StrongPoint has that winning feeling: check out our most read retail technology articles from last week

Check out the articles on this here website that caught your fancy last week, including Paul Hornby, The Very Group, Marks & Spencer, Papa Johns UK, Checkout.com, Gather AI, Amazon, Asda, Secretlab, Fluent Commerce, and the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards.

2024 RTIH Innovation Awards winners announced, including Currys, Ikea, Clarks, Tesco, and Super-Pharm

Last week, we announced the winners from the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by Vista Technology Support, CADS, 3D Cloud, SCALA, Brightpearl by Sage’s Lightning 50, Retail Technology Show 2025, and Business France.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended last week’s gathering.

Papa Johns UK reports improved digital payment experience after tapping Checkout.com technology

Checkout.com has helped Papa Johns UK improve its digital payments experience for customers, enabling smooth and secure online transactions across its 400 locations nationwide. 

Papa Johns UK has seen a 6% increase in acceptance rates for card transactions as a result of utilising Checkout.com including network tokens.

This approach turns card credentials into encrypted tokens that are used for payment processing, making each individual transaction more secure. It also allows for creating a smooth customer experience by automatically updating card details assigned to each token, which reduces false declines even when cards are replaced or expired.

Additionally, the implementation of Intelligent Acceptance, which optimises payments performance using machine learning, has led to a further 0.6% uplift in acceptance rates across all transactions.

Paul Hornby departs online retailer The Very Group and Digital Customer Experience Director position

Paul Hornby has left The Very Group after spending just under four years in the role of Digital Customer Experience Director.

He joined the multi-brand online retailer and financial services provider in January 2021, reporting to Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Andy Burton.

Hornby, who previously held roles including Head of E-commerce and Head of Transformation at The Very Group, rejoined from Matalan, where he was E-commerce Director for three years.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: “Over almost four years, we have achieved a huge amount together; most notably leading one of the biggest composable migrations in Europe, with the creation of our Skyscape platform.”

“I promised myself when I came back that I’d spend three great years here and then embark upon a new challenge, so now that I’ve broken that promise by a year, we have achieved our goal of migrating

Very.co.uk’s upper-funnel pre-peak, have signed a deal with Apply Digital which will see them complete the programme by the end of this FY, and successfully navigated pre-build with Apply Digital, it feels right to step aside and let the right people focus on the final leg of delivery.

Flying Tiger Copenhagen launches new mobile app and Customer Club with UK one of first markets to go live

Flying Tiger Copenhagen is launching a new app with an accompanying Customer Club.

The latter is is a new initiative that’s part of its omnichannel strategy and it will be a key element in understanding customer preferences, delivering a better experience, rewarding loyalty and ensuring marketing efforts are more targeted and personalised.

The club was launched yesterday and customers that sign up to the app will be immediately rewarded with discounts ranging from 10% to 20% which can be applied to in-store purchases. 

Andre Filomeno, Senior Vice President for "Customer & Digital" at Flying Tiger Copenhagen, comments: “In 2023, we had around 100 million customers across our markets, and the majority of transactions happen in physical stores.”

“However, we are rolling out a number of initiatives to improve the experience, whether customers interact with us in the stores or digitally. Therefore, we are enhancing our customer experience across all platforms, making the new app a valuable addition to all of our channels and a key foundation of our omnichannel approach.”

Gather AI flies inventory intelligence solution into freezer and cold storage warehouse environments

Gather AI has announced its expansion into freezer and cold storage warehouse environments, pitched as an industry first for inventory monitoring automation. 

The firm’s computer vision technology enables drones to fly autonomously through warehouses with no GPS, WiFi, or infrastructure changes needed. The machine learning algorithm analyses inventory pictures and reads and interprets far beyond the barcode including lot codes, text, expiration dates, case counts, and occupancy information.

Warehouse operators can compare their real-time physical inventory with the warehouse management system (WMS) data. Gather AI claims that its solution scans 10X faster than traditional means in the freezer environment - up to 900 pallets per hour - and improves inventory accuracy by up to 70%.

Marks & Spencer reopens Brixton Road store as part of £30 million investment in London locations

Marks and Spencer’s Brixton Road, London store reopened last week, following a seven-month makeover.

In a LinkedIn post, Paul Stewart, Stores Director at M&S, said: “Today our iconic Brixton store reopened after a major transformation. This is more than just a store reopening; it’s a celebration of the heritage, community, and the amazing team behind it.”

“121 years ago, the first ever M&S store opened in London, under a railway arch on Brixton Station Road. It relocated to its current home on Brixton Road in 1931 and has since been a cornerstone of the community.”

“The store’s new design is tailored to Brixton’s environment, featuring restored railway arches and unique wall art. The Art Deco building has been thoughtfully restored, with many original features preserved through research from the M&S archive.”

“This reopening is a reflection not only of our rich history and future but also of the dedication to training and developing our incredible team.”

Amazon customers can now tap parcel pickup and label free, box free returns at 700 plus Asda stores

Amazon customers can now use a parcel pickup and label free, box free returns service at more than 700 Asda stores.  

Eligible Amazon orders can be picked up in most Asda stores across the UK, with more locations to be added throughout the coming months.  

“Meeting the ever evolving needs of our customers is a top priority for us at Asda,” says Chris Hall, Vice President, Logistics at Asda.

“This collaboration with Amazon just in time for Christmas marks another landmark moment, not just for our larger stores, but our ever expanding Asda Express convenience estate. By bringing essential services like Amazon parcel pickup and return drop-offs closer to where our customers live and work, we’re able to provide greater convenience to more of the communities we serve across the UK.” 

“We work hard to offer customers low prices on a wide selection of products, with fast, convenient delivery options and easy returns,” says John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager of Amazon. “This collaboration with Asda makes it even easier for customers to pick up ordered items when they’re shopping, or make hassle-free returns at more than 700 locations around the country.” 

Secretlab teams with Fluent Commerce to scale its OMS to support growth and enhance customer experience

Secretlab, an ergonomic furniture specialist brand, is partnering with Fluent Commerce in a bid to enhance global digital operations – scaling its order management system with Fluent Order Management.

“It’s great to see an innovative company like Secretlab choose Fluent Order Management,” says Graham Jackson, CEO, Fluent Commerce. “We have a track record for delivering enduring value to global retailers and our modern and scalable technology will set Secretlab up for long-term success.”

Fluent Order Management is used by global retailers including JD Sports, L’Oréal, Prada Group, Aldo Group, LVMH, Dulux and Kingfisher.

Most recently, Munro Footwear tapped the solution to enhance inventory management globally. Fluent Big Inventory addresses the challenge of real-time, accurate inventory visibility across all channels and locations in a retailer’s business.