our customers’ omni shopping experience and positioning the brand to lead with excellence in digital engagement.”

“Michelle brings nearly two decades of expertise in social first strategy and digital transformation to Athleta, making her the ideal leader to help our by women, for women brand continue to raise the bar in performance innovation.”

“Her extensive background spans building high impact, customer first digital solutions across industries, and we’re thrilled to welcome her innovative vision and energy to our leadership team.”