AI hits and data challenges: our most read retail technology articles from last week
Check out our most clicked retail technology articles from last week, including Currys, Stripe, Pennies, Asos, Sierra, Tesco, Mistral AI, VoCoVo, Specsavers, Ocado Group, Asda, Gopuff, and Vesta.
Currys to install thousands of Stripe payment terminals across retailer's UK and Ireland stores
Currys has announced a new partnership with Stripe. The retailer will install thousands of the FinTech giant’s payment terminals across its nearly 300 UK and Ireland stores.
The tie up and investment builds on Currys’ store transformation programme, which has seen colleague headsets and electronic shelf edge labelling roll-out across its estate.
Currys has also brokered a three way partnership with Stripe and Pennies, a UK micro-donation charity, bringing charitable giving prompts to Stripe terminals for the first time globally.
"This is about building the store of the future, today. Stripe's platform makes checkout faster, but more importantly, it gives us the flexibility to adopt innovations as they emerge,” says Andy Gamble, Chief Information & Transformation Officer, Currys
“We're already using AI to help customers find the right tech - now with Stripe's infrastructure, and partnerships with the likes of OpenAI, we can layer in new payment capabilities that work seamlessly with AI-assisted shopping and whatever else comes next. And the fact we can also make it easier for customers to support causes they care about? That's innovation that actually matters."
Steven Bottomley exits Ocado Group after eight year run at groceries and tech firm
Steven Bottomley has left Ocado Group, where he served as VP of IT at Ocado Technology.
He joined the online grocery retailer and technology provider in 2017, departing easyJet where he held the role of Enterprise Technology Manager.
In a LinkedIn post, Bottomley (who did not reveal his next move) said: "My eight years at Ocado Group have come to an end. It has been an amazing journey creating a global technology business with some amazing experiences with some fantastic people."
"Thank you to Anne Marie Neatham (Chief Solutions Officer), Chris Dabrowski (Chief Transformation Officer), James X. Matthews (Deputy CEO), and James Donkin (Chief Information Security Officer) for the opportunities given to me and support over that time.”
He added: “Even bigger thanks to Victoria Beney (IT Director-Enterprise Applications), Justin Richards (Head of IT Service Management), Ollie Hunter (Solutions Architect), Thomas Brennan (Procurement Director), Duncan McTavish (Head of Commercial Support - Technology Services) and Bala Tirumalasetti (Head of Proces and Improvement) for their support and for being the most amazing team."
Tesco Mistral tie up proves that retail AI success lies in focusing on everyday workflows
He was speaking in reaction to Tesco inking a three-year agreement with French startup Mistral AI, as part of a broader strategy to bolster the use of AI in the UK grocery giant's operations.
The partnership will give Tesco full access to the AI company’s commercial models, including any future developments, as well as its AI engineers. It includes a commitment for the two companies to work together through a new joint “AI lab” where Mistral AI and Tesco’s technology experts will co-create new generative AI solutions for different parts of the Tesco business.
The tie up will look at a range of areas, including content development and document drafting; speeding up data analysis to provide richer insights for colleagues; and developing new ways for colleagues to easily access information which they can use to help customers.
While competitors chase flashy AI demos, Tesco is focusing on embedding it into everyday workflows. That's the difference between a pilot project and actual transformation, observes Johnson.
"In my enterprise AI consulting work, I've watched countless retailers burn millions on AI initiatives that never make it past the proof of concept stage. The breakthrough always comes when leadership stops asking, What can AI do? and starts asking, How does AI fit into what we already do well?" he says.
"Tesco gets it - three years isn't just a contract timeline, it's a commitment to systematic integration. Most retailers want AI magic in 90 days. The smart ones plan for 90 weeks. The real question: Are you building AI solutions that require your team to change everything, or are you building AI that amplifies what they're already great at?"
Ocado Group ramps up retail technology sales plans as exclusivity deals come to an end
Ocado Group is gearing up for a renewed push to sell its technology worldwide as exclusivity deals with the majority of its global retail customers are switched off.
It is set to end mutual exclusivity contracts this year in most of the markets where its automation grocery tech is live, including in the US with Kroger.
Tim Steiner, Chief Executive at Ocado Group, says: “As we continue to support all of our partners to improve and grow their online businesses, we will also now bring the full range of Ocado’s AI powered and robotic solutions back to multiple markets.”
He adds: “In the five years since our first international customer fulfilment centres went live, we have substantially evolved our market leading solutions and broadened our offering to meet retailers wherever they are on their online journey. As we enter 2026, Ocado is well positioned to help more retailers capture market share in the world’s fastest growing grocery channel.”
Under pressure Asda must dig deep into data to find long-term identity for its business
UK grocery retailer Asda is facing a number of major challenges, including falling market share, declining sales, and substantial financial losses, primarily due to intense competition, debt from its 2021 buyout, and ongoing costs from separating from Walmart's IT systems.
It recently shared a Q3 2025 trading update, reporting total revenues (excluding fuel) of £5.1 billion and a 2.8% decline in like-for-like sales.
Asda is a fundamentally decent business but it has zero defensable differential, and that's a death wish. So says Richard Hammond, CEO and Founder at Uncrowd.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “Can't beat Aldi on price. Can't match Tesco or Sainsburys on data, has none of the touches of Morrisons to even build a proposition on. Cannot afford to waste cash on digital. And back to Aldi, Tesco and Sainsburys; it has zero in-range step ups that can add a couple of vital pounds to most baskets.”
Asda must immediately find the customer scenarios that it can win today, and operationally double down on winning those, Hammond argues. Then it must closely analyse its relative competitive position store by store across the entire estate. That means getting the data on every competitor in market.
“It can be done, we do it every day. Use that pinpoint relative data to find the portion of the estate that has a local opportunity to win share, and take that while it exists,” Hammond commented. “Exploit others' local weaknesses, where they exist. And they do exist. We know this. All the while looking deep into the data to find the longer term identity for the business.”
He concluded: “Or, as is hinted for the forthcoming: it can slash and burn margin to the point where the room to do anything is gone and the capital owners lose patience. Asda is worth saving, it can be saved, but to do so requires vision beyond it's own green walls. I wish the current leadership all the goodwill in the world.”
Asda did not respond to our request for comment.
Asos reimagines customer experience with AI as online fashion retailer inks Sierra deal
Sierra, which builds AI agents for customer service operations, has announced a partnership with Asos.
"The global fashion powerhouse is reimagining customer experience with AI, and we couldn't be more excited to support their journey," Sierra said in an online post.
The startup, which was founded by former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor, recently closed a $350 million funding round at a $10 billion valuation.
It says that its agents are already being used by “hundreds of millions of people” to help with tasks like refinancing homes, ordering lunch, delivering furniture, understanding insurance deductibles and fixing technology. Greenoaks led Sierra’s latest funding round.
Specsavers preps investment in physical stores as customers call for blended retail experience
As we look ahead to 2026, one trend is absolutely clear: customers expect a truly blended retail experience. So says Carina Hummel, UK Managing Director for Optics at Specsavers.
"We’ve long believed that people should be able to engage with us in whatever way suits them best, whether that’s starting their journey online, seeking the expertise and friendly face that comes with an in-store environment, or moving seamlessly between the two - and that principle will only grow in importance," she comments.
“But a blended experience doesn’t diminish the significance of physical retail. If anything, it reinforces it. Customers may start their journey online, but they still value the reassurance, expertise and human connection that only the high street can provide. Retailers with deep community roots - and who stay closely attuned to the people they serve - will ultimately come out on top."
She concludes: "In 2026, we expect to see sustained investment in in-store environments, even against a challenging economic backdrop. Retailers should double down on creating spaces that feel engaging, welcoming and genuinely enjoyable for both customers and colleagues.”
“When stores offer real value - not just in product, but in experience - customers will return more often and spend more over time, fuelling a healthy, positive cycle of loyalty and growth.”
Gopuff enlists Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa for rapid delivery of New Year's Eve party essentials
Gopuff teamed up with hip hop big hitters Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa to ensure New Year’s Eve parties across the US were fully stocked.
On 31st December, Ross became Gopuff’s “Chief Delivery Boss” and called Khalifa for backup, bringing rapid delivery of Luc Belaire bubbly and McQueen and the Violet Fog Gin (for customers 21+), plus appetisers and party favourites, snacks, paper goods etc.
“Real bosses know time is the ultimate luxury. We don't wait in lines; we let the celebration come to us. With Gopuff delivering the Luc Belaire bottles straight to the doorstep, ringing in the New Year like a legend isn't just smart - it’s too easy,” says Ross, aka Ricky Rozay.
"When Ross called me up to help deliver the party with Gopuff this New Year’s Eve, I jumped right in with McQueen Ultraviolet Gin,” adds Khalifa. “New year, new me. Same great gin decisions.”
Peter Diers departs Claire's for VP, Data and Operations role at furniture firm Vesta
Vesta has appointed Peter Diers as VP, Data and Operations. He joins from Claire’s where he served as VP, Global Inventory Management.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “I am thrilled to share that I have joined Vesta Home as VP, Data & Operations. It is a fantastic brand with a great leadership team. I am eager to contribute to our ongoing success.”
VoCoVo's Martin Smethurst talks 2026 trends and challenges including retail crime and AI
Martin Smethurst, Chief Customer Officer at VoCoVo, has been busy chatting to customers including Tesco, Coop, Boots, B&Q, and Sainsburys, and has put together some insights into what trends and challenges will be front of mind for retail leaders and colleagues heading into 2026.
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