The artificial intelligence acid test cometh: RTIH rustles up another retail technology week in numbers
Do you like numbers? Do you like retail systems news? Then this is the article for you. Including the BRC, Primark, Snappy Shopper, One Stop, RTS 2025, rediem, Shopify, Pets at Home, REWE Group, Mirakl, AS Watson, Currys, and Movopack.
19.9%…The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has published its Payments Survey, showing a rise in the use of cash for the second year in a row to 19.9% of transactions in 2023 (from 18.8% in 2022).
Debit cards remained far and away the most common method of payment, increasing to 62% of transactions (66.7% by spending). Taken together with credit cards, card payments accounted for over 75% of transactions and 85% of spending.
Overall, customers visited shops more frequently but made smaller purchases, as the cost-of-living crisis continued to pinch in 2023. The total number of transactions rose from 19.6 billion to 21.0 billion while the average amount spent (per transaction) fell from £22.43 to £22.03.
Meanwhile, card fees paid by retailers continued to grow. The total amount paid by retailers to banks and card schemes rose by over 25% in 2023, at an extra cost of £380 million. This brought the total card fees paid to £1.64 billion.
According to the BRC: “Card companies continue to raise these fees without transparency or justification and retailers hope that the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) will now implement meaningful reforms to tackle the lack of competition and rising costs identified in their current market reviews.”
“It's been great to see such a positive reception to the new service from our colleagues and customers, and to be part of bringing the best of Primark to more people. Watch this space after the Christmas break for more launches,” says Grace Fisher, Click & Collect Lead.
Kari Rodgers, UK Retail Director at Primark, says: "We’re already seeing strong uptake for Click & Collect as we continue to roll-out the service nationwide, and we expect this demand to grow as we head into the busy festive shopping season. We hope our customers up and down the country find their shopping experiences just that little bit easier this year thanks to the added convenience our service brings.”
"Now that Click & Collect is available at more than half of our British stores, we’re pleased to be offering shoppers more opportunities than ever to enjoy our great value, affordable fashion."
40%…Research from TheFork, a TripAdvisor owned restaurant booking platform, reveals that more UK diners actively seek deals when dining out. Based on an analysis of the company’s UK booking data, 40% of bookings were made with a special offer.
According to a Mintel survey, 76% of consumers expect to spend the same or less on dining out and takeaways this year compared to 2023. As budgets tighten, TheFork suggests that special offers are one way to attract and retain diners.
The data further reveals that Brits are particularly drawn to substantial savings. Of those booking with special offers: 60% opted for 50% discounts, underscoring the popularity of big price cuts; 20% booked 30% discounts, the second most popular offer; Nearly one in six diners chose 20% off, making it the third most booked deal.
Regionally, London emerged as the UK’s top hotspot for discount dining, with 49% of bookings made with special offers in the capital. Other cities also showed a strong interest in dining bargains: Cardiff: 29%; Birmingham: 23%; Manchester: 22%; Brighton: 19%; Edinburgh: 14%.
530…Snappy Shopper has announced an expansion of its partnership with One Stop, with an additional 280 stores joining the quick commerce platform.
Following an initial 250 store launch in October, this will bring One Stop’s total to 530 stores on the Snappy Shopper platform, enabling more communities across the UK to access rapid grocery delivery.
In addition, One Stop is launching Snappy Rewards, an exclusive loyalty programme available at participating stores. This will allow customers to unlock perks based on tiered spending, including free products and discounts on future purchases with Snappy Shopper and One Stop.
$15.6 million…HappyRobot reports a $15.6 million Series A round, led by Andreessen Horowitz, with support from Y Combinator and other strategic investors, to automate communication across the supply chain with AI.
In a LinkedIn post, the company said: “We enable freight brokers, 3PLs, carriers and warehouses with AI workers that handle tasks like carrier negotiations, track and trace, payment status updates, and more. With HappyRobot, every call is answered and every load checked.”
‘Our customers see phone calls handled in half the time, with operational costs reduced by one-third. Brokers are freed to focus on higher value strategy and relationship building, while customers and carriers get information 24/7 with no hold time.”
“Since we went live with our first customer in April, we’ve automated more than one million phone calls for some of the largest players in freight. But this is just the start for us. We began with phone calls, but HappyRobot drives conversations across email, text, or any other channel, helping our customers deploy teams of AI workers where they need them the most.”
2,000…Artificial intelligence (AI) is the top technology UK retail leaders feel will unlock and accelerate growth for their businesses in 2025, according to research from Retail Technology Show.
A survey of over 2,000 senior UK retail professionals flags Gen AI, personalisation, marketing automation, and in-store analytics as the other key technologies for next year.
Matt Bradley, Event Director at RTS, comments: “The advent of AI maturity and mass adoption has galvanised retailers’ imagination for what it can deliver for their businesses, and increasingly they’re seeing the technology as an accelerator for growth.”
“UK retail has long led the way in the innovation stakes globally, so while its fast-paced deployment is unsurprising, the ‘AI acid test’ will come as retailers look longer-term at the ROI it can deliver. That not only relies on data input and security, but also on creative implementations that drive meaningful efficiency and customer benefits, as well as considering how AI datacentres can be operated and run more sustainably in the mid- to long-term.”
Debuting in its new home, ExCeL London, RTS will welcome 15,000 retail professionals on 2nd and 3rd April 2025. Register for free to attend here.
30 million and 2.1 million…Walmart’s virtual experience on Roblox, Walmart Discovered, has officially surpassed 30 million total visits with a sustained approval rating of 96% and more than 2.1 million hours of play time (source: GEEIQ).
The milestone comes as Walmart Discovered Holiday Update on Roblox goes live, with the US retail giant launching its first ever emote as chosen by its community. The update also includes new real-world items with free virtual items in a gifting pop-up.
“From the beginning, Walmart Discovered has been an experience by and for the community. And in my opinion, our community first approach, which we consistently lean on to make decisions, is the driving force of our success,” says Justin Breton, Head of Brand Marketing Innovation at Walmart.
50…Shoptalk Europe 2025 has announced its first 50+ speakers.
This includes Paula Bobbett, Chief Digital Officer at Boots, Arianne Parisi, Global Chief Digital Officer at JD Group, Julie De Moyer, Chief Data & AI Officer - Beauty Brands at LVMH, Clemens Use Bauer, Director E-commerce at REWE, Vineta Bajaj, CFO at Rohlik Group, and Oliver Vogt, CEO, Transcend Retail Solutions, Tesco.
$1.2 million…rediem, a loyalty software specialist, has announced a $1.2 million pre-seed round.
Led by Ivy Ventures, with participation from Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator; Netcore CEO; Jebbit founders, and e-commerce investors, the capital supports onboarding a 500 company waitlist to rediem’s AI powered Software-as-a-Service customer engagement platform.
"I believe in the vision for transforming legacy, outdated rewards programmes,” says Scott Kraege, Partner at Ivy Ventures. "The early momentum is incredibly promising, and the strong adoption by enterprises further validates rediem’s thesis on the future of brand-customer relationships.”
$11.5 billion…Shopify reports a record setting Black Friday weekend, with sales of $11.5 billion from independent businesses worldwide.
Deann Evans, Managing Director, EMEA at Shopify, comments: "After a challenging year, this BFCM highlighted consumers' continued commitment to supporting independent brands.”
“We witnessed unprecedented levels of shopping activity across all platforms, showcasing retailers' ability to adapt to evolving consumer demands. By offering innovative and engaging experiences both online and in-store, businesses successfully connected with their customers, fostering loyalty and strengthening relationships for the future."
2 million…Currys reports that it has reached two million customer donations, through Pennies, for the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA).
The DPA is a non-profit charity member initiative convening individuals from across business, government, charity and education, with the aim of eradicating digital poverty in the UK, and ultimately globally.
Just one day of customer micro-donations in Currys’ UK stores raises enough funds through the Tech4Families scheme for the DPA to provide three disadvantaged families with a laptop.
Logistically, customers are invited to make a micro-donation via the card terminal screen when they pay for their purchase in-store, powered by partnering FinTech charity, Pennies. They are offered a ‘yes or no’ option to donate if they wish.
16,800…AS Watson has announced the opening of its 16,800th store worldwide, with the health and beauty retailer laying claim to a portfolio of 12 brands operating across 29 markets.
The Kruidvat store was opened in Rotterdam as AS Watson doubles down on its O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience.
Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO at AS Watson, says: “The opening of our 16,800th store represents more than our growth as a company - it symbolises our commitment to serving the communities worldwide. With every store we open, we create jobs, foster customer relationships, and build lasting trust.”
“16,800 is a number with special meaning in Chinese culture. The number six symbolises ‘everything goes smoothly’ while eight represents ‘good fortune’. We embrace the special meaning of this milestone and look forward to a future of lasting success and prosperity, not only for our business growth but also in extending these best wishes for a brighter future for the world during this festive Christmas season.”
"We’re honoured that AS Watson’s 16,800th store worldwide opens in vibrant Rotterdam, demonstrating our steadfast commitment to growth in the Benelux region and globally. As the number one health and beauty retailer in the Netherlands, Kruidvat serves its customers with nearly 1,000 O+O stores and over 24,000 passionate colleagues, and has become an integral part of many Dutch people’s lives.”
£3 million…Charity Super.Mkt, pitched as the UK’s first ever multi-charity shop, reports that it has, with its charity retail partners (including Shelter, Havens Hospices, Cancer Research and Oxfam), sold £3 million worth of second hand fashion since opening its doors in January 2023.
Over the past couple of years, the venture has popped up in over 12 cities across the UK including Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol and London, and partnered with 55 different local and national charities in the UK.
So far, the pop-up stores have prevented 105,109kg of textile waste from reaching landfill, saving an estimated 168,174 cubic metres of water.
Charity Super.Mkt relies on the support of its partnering charities, the public's purposeful consumption choice, and retail landlords like Hammerson, INKGA, Landsec, and British Land, who provide rent free retail spaces to facilitate the charity retail concept.
Growth plans are underway, with a number of new permanent store openings planned throughout the UK in 2025, including Canary Wharf London, Edinburgh and Leeds. Its most recent pop-up location in Spitalfields Market, London, opened on 28th November, and is in partnership with Traid and Havens Hospice. It will be open until the end of January 2025.
400…REWE Group reports the opening of the 400th PENNY store in Romania.
In a LinkedIn post, Christoph Eltze, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at REWE Group, said: “I was there for the launch and I am impressed: This milestone is an important step in expanding and strengthening our presence in the local market.”
“At @PENNY | At REWE Romania, we focus on proximity, quality and sustainability. Every new store represents a direct investment in local communities and a response to the needs of consumers – we see a lot of potential for development in an economically fast growing country like Romania.”
£2.2 million…Pets at Home has unveiled its newly designed flagship Pet Care Centre in New Malden. The £2.2 million+ transformation marks the single largest investment in the retailer’s estate history.
At 27,360 sq.ft, it features an increased range of services (such as a newly refurbed and extended veterinary practice), and premium facilities (such as a luxury Pets Grooming Salon with 50% more capacity).
Pets at Home has made a £25 million investment in estate interventions this year.
The New Malden location includes a new community zone at the front of the store, featuring a designated recycling and charity donation area, along with a multifunctional Paws Point. This space is designed for workshops, new pet advice, or simply relaxing and charging a phone while waiting for pets in the Pets Grooming Salon or Vet Practice.
There are also seven new tills to accommodate shopper’s needs – the most in any Pets at Home, and digital and interactive screens to help educate customers with their pet choices.
“This achievement is a powerful testament to the unmatched growth potential of the marketplace model - empowering businesses to scale faster, offer more, and win big in today's digital economy,” says Adrien Nussenbaum, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Mirakl.
“A huge thank you to our customers, partners, and the Mirakl team for making this incredible success possible. The future of commerce is here, and it's powered by marketplaces.”
40.5%…The lure of discounts drove UK payday shoppers in-store on Black Friday, as many sought to snatch deals on early Christmas gifts, according to research from RetailNext, an analytics solution for bricks and mortar retailers.
Its shopper traffic platform, which captures billions of store visits globally every year, showed that UK footfall on Black Friday (29th November) improved by +40.5% week-on-week, rising to +45% in London compared to the week prior.
Despite seeing a dip in footfall compared to 2023, with shopper traffic on Black Friday itself falling -1.7% year-on-year, the week leading up to Black Friday (Monday 25th November – Friday 29th November inclusive) saw a +0.8% boost in footfall performance compared to last year, rising by +3.4% year-on-year on Tuesday 26th November and +3.3% on Thursday 28th November, as retailers extended discounting periods ahead of the event.
Fashion was one of the top performing categories, with visits to clothing stores up +0.3% year-on-year, representing a +54.1% rise compared to the week prior. Meanwhile, electrical retailers saw a +33.2% week-on-week jump in shopper traffic, as shoppers hunted for bargains on big ticket items.
£1.12 billion…Research from Adobe shows that this Black Friday was the biggest single online shopping day of 2024 in the UK.
Brits spent £1.12 billion online, up 7.2% and £75 million above the £1.04 splashed out on Black Friday 2023), as they sought to take advantage of the deep discounts on offer in the run up to Christmas and make their budgets stretch as far as possible.
The Adobe Digital Insights team used Adobe Analytics to analyse hundreds of millions of visits to retail sites from UK consumers on Black Friday, tracking the prices of 100 million SKUs across 18 product categories.
Vivek Pandya, Lead Analyst, Adobe Digital Insights, comments: “With UK online Black Friday spending topping £1 billion this year, it’s clear that this remains a hugely important date in the diary, both for retailers looking to boost their sales, and for increasingly price sensitive consumers who are looking to these deep discounting days as a great opportunity to secure a bargain and make their money go further.”
£2 million…Movopack, a company providing e-commerce platforms with circular and sustainable packaging, has raised a £2 million seed funding round led by early-stage investor 360 Capital, with participation from Greiner Innoventures and Techstars.
The cash will go towards the firm’s official launch in the UK - its first expansion outside of Italy.
The aim is to allow consumers to easily return packaging through the Royal Mail postal system, providing access to any of its 115,000 postboxes across the country.
The Milan headquartered company was co-founded by high school friends Tomaso Torriani (CEO), Alberto Cisco (CCO), and Andrea Cipollone (COO), who recognised the environmental oversight of single-use e-commerce packaging and the lack of affordable and practical sustainable alternatives.
Movopack’s packaging, made from recycled plastic bottles (rPET) and woven recycled polypropylene (PP), is designed to endure postal handling and can be reused by retailers up to 20 times.
£3.5 million…London-based startup Cerve has closed a £3.5 million seed funding round led by SuperSeed, with participation from Zenith, Ponderosa and The First Thirty.
Cerve’s mission is to accelerate the digitisation of the global food supply chain via its API tools, delivering a standardised protocol. Over 2,000 organisations across the UK and Europe are utilising its infrastructure, including retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, and producers.
Cerve was founded by Dan Mazig, a serial entrepreneur with expertise in leading data infrastructure and B2B solutions for Fortune 500 companies and early stage startups. Joining him is David Walker, Chief Commercial Officer, who brings senior leadership experience from Barclays, Dyson and Sky.
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