Automation
This coverage examines the role of automation in the UK retail sector, focusing on technology adoption, workforce impact, operational efficiency, and supply chain innovation. Reporting highlights how retailers implement automation to improve productivity, reduce costs, and respond to consumer expectations — offering insight for executives, managers, and professionals driving transformation in retail operations.
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Dec- 2018 -18 DecemberComment
Why automation is a crucial opportunity for retailers
It doesn’t take an expert to tell you how prevalent automation is right now in British industries. We’ve all ‘self-scanned’ in the supermarket, engaged with online help desks and know that the industrial production line is now more a robotic parade than a human process. But, while there’s no denying…
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10 DecemberHigh Street
Footfall struggles to keep up in November
Footfall in November fell by 3.2%, a significant decline on the previous year when it grew by 0.2%, according to new figures from Springboard. According to the research, it is the twelfth month of consecutive decline, and the group added that the numbers illustrate the ‘Black Friday’ effect of driving…
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4 DecemberClothing & Shoes
ASOS appoints Mark Holland as chief operating officer
ASOS has announced the appointment of Mark Holland to the newly-created role of chief operating officer. A member of ASOS’ executive board, Holland has worked for ASOS for six years. His most recent position was supply chain director, where he oversaw ASOS’ global trading, customer care and supply chain functions.…
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Nov- 2018 -19 NovemberComment
Digital taxation, and what it means for small retailers
The chancellor’s Budget announcements will have certainly set a few pulses racing in the independent retail sector, for several reasons. Among the measures likely to have piqued the interests of British retailers were a property rates reduction for small businesses, a £675m ‘future high street’ investment plan, and a proposal…
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1 NovemberAdvice
Why retailers need to be aware of the potential for bias in AI
Artificial intelligence is distinguished from simpler forms of automation by its ability to learn from its experiences with people. However, at its core, AI is simply an algorithm programmed by humans. While an algorithm can’t be inherently prejudiced, the people who created it may be. They might not mean to…
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Oct- 2018 -25 OctoberAdvice
Making Data Work: The real-time benefits of real-time data
Data has always had an important role in retail. From shaping decision-making on stock control and pricing, to influencing marketing, and informing sales strategies, it’s all about the insights that this information can provide. Two key areas where data plays an even greater role today are customer experience and loyalty.…
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19 OctoberAdvice
What does ‘real-time’ mean in retail?
We are living in an ‘instant gratification’ era and the way we shop is evolving. Big box retailers like Amazon and Next are proving day in day out that consumers can have items they’ve bought online speedily. Same day and next day delivery are now very much the norm. In…
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17 OctoberAdvice
How ‘technology transformation’ is shaping the retail renaissance
For European retailers, 2018 has been tough. However, retailers are resilient, and hopes are high that a more positive outlook is on the horizon. Falling European unemployment, twinned with increased net incomes for most countries are good news for consumers, which in turn should mean more disposable income and increased…
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Sep- 2018 -26 SeptemberComment
Retail success requires boosting operational efficiency
The world of retail is changing, driven by a significant shift in consumer demands. Just look at the likes of Amazon Go, a revolutionary retail space that delivers the kind of effective, frictionless experience that shoppers are now craving. From an insider perspective, these developments have led to increased…
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25 SeptemberAnalysis
The future’s bright, the future’s automation?
Last month high street stalwart Marks & Spencer (M&S) announced plans to overhaul its customer services department with an AI offering. Its new automated system will enable 640 of the company’s stores and 13 of its UK-based contact centres to automatically route voice calls, determine customer intent, transcribe voice calls…
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