Dick’s Sporting Goods taps TheyDo AI journey management tech, Bill Staikos joins as advisor

TheyDo reports that retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods are increasingly using AI powered journey management to understand customer needs in context and act on them faster.

At Forrester’s CX Summit events in North America and EMEA, MetLife and Lufthansa shared how TheyDo’s Journey AI and Data Hub helps teams spot and resolve issues in hours instead of weeks.

“Experience is the new currency of growth, and our customers are proving that aligning around journeys unlocks real, strategic value,” says Jochem van der Veer, CEO and Co-founder at TheyDo. “This first half of the year marks a tipping point - from talking about customer centricity to operationalising it at scale, powered by AI.”

Bill Staikos

TheyDo has appointed Bill Staikos as a strategic advisor. A CX industry veteran, Staikos brings decades of experience spanning both enterprise brands and technology vendors, with a focus on using data to drive better outcomes for customers, employees, and the business.

“TheyDo is the most exciting company I’ve worked with in years,” says Staikos. “Their platform combines AI and human centred design in a way that makes decision-making faster, clearer, and more connected. I’ve spent my career helping companies turn data into business wins, and I see TheyDo as the new standard for doing just that across product, sales, finance, and operations.”

“Bill’s experience, perspective, and values are deeply aligned with ours,” says van der Veer. “His impact is already being felt, and we’re excited to have him helping shape the next phase of our growth.”

Beyond the Map

TheyDo is gearing up to host Beyond the Map, pitched as the first global journey management conference designed for experience and transformation leaders looking to turn strategy into execution.

Built in partnership with the CX and service design community, the event will explore how AI powered journey management is becoming the connective tissue between insight, alignment, and action.

It will spotlight how teams are moving beyond static diagrams and disconnected dashboards toward dynamic, real-time intelligence that links every function - from product and operations to marketing and finance - around a single source of truth.

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

AI will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards. which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, 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 November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.