2. Asif Aziz talks 2024 and EE ambition to be most personal, customer focused brand on UK high street
Asif Aziz, Retail Director, EE/BT Group, has taken to social media to discuss a hugely eventful 2024 for the mobile network operator, internet service provider, and physical retailer.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “We’ve made incredible strides towards our ambition to be the most personal, customer focused brand on the high street. From moving beyond our telco brand roots to stepping boldly into the tech space, we’ve transformed how we show up for customers. Gone are the days of transactional retail – we’re focused on creating experiences that keep customers coming back time and time again.”
Highlights this year include opening 31 Experience and Experience Local stores across the UK, with even more planned for 2025.
EE has also launched training modules for regional retail leaders, including a storytelling programme to enhance how they connect with their teams and customers. And it has upgraded its systems, including a major IT refresh to support its teams in delivering seamless service.
Elsewhere, it won multiple industry awards, including accolades from Retail Week for New Stores, Mobile Industry Awards for Retailer of the Year, Creative Retail Awards for Store Design of the Year, and RTIH’s Technology Implementation of the Year.
3. Perfect Corp. inks deal to buy virtual try-on technology and digitalisation solutions firm Wannaby from Farfetch
Beauty and fashion tech solutions firm, Perfect Corp., has entered into an agreement with luxury fashion marketplace, Farfetch, to acquire Wannaby, a digital immersive experiences specialist.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Wannaby, known for its virtual try-on technology and digitalisation solutions, has worked with over 30 luxury brands.
Alice Chang, Founder and CEO at Perfect Corp., comments: “By welcoming Wannaby’s capabilities into our portfolio, we are poised to enrich our digital solutions and reinforce our presence in the fashion tech landscape. This expansion into new fashion categories such as shoes and bags demonstrates our commitment to innovation and our ability to deliver exceptional value to clients across diverse sectors.”
This acquisition also marks the beginning of a collaborative relationship between Perfect Corp. and Farfetch. After completion, the latter will continue to tap Wannaby’s solutions. The acquisition is expected to be finalised in the coming months, subject to customary closing conditions.
4. Sudhakar Potineni departs Lily AI to take on AI and personalisation role at Fastlane by PayPal
Sudhakar Potineni has returned to PayPal, stepping into the role of Head of Product, AI & Personalisation for Fastlane by PayPal, the FinTech giant’s quick online checkout solution.
He joins from Lily AI, a US-based company specialising in AI solutions for retailers and brands, where he served as Head of Product Management.
His CV also includes stints at Gap (as Head of Digital Growth Initiatives), and PayPal (as Senior Manager, Customer Engagement Platform).
In a LinkedIn post, Potineni said: “Coming back to PayPal feels like a full circle moment, and it’s been incredible to see how much the company has grown and transformed. The progress, energy, and innovation here are truly inspiring, and I’m thrilled to contribute to this next chapter of growth.”
“In this role, I’ll draw on my experience in retail and AI focused companies, where I worked at the intersection of technology and customer experience. These roles taught me the power of personalization and scalable AI driven solutions, and I’m excited to bring those learnings to shape transformative checkout experiences at PayPal.”
5. Trigo takes the wraps off real-time AI powered retail loss prevention over CCTV
Trigo Vision has announced an addition to ts technology suite, introducing a CapEx free loss prevention solution.
Trigo has leveraged its frictionless retail technology, used by the likes of the UK’s Tesco and Germany’s REWE, to help those struggling to balance shrink reduction with a free flowing and non-intrusive customer shopping journey.
Its system tracks shopping journeys and human-product interactions in real-time, even with partial camera coverage. This eliminates blind spots by connecting the dots between different camera angles in store aisles to detect potential theft or unintentional checkout errors.
“Traditional retail security creates an impossible compromise between prevention and customer experience. Caught in a Catch-22, retailers must prioritise creating an enjoyable shopping experience while still safeguarding inventory,” says Trigo CEO Daniel Gabbay. “Our technology eliminates this tradeoff by delivering unprecedented visibility without treating customers like suspects.”