Asos sparks online returns controversy among shoppers: our biggest retail technology articles on LinkedIn
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 GoWit, Dexory, Veloq, Diebold Nixdorf, Mapp, Carrefour, VusionGroup, and Celonis.
Asos comes under fire as disgruntled customers' accounts are closed due to their online returns activity
Online fast fashion giant Asos has recently been deleting customers' accounts due to high levels of return activity. This is the result of an update to its fair use policy.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, disgruntled customers have taken to social media to vent spleen.
For instance, Rhea Sangha, Senior Marketing Manager at John Lewis Partnership, said in a LinkedIn post: "This morning I received an email from Asos to inform me they were closing my account. I was pretty gobsmacked as I am die hard, loyal fan and have been a regular customer for years. It’s my go to for holidays, weddings, parties and I bloody love Topshop!!"
"Yes, I’m a big shopper so yes as a result I probably do send a fair amount of returns (which I pay for!) but isn’t that the nature of online shopping? Isn’t that what happens when you can’t feel the material/see the quality/check the sizing/try on the clothes to see how a style suits your figure. And as a curvy girl - NOT easy! Clothes unfortunately do not fit me like a glove…"
She added: “I spend hundreds of pounds year with Asos, in the last month alone I’ve purchased 12 items and spent £350+. I know quite a few other friends this has happened to who have complained for several months to Asos with no real clarity or solution. Is this really how retailers should be treating their best customers? Is this what loyalty should feel like?"
"Very disappointing. Working in fashion retail myself I know how important it is to protect and reward your most frequent, loyal shoppers so I’m pretty disappointed (hence the post!) Please engage with my post if you agree and let me know what you think?"
GoWit appoints Cemil Toksöz as Chief Strategy Officer for global growth and product innovation push
Retail media technology company, GoWit, has announced the appointment of Cemil Toksöz as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO).
With over 15 years of experience in digital marketing, advertising technology, and data transformation, he brings a track record of driving innovation and scaling strategic frameworks at enterprise level.
Prior to joining GoWit, he held leadership roles at Reckitt, Beerwulf/Heineken, Ciceksepeti, where he was instrumental in building global AdTech and MarTech capabilities, retail media strategies, and AI powered marketing initiatives.
As CSO, Toksöz will lead GoWit’s strategic roadmap across product, partnerships, and market expansion,
“GoWit is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of retail media technology and omnichannel marketing,” he says. “I’m excited to join a visionary team and help retailers, brands turn complexity into competitive advantage.”
🔥We’re thrilled to welcome Cemil Toksöz as our new #ChiefStrategyOfficer!
— GoWit (@gowit) June 19, 2025
Cemil brings powerhouse experience across #AdTech, #Martech, and performance #marketing, with 15+ years of leading global strategies, building future-ready ecosystems for world’s leading brands. pic.twitter.com/mYOFOOogHJ
Edward Salmon takes on Director role at Veloq, Rohlik Group's AI fulfillment platform spin out
Edward Salmon has been appointed Director by Veloq, which was recently launched by Rohlik Group, a European online grocer and tech specialist founded in 2014 in the Czech Republic, and offers an AI driven grocery fulfillment platform that has powered the firm’s growth across five markets.
Salmon has 12+ years of experience leading global expansion and strategy across the consumer retail and technology sectors. He specialises in scaling VC backed startups to transformation and innovation at global multinationals, with a track record in AI, robotics, and automation. His CV includes stints at Takeoff Technologies and Ocado Group.
Veloq has launched as an independent company, bringing Rohlik Group’s technology to grocers worldwide. Built on a proprietary software stack and robotics, it 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.
EDEKA Beckesepp store taps Diebold Nixdorf retail technology for AI powered self-service checkouts
Diebold Nixdorf has equipped a new EDEKA Beckesepp store in Waltershofen, Germany with self-service checkouts featuring its Smart Vision technology-based solutions for automated fruit and vegetable recognition and age verification.
With Vynamic Smart Vision | Fresh Produce Recognition, customers can capture products without barcodes, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, directly at the self-service checkout. A camera placed on top of the scale, combined with algorithms, identifies items and their quantities, which is then shown on the display. This eliminates the manual selection of fresh produce for customers or weighing and affixing a price label in the fresh produce section.
The Vynamic Smart Vision I Age Verification solution allows customers to automatically check their age.
When an age restricted item is scanned, customers are given the option to opt for automatic age recognition. Once consent is given, a camera installed in the system analyses the customer's facial characteristics using AI algorithms to determine their age.
The transaction can be continued if the customer’s age is above a predefined threshold. The attendants in the store during daytime operations can check customers who fall below this age limit or opt out of automatic age recognition. This system is GDPR compliant as the process does not involve facial recognition, nor does it store images or other customer information.
If customers wish to purchase age restricted items outside of the daytime opening hours, access to the store happens via an ID card, which then authorises them to make the purchase.
Asos taps Celonis technology as online retailer looks to unlock full potential of its supply chain
Process mining specialist, Celonis, has announced an expanded collaboration with Asos involving its supply chain operations.
Through the Celonis Process Intelligence platform, Asos says it is connecting its end-to-end supply chain to provide full visibility, transparency and accountability, enabling reductions in process variation, increasing speed to market, and improving the customer experience.
“Asos is a prime example of how leading retailers can use Process Intelligence to transform their operations,” says Rupal Karia, General Manager for UKI and MEA at Celonis. “With Celonis, it gets unprecedented visibility into its end-to-end supply chain and can identify and act upon opportunities for improvement in real-time. Together, we’re unlocking the full potential of Asos supply chain to deliver faster, smarter, and more efficient operations at scale.” Don't miss your chance to enter the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, deadline for submissions 18th July
Time is running out to enter the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, with deadline for submissions being Friday, 18th July.
As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.
With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.
Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.
Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September.
This will kick off with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room hosted by the rather excellent actress, writer, presenter, and comedian Lucy Porter.
Time is running out to enter the RTIH AI in Retail Awards. Deadline for submissions is Friday, 18th July. Our 2025 winners will be announced at an evening event at @BarbicanCentre in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September #ai https://t.co/YnOwZgTVOc pic.twitter.com/CnEx2ZKQHb
— Retail Technology Innovation Hub (@RTIH_RetailTech) June 23, 2025
Mapp appoints Susie Stanford as independent non-executive director as it ramps up expansion plans
Marketing cloud provider, Mapp, has announced the appointment of Susie Stanford to its board as an independent non-executive director (NED).
Stanford brings nearly two decades of experience investing in and scaling technology enabled consumer businesses globally.
She joins following almost a decade at Livingbridge, a £3 billion AUM growth equity firm backing consumer technology businesses in the UK, US and Australia. This included World of Books Group, Forge Holiday Group and Loveholidays. Prior to that, she held investment roles at Blue Coast Capital, Sapinda and Goldman Sachs.
Dexory Founder and CEO Andrei Danescu: AI tech revolution is not coming, it's already here
So says Andrei Danescu, Founder and CEO at Dexory, a specialist in robotics and AI logistics solutions.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “When companies start asking “How do we leverage AI?” ... What they’re really saying is: They’ve just begun to notice the shift. The real conversation was never about whether to use AI. Rather it’s really about how well your systems are set up to leverage it.”
Co-op onboard as Just Eat announces full UK launch of JET Go delivery-as-a-service platform
Just Eat has announced the full UK launch of its delivery-as-a-service platform, JET Go.
This enables partner brands to receive customer orders through their own channels while tapping into Just Eat’s technology infrastructure and network of independent couriers to offer on-demand, same-day and scheduled deliveries.
As the official launch partner, Co-op has rolled out the service across hundreds of stores. Customers within a five-mile radius can shop through its online shop or the Just Eat app. People can purchase everything from a full shop to forgotten or top-up ingredients for a midweek meal, or treats for evenings at home.
Delivery-as-a-service is also live on Just Eat’s platforms in 15 countries including Canada, Australia, Bulgaria and Spain and more big UK brands are set to come online across in the coming months.
Carrefour makes digitalisation of stores a priority as it tests VusionGroup EdgeSense tech in hypermarket
Carrefour says that the digitalisation of stores is a priority, and this includes a partnership with VusionGroup.
“At VivaTech, we announced a partnership with VusionGroup to deploy EdgeSense technology, a first in Europe,” says Emmanuel Grenier, Executive Director E-commerce, Data and Digital Transformation at Carrefour.
“Already tested in our Villabé hypermarket, this solution is based on: AI and computer vision to ensure shelves are always full; Product geolocation to simplify the customer journey; Ultra-accurate data to guide our teams in real-time.”
He adds: “This partnership marks a key step in the modernisation of our stores and brings immediate benefits for our customers, our employees and our operational performance.”
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