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2026 WINNERS & SHORTLISTED
Retail Innovation Awards
1. Retail Innovation Awards Retail Breakthrough of the Year
This award will recognise a visionary retailer, supplier, or technology solution (in operation for three years or less) that is poised to make a significant impact on the sector. Entries should highlight the innovation, successes, and potential of the nominee, showcasing the impact they have had on the sector in a relatively short period of time, and how they are transforming the future of retail. This category is open to entries from all areas of the retail technology sector. Enter here
2. Online Innovation of the Year
This award will recognise a retailer who has successfully implemented an innovative technology within its e-commerce operations. This could range from new website features such as hyper-personalised content, recommendation engines and artificial intelligence-based chatbot assistants to new social media tools or voice assistant integration. The winning entry will be able to demonstrate how such technology has improved the company’s e-commerce business and created a seamless customer experience, while also highlighting innovation present in the technology solution. Enter here
3. Technology Project of the Year
This award will recognise a retailer who has delivered a successful technology project into its operations. The winning entry should demonstrate delivery of a successful technology project within its operations and highlight how it has improved the overall operations of the organisation. The judges will also assess the innovation level of the technology deployed. Entries are open to retailers and to vendors who can submit a retail case study. Enter here
4. Customer Experience Innovation of the Year
This award recognises the retailers that are leading the industry in enhancing the consumer journey. The award is open to retailers or third-party providers entering on their behalf that are delivering standout solutions that engage customers, drive loyalty, and boost satisfaction across channels, whether that is through mobile apps, online experiences, interactive stores, or innovative use of new technologies. The winning entry will demonstrate a mixture of physical and digital elements to put the customer first, provide rich data integration for true omni-channel experiences and exemplify the future of retail’s ability to create and retain loyal customers. Enter here
5. In-Store Technology of the Year
This award is open to technology providers and will identify a new in-store technology that could significantly improve a retailer’s operations and create a stand-out customer experience. For point-of-sale technology, please enter that specific category; this section is seeking in-store technologies such as shelf and aisle tools, display tech, camera, footfall, and stock management monitoring systems. The winning entry will be able to demonstrate why the technology is innovative and how it can improve a retailer’s business. Enter here
6. Retail Partnership of the Year
This category will recognise a successful partnership between a specific retailer and a technology supplier. The winning entry may involve the implementation of a new technology project – such as a back-end system, stock process or customer-facing feature – or the development of a new technology, such as a mobile app or personalisation tool. The judges will be looking for evidence of a successful technology roll-out and an effective partnership between the two companies involved. Enter here
7. Most Disruptive Retail Technology
This award will recognise a retail technology that demonstrates tangible impacts on customer experience, operations, and business models driving retail’s future. This award champions technology firms with strong solutions or services that identify a gap in the market or look to improve current ways of working; companies that are on track to become gamechangers by helping to redefine retail in the coming years. We welcome entries from every area of the retail technology sector. Enter here
Digital Commerce and Omnichannel Excellence Awards
8. Data Analytics-Driven Retail Award
This award recognises a project that turns retail data into measurable business impact. Eligible entries include initiatives in customer segmentation and personalisation, demand forecasting, price and promo optimisation, assortment and space planning, fraud/returns analytics, and real‑time decisioning across channels. The winning entry will demonstrate a clear problem statement, the analytics approach and tooling, and quantified outcomes. Entries should evidence improvements such as forecast accuracy, margin uplift, promo ROI, conversion and basket growth, return rate reduction, stock availability, and decision latency. Submissions may come from retailers or jointly with technology partners; at least one live deployment is required. Enter here
9. E-commerce Solution of the Year
This award will go to a vendor-created solution that enables customers to get the most out of their online shopping or engagement experience with a retailer. The winning entry will detail technology that is powering the online channel, be it a payments service, marketing system or a solution to fully optimise an e-commerce website. This category is open to both vendors and retailers, and joint entries are encouraged. Enter here
10. E-commerce Technology Vendor of the Year
The winner of this category will be an e-commerce technology vendor that has excelled in its field by implementing innovative online solutions within retail organisations over the past year. The judges will be looking for evidence of how the deployment of the company’s technology has enhanced the overall efficiency of a retailer's online operations, including improvements in customer engagement, transaction speed, and order management. Enter here
11. Omnichannel Solution of the Year
This award will recognise an omnichannel solution that has had a positive impact on a retailer’s business and can be entered by technology providers or retailers that have implemented the solution. The winning entry will demonstrate the issue faced by a retailer and how the solution improved their entire approach to the channel, whether that be in terms of seamless customer experience, easy deployment of back-end systems across all operations, or the ability to gather and analyse business data from all areas of the business in a single, holistic way. Enter here
12. Omnichannel Technology Vendor of the Year
This award will recognise a technology vendor who has excelled across channels, implementing innovative technology with retailers, both on and offline. The judges will be looking for evidence of how the deployment of the company’s technology has led to an improvement in the overall efficiency of a retailer’s omnichannel operations. Enter here
13. Online Marketplace and Platform Commerce of the Year – NEW
This award recognises outstanding marketplace and platform‑led commerce within retail. Entries may come from marketplace operators, retailers running third‑party marketplaces, or technology providers enabling seller onboarding, trust and safety, payments and escrow, retail media, or fulfilment integrations. The winning entry will show how the marketplace or platform has driven sustainable growth for buyers and sellers, improved safety and service, and created a high‑quality retail environment. Entries should evidence performance over the past 12 months, including GMV growth, conversion improvements, seller acquisition and retention, fraud or chargeback reduction, fulfilment SLA adherence, and customer satisfaction. Enter here
14. Hospitality Technology Award
This award recognises technology elevating operations and guest experiences across hotels, restaurants, bars, leisure venues, and entertainment retail environments. Eligible entries include property management and booking systems, contactless check-in, mobile ordering and payment integration, queue management, AI-driven order prediction, gamification platforms, and kitchen automation. The winning entry will demonstrate how technology has improved guest satisfaction, streamlined operations, increased dwell time and spend, or optimised order accuracy. Entries should show outcomes such as higher average transaction values, reduced service times, improved guest review scores, lower operational costs, or enhanced personalisation. This category is open to operators, technology providers, or collaborative submissions with live case studies. Enter here
15. Mobile Innovation of the Year
This award will go to a solution by a vendor, or a technology implemented by a retailer that enables customers to get the most out of the mobile experience, using their devices to engage with a retailer and shop whenever and wherever is convenient for them. The winning entry will detail technology that is powering the mobile channel, be it an app, mobile payments service, mobile marketing system or a mobile-optimised website. Enter here
16. Point of Sale Technology of the Year
This award is open to providers of in-store and online point of sale technology that are showing genuine innovation– be that making better use of customer data, speeding up the checkout process, or improving loyalty with promotions during payment. Judges are looking for genuine innovation in this busy space, preferably with retailer case studies both in pilot and practice. Enter here
17. Headless and Composable Commerce Implementation of the Year
This award recognises retailers and partners who have delivered a production‑grade composable or headless commerce architecture that accelerates innovation and performance. Eligible entries include micro‑frontend/headless storefronts, modular checkout, API‑first services (PIM, search, CMS, promotions), and orchestration that supports rapid experimentation and scale. The winning entry will evidence outcomes such as improved site speed and Core Web Vitals, increased conversion, reduced time‑to‑market for features, lower cost‑to‑change, uptime and incident reductions, and faster A/B testing cycles. Judges will assess architectural clarity, vendor/DIY balance, operational maturity (observability, security, resilience), and the business case and payback. This category is open to retailers and technology partners; joint submissions are welcome. Vendor entries must demonstrate a live, customer‑named implementation. Enter here
18. Contact Centre and Digital Service Innovation – NEW
This award recognises stand‑out innovation in customer service across contact centres and digital service channels (voice, chat, messaging, social, in‑app). Eligible entries include unified service platforms, AI‑assisted agents and self‑service, knowledge management, real‑time sentiment and intent routing, and seamless hand‑offs between bots and humans. The winning entry will demonstrate measurable improvements such as higher first‑contact resolution, reduced average handling time without harming satisfaction, deflection with maintained or improved CSAT, lower complaint volumes, improved quality scores, and enhanced agent experience (EX) including retention and wellbeing. Entrants should show strong change management, governance, and customer‑centric design. This category is open to retailers and service/technology partners and joint submissions are encouraged. Vendor‑only entries must include a substantiated retailer case study. Enter here
Sustainability and Ethical Retail Awards
19. Sustainable Retail Champion
This award recognises retailers that have embraced sustainable practices, such as reducing or offsetting carbon in their supply chain or stores, recycling plastics or packaging, or energy sustainability/efficiency. The winning entry should demonstrate a joined-up approach towards sustainable outcomes and provide evidence of measurable sustainability outcomes such as reduced scope 1-3 emissions, better supply chain visibility, or successfully meeting long-term ESG goals. Enter here
20. Accessibility and Inclusive Design in Retail Award
This award recognises retailers and technology partners delivering accessible, inclusive experiences across digital and physical channels. Eligible entries include accessible website and app design (e.g. WCAG 2.2 conformance, assistive tech support), store environment adaptations, inclusive service and merchandising, and colleague training that improves service for disabled and neurodiverse customers. The winning entry will demonstrate a clear accessibility strategy, rigorous testing and governance, and measurable outcomes such as improved task success rates, reduced error rates, higher CSAT/NPS among disabled customers, increased adoption of assistive features, and compliance audit results. Entries should evidence sustained impact across design, content, and operations, not one‑off fixes. This category is open to retailers, technology providers, and joint submissions; vendor‑led entries must include at least one live retailer case study. Enter here
21. Community and Social Impact in Retail
This award celebrates retailers and partners who use technology to deliver positive social impact. Eligible initiatives include charity partnerships, round‑up and donation tools, accessibility features, inclusion programmes, crisis response logistics, volunteering platforms, and campaigns that mobilise customers and colleagues for good. The winning entry will demonstrate clear outcomes for communities and measurable operational benefits for the retailer. Entries should include verified impact data such as donation totals, participation uplift, cost‑to‑serve improvements, delivery success metrics, and stakeholder feedback from charity partners or beneficiaries. Enter here
22. Brick-and-Mortar Concept of the Year – NEW
This award champions retailers that have reimagined their physical stores or celebrated the opening of a new physical flagship. We welcome concepts that blend standout design with operational excellence, omnichannel services and technology that enhances the customer journey. Examples include internal transformations that bring new formats or experiential spaces, as well as service‑rich click and collect and returns, energy‑efficient operations, or staff tooling that improves service. The winner will show tangible results from a live concept — such as footfall growth, longer dwell times, higher attachment rates, improved store‑level profitability, or energy and CO2 savings — based on at least one multi‑store deployment or a flagship live for three months or more. This category also is open to temporary activations and pop‑up stores where concepts are proven live, provided they evidence results over a minimum three‑month period or a defined campaign window. Enter here
23. Logistics and Supply Chain Innovation Award
This award is open to retailers, logistics providers, and technology enablers who have developed innovative solutions to optimise logistics, transport, supply chain, or delivery services. The winning entry will demonstrate how they have navigated challenges such as supply chain disruption, economic volatility, and global uncertainty. Judges will evaluate entries based on scalability, environmental impact, technological innovation, cost efficiency, and time-saving improvements, all of which contribute to a more resilient and sustainable supply chain. Enter here
24. Retail Workforce Innovation Award – NEW
This award recognises innovation that empowers the retail workforce. Eligible solutions include task management and scheduling, AI copilots for the frontline, safety and compliance tooling, micro‑learning and coaching, and performance analytics. Entries may be submitted by retailers or jointly with technology partners. The winning entry will evidence measurable benefits for people and operations — for example reduced labour cost per unit, faster and more accurate picks, shorter onboarding times, higher retention and employee satisfaction, and lower absence rates — alongside strong adoption and change management. Enter here
25. Retail Crime Prevention and Loss Prevention Programme of the Year
This award recognises comprehensive programmes that reduce shrink, deter crime, and improve colleague and customer safety across stores, supply chain and last mile. Eligible entries include multi‑layered approaches spanning technology (e.g. CCTV analytics, RFID/computer vision, EAS), process and policy, partnerships with law enforcement, staff training and support, and data‑led offender management. The winning entry will evidence material impact such as shrink reduction, incident rate decline, faster response times, prosecution or civil recovery outcomes, improved colleague wellbeing/safety metrics, and a robust cost–benefit analysis. Judges will also assess ethical considerations, privacy compliance, and community engagement. This category is open to retailers, solution vendors, and collaborative submissions; vendor entries must evidence live deployment with a named retail partner. Enter here
Payments and Financial Technology Awards
26. Innovative Payment Solution of the Year
This award will recognise innovative payment solutions that offer customers new, flexible, and secure ways to pay, both in-store and online. Eligible entries include digital wallets, peer-to-peer payment platforms, variable recurring payments, and other emerging payment technologies. Judges are looking for fresh ideas that have been successfully implemented, with real-world examples of how the solutions have enhanced the checkout experience, streamlined processes, or improved customer satisfaction. Enter here
27. Payments System of the Year
The winner of this category will highlight how its payments system provides secure and flexible online payments that can give customers a rapid and convenient experience, whilst also demonstrate the benefits for merchants. The judges will also consider the degree of customer focus displayed by the solution, which will offer consumers either a new or improved way to pay online. Enter here
28. Payments Innovation Award
In payments, the whole must be greater than the sum of the parts, and here entries from banks, processors, card schemes, technology firms, and retailers that can lay claim to being a genuine payments innovator should enter. The judges will be looking for evidence of how a company’s technology could be considered innovative in the industry and how it has the potential change payments for the better. Enter here
29. Fraud Prevention Solution of the Year
This award will recognise a technology solution designed to help retailers prevent and combat fraud, both online and in-store. The winning entry should demonstrate innovative ways to protect customers’ data, reduce fraudulent transactions, or mitigate cybersecurity risks. Judges will look for evidence of how the solution has improved security measures for both the retailer and its customers, while also enhancing operational efficiency. Case studies showcasing tangible results will be highly valued. Enter here
Personalisation and Experiential Retail Awards
30. Phygital Retail Experience of the Year – NEW
This award recognises the best use of immersive technologies that bridge the gap between the real and digital worlds in retail, across online and in‑store experiences. Eligible entries include virtual try‑on, interactive in-store experiences, 3D product content and storytelling, spatial shopping and navigation, and immersive training for store teams. The winning entry will show how phygital experiences improve discovery, confidence and satisfaction while delivering operational efficiencies. Entries should include evidence such as uplift in conversion, reduced return rates, faster content production cycles, session engagement metrics and qualitative feedback from customers or staff. Enter here
31. Customer Loyalty Programme of the Year
This award recognises retailers that have excelled in creating and implementing customer loyalty programmes that drive engagement and foster long-term brand loyalty. The winning entry will demonstrate how the loyalty programme uses innovative strategies, such as personalisation, gamification, or seamless omnichannel integration, to offer customers value and rewards. Judges will be looking for evidence of increased customer retention, improved satisfaction, and measurable business impact. Enter here
32. Seasonal Retail Experience of the Year
This award celebrates outstanding seasonal retail executions, including seasonal store takeovers, time-limited brand residencies, touring concepts, and short‑term experiential installations that deliver meaningful customer engagement and commercial results. Entries must relate to activations that took place during 2026. The winning entry will show a distinctive concept tied to a well-defined season, whether one known previously to customers or created as part a promotional campaign, and with successful build/operations and integration with digital and store networks. The winning entry will evidence campaign performance across footfall and dwell, sales or lead capture, social reach/engagement, PR impact, and operational KPIs (setup time, sustainability and re‑use, compliance). Temporary activations must be live for a defined window; pop‑ups and micro‑formats are welcome. Joint retailer–partner submissions are encouraged. Enter here
Advanced Technology Awards
33. Best Use of AI in Retail
This award recognises the successful deployment of AI — including generative AI — in retail to maximise productivity and enhance the customer experience while reducing overheads. The winning entry will demonstrate implementation beyond proof of concept, evidencing improved efficiencies, streamlined workflows and minimal disruption across the business. Entries must show tangible outcomes delivered at scale in a live production environment, such as conversion or basket growth, cost‑to‑serve reduction, faster decisioning, or higher fulfilment accuracy. Representative examples include computer vision, dynamic pricing, AI‑powered search and personalisation, conversational service, fraud detection, workforce scheduling, and generative content. Enter here
34. Robotics and Automation Project of the Year
This award highlights step‑change projects applying automation and robotics across retail operations and the supply chain. Eligible areas include warehouse and store robotics, micro‑fulfilment systems, computer vision inventory, last‑mile delivery, and back-office robotic process automation. Entries may be submitted by retailers or jointly with technology partners. The winner will demonstrate material improvements—such as higher throughput, lower error rates, improved cost per pick or order, and a clear ROI timeline. Pilots are welcome provided a scaling roadmap and early outcomes are evidenced. Enter here
35. Delivery Solution of the Year
This award recognises the implementation of innovative technology to boost a retailer’s delivery proposition – be that in the supply chain, stock management system, logistics process or last-mile delivery. The winning entry will provide evidence of a superior experience at every customer touchpoint and consider innovation, speed, and reliability, as well as benefits to the retailer. This category is open to retailers, delivery firms, and technology providers in the field. Enter here
36. Agentic Commerce & Autonomous Shopping Award – NEW
This award recognises the best implementation of agentic AI and autonomous shopping systems that enable AI agents to navigate product catalogues or complete transactions on behalf of consumers or businesses. The winning entry will detail live deployment of agentic systems, with proof of secure transaction handling, accurate decision-making, and seamless integration with existing merchant infrastructure. Enter here
Special Recognition Award
37. High Street Champion Award – NEW
This award recognises physical retailers, independents, or local business partnerships that have successfully revitalised their high street presence and driven community footfall. Eligible initiatives include experiential store upgrades, collaborative local marketing campaigns, sustainable high street projects, and innovative omnichannel services that bridge physical and digital retail. The winning entry will demonstrate tangible commercial results and a positive impact on the local economy. Entries should evidence performance metrics such as year-on-year footfall growth, increased dwell time, community engagement levels, or store-level profitability. This category is open to individual retailers, multi-site chains with strong local integration, and town-centre partnerships. Enter here
38. Retail Rising Star – NEW
This award recognises a standout individual in the early-to-mid stages of their retail career who is already standing out for their positive contributions to their organisation. The winning entry will demonstrate how this individual has driven change within the organisation through work such as championing new technologies or ways of working, with specific merit for concrete examples of their initiative, collaboration with colleagues and future leadership potential. Please include a high resolution (min 300dpi) photograph of your nominee. Enter here
39. Outstanding CTO/CIO in Retail – NEW
This award recognises a senior technology decision maker within the retail sector who has been instrumental towards the success of their organisation. The winning entry will outline a concrete project the individual has led, such as the adoption of cutting-edge retail tools or unified commerce platform, or overhauled existing systems to measurably improve their organisation's bottom line, worker productivity, or customer experience. Please include a high resolution (min 300dpi) photograph of your nominee. Enter here
