All eyes might be on Hollywood for the Oscars this weekend, but those in the retail technology business know the really big prizes are dished out in June at the annual BT Retail Week Technology Awards.
All eyes might be on Hollywood for the Oscars this weekend, but those in the retail technology business know the really big prizes are dished out in June at the annual BT Retail Week Technology Awards. We’re really proud to be headline sponsors of the awards once again – it’s our fourth year and it gets bigger and better every time.
Why are the awards important?
The awards are run by Retail Week magazine and judged by a panel of leading retail experts. They promote and honour the achievements of the very best retail technology in the UK. The event also acknowledges those who have invested to stay ahead in an industry which has gone through some very tough times recently, as highlighted by a raft of high profile closures since the turn of the year.
Retailers are passionate about enabling technology to support future growth and there’s a pattern emerging. Those that thrive have really grasped the nettle of technological change – and embedded it in the way they do business. Retailers that have struggled tend to be those with outdated business models (often those made irrelevant by the stunning rise of the web) who are unable or unwilling to adopt new technology fast enough or, more importantly, don’t adopt the right technology for their business.
The solutions are out there. The biggest challenge is choosing where to invest.
The choice will often come down to whether to focus on customer-facing technology that drives an improved in-store or omni-channel experience, or to go the way of investing in a smarter business where efficiency of the operation and the supply chain takes precedence to bolster the bottom line. Success depends on finding areas to invest in that match your business needs. It’s not easy, and that’s why it’s important to highlight and celebrate those companies that are getting it right.
What’s new this year?
Retail is very fast-paced and technology even more so. Just a few years ago, e-commerce was still considered by some retailers to be a sideline. Now it’s central. And just as technology and consumer trends move on, the awards themselves have changed to reflect the new retail IT focus. For example, in terms of the way customers interact with retailers, we have a couple of new categories this year:
• Customer experience technology of the year
This has become a key battleground and technology has a central role to play in creating this new “retail theatre”.
• Insight solution of the year
Data and insight has always mattered to retailers. But in the digital age, it’s the speed of application that’s crucial – we need to be able to use what we learn about our customers and put it into action there and then.
The awards are free to enter but you need to be in it to win it. The deadline is 15 March. So have a look at the awards categories and get your entry in now: www.retailweektechnologyawards.com
I’ll be there on the night and I’ll hopefully get the chance to toast the winners and celebrate the best in the business with you.
No comments yet