Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the top technology UK retail leaders feel will unlock and accelerate growth for their businesses in 2025, according to the latest research from the Retail Technology Show (RTS), the leading event that connects Europe’s most forward-thinking retailers and leading tech innovators.
Original research of over 2,000 senior UK retail professionals by RTS revealed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) was the top innovation that will accelerate the growth of their business in 2025 (51%), followed by Generative AI (Gen AI) for 44% and personalisation technologies (25%).
With rapidly growing demand for AI within the sector, and retailers continuing to explore use-cases and deploy AI within their businesses at pace, UK retailers have emerged as global AI leaders, according to consultancy firm BearingPoint’s latest study. It found almost a third (30%) of retail and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) firms in the UK are already implementing AI across their business, over double the global average (12%). Meanwhile, Boots and Very Group were identified among 10 of the leading UK retailers with best practice AI-capabilities – from Boots’ warehouse automation and AI-powered robotics, which was described by Chief Digital Officer and RTS Advisory Board member Paula Bobbett as “completely transformative”, to Very Group’s use of the technology for stock forecasting and customer search.
Top Five Technologies That Will Accelerate Growth in 2025:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) – 51%
Generative AI – 44%
Personalisation – 25%
Marketing Automation – 20%
In-Store Analytics – 18%
Matt Bradley, Event Director at RTS, commented: “The advent of AI maturity and mass-adoption has galvanised retailers’ imagination for what it can deliver for their businesses, and increasingly they’re seeing the technology as an accelerator for growth. UK retail has long led the way in the innovation stakes globally, so while its fast-paced deployment is unsurprising, the ‘AI acid test’ will come as retailers look longer-term at the ROI it can deliver. That not only relies on data input and security, but also on creative implementations that drive meaningful efficiency and customer benefits, as well as considering how AI datacentres can be operated and run more sustainably in the mid- to long-term.”
As well as AI, key technologies for powering ecommerce – including personalisation and marketing automation also featured in the top five innovations for unlocking retail growth next year, according to the RTS poll. Ecommerce and digital trading will once again be a key focus at RTS 2025, thanks to an extended partnership with Commerce Futures which will double online retail content at retail’s flagship event, delivering standout sessions on the Retail Futures stage across the two-days of RTS 2025.
With in-store innovation and analytics also among the top five technologies retailers will turn to in order to deliver growth next year, RTS will also host its London store tours, back by popular demand and sponsored by XY Retail, on 01 Apr 2025, the day before the show. The retailer-only tours will showcase the very best examples of bricks-and-mortar innovation, highlighting retailers who are seamlessly blending immersive tech and brand-rich retail experiences to deliver compelling in-store theatre and unrivalled shopping journeys.
Debuting in its new home, ExCeL London, RTS will welcome 15,000 retail professionals to explore its retail carnival on 02 & 03 April 2025, bringing the wonder of retail to life at the industry’s flagship event that celebrates innovation and fast-forwards retailers’ digital transformation.
Register for free to attend the 2025 Retail Technology Show: https://www.retailtechnologyshow.com
