2024 RTIH Innovation Awards hall of fame entrants announced: 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 head towards the 20,000 followers mark, these are the articles that are currently on their radars, including Currys, Ikea, Clarks, Tesco, ,Super-Pharm, Legion Technologies, 3D Cloud, Boden, Peak, Retail Insight, M&S, SALESmanago, and Fresho.

2024 RTIH Innovation Awards winners announced, including Currys, Ikea, Clarks, Tesco, and Super-Pharm

Last week, we announced the winners from the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by Vista Technology Support, CADS, 3D Cloud, SCALA, Brightpearl by Sage’s Lightning 50, Retail Technology Show 2025, and Business France.

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

Fluent Commerce Order Management solution provides American Golf with real-time view of its inventory

American Golf has launched the Fluent Order Management solution.

It is replacing legacy systems with the distributed order management system, which will provide a real-time view of inventory.

The aim is to improve the customer experience by giving a real-time view of items available to purchase, mitigating cancelled orders and overselling. Customers will now benefit from an endless aisle experience, allowing them to place orders in-store, with fulfilment flexibilities to ensure orders are shipped in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. 

AyataCommerce, a technology services company and partner of Fluent Commerce, led the implementation. American Golf now has the capabilities of Ship from Store and Click & Collect, allocating stock in local stores to better serve customers. 

Point of Sale loss prevention specialist Harrison Retail takes wraps off new showroom in Evesham, UK

UK-based Harrison Retail has unveiled a new showroom located in Evesham, exhibiting 15 bespoke PoS loss prevention solutions. 

Last week, the company marked the opening of its showroom with an inaugural retail loss prevention event, bringing together key stakeholders from across the retail sector and talks from industry experts: Simon Singleton, Former COO of H&B and Pepco Group UK, Simon Hedaux, CO-Founder of Rethink Retail and Adrian Beck, Professor at the University of Leicester for the ECR Retail Loss Group. 

Guests were invited to tour a fully operational supermarket replica, showcasing a selection of bespoke PoS loss prevention solutions in-situ, designed to minimise the volume of products that can be removed from shelving without compromising customer shopping experience.

The showroom also features a multi-functional space equipped to accommodate up to 50 guests for the likes of presentations, events, and workshops. 

Boden partners with Peak as retailer looks for ways to build and maintain best-in-class tech ecosystem

Peak, an AI platform that optimises product inventory and pricing, has partnered with Boden to optimise the trading capability of merchandisers.

The retailer has undergone a modernisation process over the last ten years, with its team continually looking for ways to build and maintain a best-in-class tech ecosystem.

As such, Boden turned to Peak to analyse its pricing structure, specifically selecting the company due to the speed of integration and its ability to go to market immediately given an integration with Snowflake.

Over a six-week period, Peak’s AI platform scrutinised Boden’s historic pricing and customer spending habits to pinpoint where the retailer could adjust to increase sales. Implemented alongside its planned sale moments - the brand uses markdown to clear seasonal lines through which it typically clears 10% of its stock pricing recommendations resulted in margin gains and directly impacted profitability.

The intention is for Boden to adopt Peak’s AI platform more broadly as a key part of its integrated tech stack, optimising broader merchandising decisions as the landscape continues to shift for retailers.

SALESmanago buys SaaS marketing technology conversion platform Leadoo as it eyes European dominance

SALESmanago has announced the acquisition of Leadoo. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Leadoo SaaS platform specialises in identifying, activating and converting website visitors to become buyers, enhancing SALESmanago’s customer engagement solution.

Brian Plackis-Cheng, CEO at SALESmanago, comments: “This strategic move consolidates Europe's marketing automation sector with a formidable combination of Leadoo’s leading web conversion platform and SALESmanago's customer engagement platform.”

“It accelerates our mission to provide a comprehensive, yet simple, mid-market CEP, and is a significant step on our journey to becoming Europe’s number one mid-market platform.”

Fredrik Rönnlund, CEO at Leadoo, adds: "Joining forces with SALESmanago represents an exceptional opportunity for both companies to grow and better serve our shared customer base. We are confident that this merger will help both companies’ current and future customers drive more results from their marketing efforts."

UK and Australia-based food startup Fresho announces $17 million funding round and expansion in the US

Fresho, an order management platform for fresh food wholesalers, has announced the close of a $17 million Series B funding round, bringing total investment to $50 million to date. 

The oversubscribed round welcomed both new and existing shareholders, led by Geoff Tarrant, Co-Founder and former Executive Chairman of Payapps, a construction software firm acquired by Autodesk for $600 million in 2024. Tarrant, who also served as director of ASX listed Adbri, will join Fresho's board of directors. 

Founded in 2015 by James Andronis, drawing on 15 years' experience running an Australian seafood wholesaler, and Huw Birrell, a technology entrepreneur with international finance expertise, Fresho’s platform recently celebrated processing its 30 millionth order since 2016, with ten million orders in the past year alone.

Marks and Spencer keeps the faith with Retail Insight as WasteInsight solution boosts sustainability push

Retail Insight has announced the renewal of its partnership with M&S for another three years.

The pair have worked together since 2021, with Retail Insight supporting the retailer in tackling food waste through its cloud-based, WasteInsight solution.

“Our collaboration with Retail Insight over the past three years has been incredibly impactful,” says Chris Thomas, Head of Product for Store Operations at Marks & Spencer.

“The WasteInsight solution has delivered significant waste reduction benefits over the past three years, as well as improved overall operational efficiency. We look forward to continuing to work with the team to help us meet our net zero targets.”

By analysing foundational retail data, WasteInsight is able to utilise a machine learning model to provide dynamic markdown prices designed to encourage sales.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with Marks & Spencer for another three years,” says Kieran O’Brien, VP of Customer Success - EMEA at Retail Insight. “Our close working relationship has been pivotal in enabling success and we will continue to drive down waste and enhance efficiency across their stores.”

Single source of truth: Furniture retailer Raymour & Flanigan taps 3D Cloud Sectional Configurator solution

Raymour & Flanigan, a US furniture retailer, is leveraging 3D Cloud’s Sectional Configurator solution. This tool joins 3D Cloud 360 Spins, WebAR (47x ROI), and Room Planner, which has been used to create thousands of buyable room designs.

The aim is to simplify the sectional sofa buying process, offering easy, error free customisation that integrates seamlessly with hybrid online and physical showroom experiences.

The 3D Cloud Sectional Configurator is a key addition to Raymour & Flanigan’s 3D product page strategy. With over 85% of customers pre-shopping on the website before visiting showrooms, the tool showcases the variety of sectional options available.

Bealls taps Legion Technologies AI workforce management platform to boost employee experience

Legion Technologies, a specialist in workforce management (WFM), has announced a new partnership with Bealls, a family owned, privately held retailer with stores in 22 US states.

Bealls will leverage Legion’s AI native workforce management platform in demand forecasting, automated scheduling, time and attendance tracking, and frontline communications to improve the experience for associates across the company’s 650 retail locations.

Headquartered in Bradenton, Fla., Bealls operates under the names bealls, Bealls Florida, and Home Centric.

In adopting the Legion platform, it says it will offer employees increased autonomy and flexibility in their schedules. The application enables associates to easily request changes to their schedule, including the ability to trade and swap shifts, set availability, and pick up open or extra shifts.

Goddiva boosts customer experience as fashion brand brings Zyler virtual try-on technology to online shoppers

Zyler, a specialist in fashion try-on technology, has announced the launch of its AI driven Digital Dressing Room with occasionwear brand Goddiva.

This is activated by clicking on the "Try on & Find Size" button. Shoppers are then able to try on apparel virtually, by using just a few measurements and, if desired, a headshot. After this, they are presented with an on-screen visualisation of themselves in their chosen outfit and can browse through hundreds of items.

The tool also incorporates size recommendation technology from Prime AI, which analyses customer measurements to suggest the best size, factoring in garment fit and brand specific detail for a more accurate and personalised fit.

Powered by generative AI and trained with datasets on various body shapes and sizes for accurate and realistic results, Zyler is a SaaS, offered as a plug and play or API solution.