RTIH AI in Retail Awards winners announced, including Ikea, Depop, Currys, and B&Q

Brarista, IBM Consulting, Foundit!, Quorso, Vusion, Sensei, Reckon.ai, EE, Walkbase, Globant, Riskified, and Goddiva were among the winners last night at the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, sponsored by VenHub Global, 3D Cloud, EdTech Innovation Hub, and Retail Technology Show.

Our 2026 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The Barbican in Central London and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “According to Amazon’s Andy Jassy: AI is a once in a lifetime reinvention of everything we know, and the largest technology transformation since the cloud.”

“Whether that’s overstating it or not, we're certainly seeing an increasing number of innovative, potentially game changing developments in this space across both traditional and digital retail spaces. And that is reflected in tonight's finalists, who are boosting customer experiences and tackling retailers' painpoints across the likes of physical stores, online, omnichannel, supply chain, and payments.”

“To quote one of our judges: I have to admit, judging these awards was so difficult. So many that would have been worthy winners. And great to see how AI has moved firmly into delivery mode. Firmly into delivering for customers and driving huge innovation.”

Congratulations to our 2026 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended last night’s gathering.

Stay tuned for an indepth review of the awards ceremony in the next edition of RTIH magazine. In the meantime, finalists and winners as follows:

AI and Physical Stores

This award focuses on technology deployments enabling physical spaces to thrive via AI powered solutions, even as online shopping continues to grow.

We’re looking for examples of reducing friction in the customer journey, offering improved experiences, blurring the lines between channels, and boosting the way in which employees work.

Finalists

Orquest

Reckon.ai

Retail-AI

Sensei

Spacture Al

Tahina

Trigo

VenHub Global

Vusion

x-hoppers

WINNER: Sensei

Further details on our finalists here.

Online Retailer of the Year

Who has been the most innovative, customer focused online retailer this year?

Judges are asked to look at AI powered tech deployments, pilots, initiatives etc and decide which retailer has been the most consistently forward thinking and customer centric over the last 12 months.

Finalists

Depop

Goddiva

Hockerty

Prezzee

Super-Pharm

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Depop

AI and Omnichannel Retail

This award will go to an AI tech centric approach to retail that provides customers with a fully integrated shopping experience across bricks and mortar stores, online, mobile, and everything in between.

Judges will be looking for examples of AI powered strategies or technologies that create a seamless, consistent customer journey across all channels. This could include personalisation engines, smart inventory management, connected customer service tools, or AI driven insights that unify digital and physical operations.

Finalists

Cyncly

Globant

Instacart

Maestra

Riskified

Scantranx

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Globant

Best Use of AI in Customer Service

The Covid-19 outbreak and cost-of-living crisis have reshaped customer behaviour and their expectations of retailers.

This award will go to an online and/or physical retailer that has understood and reacted in a positive fashion to these customer trends and patterns, by providing exceptional AI technology powered omnichannel customer experiences.

Finalists

Brarista

Habitium

LatentView Analytics

VenHub Global

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Brarista

AI and Supply Chain

This award highlights companies that are re-inventing and re-thinking retail supply chains via innovative AI technology.

AI is being used for automating and monitoring the many individual tasks and communications necessary to move products and resources between the different links of the supply chain.

We’re looking for solutions/projects/initiatives that are improving a business’ supply chain by optimising processes, enhancing visibility, boosting collaboration, and reducing environmental impact.

Finalists

AutoStore

Bamboo Rose

Dropit

Finmile

IBM Consulting

Lumina

Nextail

ShopAi

Vaayu

Veloq

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Nextail

AI and Payments

This award recognises AI powered payment initiatives that are both innovative and customer and retailer friendly.

We’re looking to reward a project that has the potential to increase a retailer’s competitiveness and effectiveness, and to improve the shopper experience. Bonus points if the project could be considered a first in the market.

Finalists

LatentView Analytics

Paytiko

Riskified

Scantranx

VenHub Global

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: LatentView Analytics

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Riskified

Digital Transformation Project of the Year

This award celebrates those who are at the forefront of digital transformation in the retail space, achieved through the deployment of innovative AI technologies.

Our judges will be looking for a company that has tapped AI to deliver a significant transformation project for a customer, such as integrating disparate systems, updating legacy technology, empowering the client to create seamless and personalised shopping experiences, and unlocking new possibilities to grow the business.

Finalists

Ai4.Style

Goddiva

LatentView Analytics

LEAFIO AI and Baltic Petroleum

Movable Ink and Currys

Scantranx

VenHub Global

Zenline

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Goddiva

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Movable Ink and Currys

AI in Training and Learning

This award recognises the use of AI technologies to enhance training and development within the retail sector.

Judges will be looking for innovative deployments that support employee upskilling, onboarding, continuous learning, or knowledge sharing across retail organisations. This could include AI powered coaching tools, adaptive learning systems, or platforms that personalise content based on employee roles, behaviours or performance.

Finalists

Attensi and Dawn Foods

Brarista

Metagora

Uhuru Botanicals and AND Digital

WorkJam

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Attensi and Dawn Foods

AI Technology Supplier of the Year (UKI)

This category celebrates UKI companies that have developed innovative AI technologies and worked with retailers to transform the customer experience or back-end operations or both.

Finalists

Amperity

Eagle Eye

FoundIt!

Ocula Technologies

Quorso

Renude

Retail Express

Sideways 6

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Renude

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Quorso

AI Technology Supplier of the Year (Rest of World)

This category celebrates global companies that have developed innovative AI technologies and worked with retailers to transform the customer experience or back-end operations or both.

Finalists

Constructor

Fynd

Legion Technologies

Orquest

Perfect Corp.

Revieve

Sensei

Simbe

Tata Consultancy Services

Vusion

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Vusion

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Orquest

AI Startup of the Year

This award will recognise the startup with the most innovative AI technology offering and the company which is best placed to succeed in the long-term (management, funding, the retailers it is working with etc).

Finalists

AiDA Intelligent Solutions

Dema

FoundIt!

GetVocal

Lumoo Studio

Pagent

Profound

PropTexx

Reckon.ai

Veloq

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Reckon.ai

Retail AI and Data Analytics (UKI)

This category shines a spotlight on AI driven approaches to data analysis and insight generation within UKI retail.

We’re looking for solutions that help retailers turn vast amounts of data into actionable strategies, whether through customer segmentation, demand forecasting, product optimisation, or real-time decision-making. Entries should demonstrate how data analytics powered by AI is helping retailers deliver measurable business improvements.

Finalists

Amperity

B&Q and FoundIt!

Eagle Eye

Galvia AI

HyperFinity

Retail Insight

Vaayu

Yellow Sub AI

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: EE

Retail AI and Data Analytics (Rest of World)

This category shines a spotlight on AI driven approaches to data analysis and insight generation within global retail.

Finalists

Advertima Vision

Competera

Dema

LatentView Analytics

Legion Technologies

Onebeat

VTEX

Walkbase

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Walkbase

Best Use of AI for Sustainable Retail

Traditionally, the biggest problem with sustainable technology solutions has been in the relatively high cost of implementation, often meaning that scaling them was not viable.

Things change, however, with incentives, targets and climate pledges as well as the rapid iteration of innovative AI technologies driving down costs in various areas.

This award will go to a retailer or brand that has worked with AI technology suppliers to put sustainability at the core of its values. The winning entry will show how a company has boosted its green credentials whilst also demonstrating the tangible business benefits of sustainable practices.

Finalists

Global Intuition

IBM Consulting

Nextail

Retail Insight

Tahina

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: IBM Consulting

Inclusive Technology Innovation

This category will showcase what is being delivered in the inclusive shopping space, and shine a light on what is a huge, untapped retail customer/service market that suppliers and retailers are now really leaning in to and embracing more fully.

This award will go to a retailer or brand that has tapped AI technology to put inclusion at the core of its values. The winning entry will show how a company has boosted its inclusive credentials whilst also demonstrating the tangible business benefits involved.

Finalists

Brarista

Ikea

Tahina

WeCarryBags

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Ikea

Most Innovative Retailer

Who has been the most innovative, customer and employee focused retailer over the last 12 months?

Judges are asked to look at AI powered tech deployments, pilots, initiatives etc and decide which retailer has been the most consistently forward thinking and customer centric.

Finalists

Goddiva

Habitium

Ikea

Prezzee

Tahina

VenHub Global

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: VenHub Global

Technology Implementation of the Year

This award recognises AI technology project excellence, both in delivery and outcomes.

Judges will be looking for clear project objectives, effective and innovative implementation and tangible and demonstrable results.

Finalists

FoundIt! and B&Q

LatentView Analytics

Nextail

Panoptyc

Peak and Debenhams Group

Prezzee

Rokt

Versori

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Foundit! and B&Q

Best Retailer/Technology Supplier Relationship of the Year

This award recognises a successful AI powered partnership between a retailer and a technology supplier, with an emphasis on the last 12 months and how said partnership has gone from strength to strength during that period.

Finalists

B&Q and Foundit!

Currys and Quorso

Debenhams Group and Peak

Habitium, AWS and Apser

Petstop and Galvia

Southern Co-op and SymphonyAI

Further details on our finalists here.

WINNER: Currys and Quorso

RTIH Editor’s Choice Award

WINNERS:

Advertima Vision