Change at the top for VoCoVo: 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 power towards the 25,000 followers mark, these are the articles that are currently on their radars, including Currys, WelcoMe, M&S, Ikea Australia, Cleveron, Simbe, Rohlik Group, East of England Co-op, and Attensi.
Retail voice technology firm VoCoVo appoints Beth Worrall as CEO as founder Rob Gamlin transitions to Strategic Advisor
VoCoVo, a retail communications specialist that works with the likes of Asda, Tesco, and Dunelm, has announced key changes to its leadership team. Beth Worrall has been appointed CEO, transitioning from her previous position as Co-CEO, while Rob Gamlin, Co-CEO and Founder, moves into a new role of Strategic Advisor.
After two years as Co-CEO alongside Gamlin, Worrall becomes CEO with a focus on expanding VoCoVo’s international presence and setting the standard for connected retail - where voice enabled solutions unite teams, customers and technology.
Gamlin will remain actively involved in guiding technical strategy and product development.
Currys launches WelcoMe inclusive customer service platform across Ireland stores following London, Birmingham pilot
Currys has partnered with WelcoMe, an inclusive platform that allows customers with additional needs to pre-book a personalised shopping experience in its stores.
Customers create a profile on the WelcoMe website or app, detailing their access and communication requirements (e.g., mobility support, preferred communication styles, sensory considerations) alongside what they're looking to purchase or research. They can then schedule their visit, ensuring businesses are prepared to meet their individual needs before they arrive.
When a visit is booked, store colleagues receive a heads-up along with short training videos and guidance specific to that visitor and also training and tips to support disability awareness amongst staff for all customers.
After a pilot in Currys’ London and Birmingham stores, the service has now launched in locations across Ireland.
M&S tells customers it is bringing back online shopping this week after suffering major cyber attack
Marks and Spencer has contacted customers to inform them that it is beginning to take online orders again after pulling the plug in April following a cyber attack.
People are now able to buy a selection of its fashion products for home delivery in England, Scotland and Wales. More fashion, beauty and homeware products will be available in the coming days, with Click and Collect and delivery services to Northern Ireland resuming in the coming weeks.
As it released full year results for the 52 weeks ended 29th March 2025, M&S revealed it would lose an estimated £300 million as a result of the cyber attack that had forced it to not only halt online orders but also struggle to keep store shelves stocked. This was initially linked to a hacking collective known as Scattered Spider.
It then emerged that TCS was conducting an internal investigation over whether it was the gateway for the attack. The Indian IT giant has provided services to M&S for more than a decade. The retailer recently said that the hackers had managed to gain access to its systems via a third party.
They sent an abuse filled email directly to CEO Stuart Machin. The message, which was in broken English, was sent on 23rd April from the hacker group DragonForce using an employee email account.
"We have marched the ways from China all the way to the UK and have mercilessly raped your company and encrypted all the servers," the hackers wrote. "The dragon wants to speak to you so please head over to [our darknet website]."
Ikea Australia works with Cleveron as retailer deploys bank of pick-up lockers at Rhodes Sydney store
A new service launched last week at Ikea Rhodes in Sydney, allowing customers to shop and pick up their orders during the early morning or late into the evening.
54 new pick-up lockers have landed in the car park, located near the existing Ikea Click and Collect area.
Customers can pick up their orders all day and into the night, from 3am until midnight. The lockers will be used for orders big and small, with space for everything from must have home furnishing accessories to larger flatpack furniture items.
Customers need to select ‘pick-up locker’ when they place their order online, via the Ikea app, via remote shopping or in-store. Once the option is selected, they are sent an email notification when their order is ready, with a unique pin number they can use to open the locker at any time of their choosing.
The cost is the same as Click & Collect - free for Ikea Family members, or prices starting at $5 for non-members.
Rohlik Group spins out Veloq AI fulfillment platform and hires former Ocado CCO Richard McKenzie as CEO
Rohlik Group, a European online grocer and tech specialist founded in 2014 in the Czech Republic, is launching Veloq, an AI driven grocery fulfillment platform that has powered its growth across five markets.
Rohlik currently delivers over 1.3 million monthly orders and generates €1.1 billion in annual revenue.
Developed and refined within its grocery operations, Veloq is now launching as an independent company, bringing the technology to grocers worldwide. Built on a proprietary software stack and robotics, Veloq unifies the entire grocery fulfillment process into a single modular platform, according to those involved.
This includes automated picking, intelligent routing, inventory forecasting and personalised customer engagement. An AI engine powers every layer of operations, including dynamic queue and labour management within fulfillment centres, supply chain forecasting and real-time last mile logistics optimisation.
Veloq has appointed Richard McKenzie, former Chief Commercial Officer at Ocado, as its CEO. He says: “The big challenge for grocers today is how they can meet evolving consumer demands for convenience while still delivering a wide range of excellent quality fresh products. Veloq represents a unique answer to that challenge.”
“Where legacy providers bolt-on tools that are inflexible or not grocery specific, we now offer an operating system that gives grocers everything they need in one box - and that adapts, learns, and evolves alongside its partners.”
“There’s real magic in the software: in how it orchestrates complex operations behind the scenes to deliver simplicity and speed to the end customer. In a market reshaped by consumer expectations for convenience, personalisation, and sustainability, Veloq’s launch marks a turning point – from fragmented software to unified, intelligent orchestration.”
DeCicco & Sons Markets deploys Simbe Store Intelligence platform at grocer's new flagship location
Simbe has partnered with DeCicco & Sons Markets, a family owned grocer in the US, which is bringing its Store Intelligence platform to a new flagship location in Sleepy Hollow, and additional stores in Eastchester and Larchmont.
President John DeCicco Jr. says: “Partnering with Simbe allows us to enhance the shopper experience even further. This technology perfectly complements our vision for the future of grocery retail.”
In a LinkedIn post, Simbe says: “Thank you to the DeCicco family and team for your trust - and to our partners at Aperion by Hussmann for helping bring this vision to life.”
Retail technology innovation of the week: East of England Co-op opens first fully cashless location at Ipswich station
Retail Technology Innovation of the Week is a series brought to you by RTIH, and sponsored by 3D Cloud, highlighting stand out deployments, launches, and initiatives by retailers and tech suppliers.
Every week, we will showcase forward thinking tech plays that have impressed our Editor and the Retail Technology Innovations Report judging panel, alongside the publication of the 2025 report.
And this week we’re focusing on Trust Retail which reports a collaboration with East of England Co-op at its new Ipswich train station store. This opened on Wednesday and represents a cashless first for the retailer.
“Hugely significant new store opening this week for East of England Co-op - cutting edge technology and a great location in perfect harmony,” said Rob Smith, Technology Officer at East of England Co-op.
Ashley Hollingsworth, Operating Model Manager, added: “Extremely excited about the launch of our concept store - a huge step forward in efficiency. From eSELs and headsets to self-service only tills, cashless and officeless operations, and not forgetting our new digital processes, we’re proudly advancing on our paperless journey.”
“This milestone has involved cross-functional collaboration across multiple departments. Thank you all for your incredible support in delivering what will soon be our most efficient food store to date.”
In a LinkedIn post, Trust Retail said: “We've installed five state-of-the-art self-checkout terminals at the East of England Co-op’s first fully cashless location, transforming the shopping experience for busy commuters on the Great Eastern Main Line. With over three million passengers passing through annually, this 1,500 sq ft store delivers convenience without compromise.”
“Our software first, hardware agnostic solution has eliminated the need for traditional cashier desks while maintaining full functionality - including refunds - creating significant operational efficiencies for the East of England Co-op team. We're proud to support the future of frictionless retail.”
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