Our Value Creator Zone
As part of our ongoing partnership with the World Retail Congress this year, we handpicked a select group of technology companies as part of a dedicated showcase for the solutions delivering real, measurable impact for retailers today and helping secure the future tomorrow.
We want to say a huge thank you to those who visited the zone and to the technologies who were selected this year.
Over the past few days, we conducted guided tours on:
Right Price, Right Product;
Smarter Stores, Safer Stores;
The Digital Shelf;
AI in Procurement & Supply Chain
Where we introduced the following technologies to global industry leaders to help solve their retail pain points:
7Learnings, Profitmind, Nexite, Moonshot AI, SeeChange, Sapia, Crescendo, CoinsPaid, Semantico, Impact X, You.com, Deducta, Get Gain.
Start-ups, Scale Impact: Unlocking Real AI Value
We then took to the main stage where we presented a panel moderated by Managing Director Liam Buswell.
The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.
This was a powerful reminder from Mark McClennon that, as retail navigates constant change, the differentiator isn’t just technology, it’s mindset. The companies creating real value are those willing to move beyond what they know, challenge old thinking, and embrace new ways of operating. Human leadership and empathy will become key differentiators for winning as business becomes more AI-centric.
Those who joined us on the panel each gave their tangible recommendation on how to unlock real AI value:
Laura Cook, Director of Procurement at Primark
Laura emphasised the importance of not starting with the technology itself. Retailers should first focus on understanding the use cases and underlying business challenges first, then identify the right technology partners. In her words, it’s about starting with the problem, and then working back to find the technology that solves it.
Jeffrey Fasegha, Co-Founder & CEO of Deducta
Jeffrey spoke about the level of fear and anxiety around AI adoption, but his message was reassuring: you’re not actually behind, you’re early. The key here is finding your own starting point and not be under pressure to have it all figured out.
Mark McClennon MBE, Former CIO of Burberry
Mark highlighted that the deciding factor is rarely the technology, model or protocol, but rather people and leadership. He stressed that leaders need to bring a different mindset in how they approach and solve problems, particularly as AI becomes more embedded in how organisations operate.
The opportunity here is clear but unlocking it will require a shift in how we think, learn, and lead.
30 Real-World AI Case Studies in Retail
This year we curated a landmark report celebrating the companies delivering real, measurable value for retailers.
Retail is being reshaped at pace by technology and AI, yet many retailers are still struggling to translate technology investment into measurable value. While capabilities continue to evolve, clarity on what actually works, and delivers impact at scale, remains limited.
This report explores how leading retailers and technology providers are closing that gap. It examines where real value is being created today, and why certain approaches are breaking through.
This report:
Explores where measurable value is being delivered today, and how leading companies are achieving it
Examines where technology is driving impact across the retail value chain, from operations to customer experience
Identifies what differentiates the most effective, scalable solutions in real retail environments
Connects these approaches to outcomes including cost efficiency, revenue growth, and operational performance
Download your copy of the report by filling in the form here.
We’ll see you next year's WRC in Milan!
