Introducing the 2023 RetailTech Breakthrough Awards

Recognizing the world’s best companies, products and services
in the retail technology industry.

Featured 2023 Winners

During the last decade technology and its impact across the retail industry has been unprecedented. From the rise of social media, smartphone proliferation, to the advancement of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics, augmented and virtual reality, IoT, and even blockchain and robotics, it’s clear the industry is still transforming.

Meanwhile, a rapid change in consumer behavior – driven by technological advances – has required retailers to embrace not only innovative solutions to attract, delight, and retain consumers, but to incorporate new technologies faster than ever before. And while some industry-wide shift has taken place, the slow pace of adoption and legacy infrastructures, have given birth to a new generation of companies aiming to super-charge the retail evolution.

With the growing number of innovative retail technology solutions and services in the marketplace, how can you stand out in a crowded market?

As advances in retail technology applications transform our economy, we aim to highlight the BREAKTHROUGH RetailTech solutions, services and companies around the world each year.

The new RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program aims to perform the most comprehensive evaluation of retail technology tools, services and companies today, with nominations coming in from the best and brightest innovators around the world.

We are passionate about what technology can do for the world and we are committed to providing a platform for recognition dedicated to standout RetailTech companies, services and products throughout the world.

Technology is rewriting operating models across every sector of the economy, but nowhere do we feel this more in our day-to-day lives than in retail. Here, we – as consumers – see the impact of our own changing behaviors and shopping preferences on the shape of the retail landscape.

Technology is a strategic imperative for retailers if they are to stay relevant and profitable. The retail experience of the future will be propelled by physical technology and advanced analytics to meet changing consumer expectations, while allowing retailers to reset the operating model and economics.

Retail in the is at the forefront of a technology revolution, driven by two forces. One is consumers’ behavior, as they embrace e-commerce, turn to smaller store formats, and interact with retailers in new ways across channels. The other is the intense pressure on legacy retailers’ margins from the cost of meeting new expectations while fending off competition from digitally native retailers and discounters.

To thrive in a future of proliferating technology, retailers will need to re-imagine the very nature and role of physical retail. Technology can enhance the customer experience and lower retailers’ costs but will also change the set of tasks required to run a store. Rather than simply automating the current operating model, retailers should rethink their entire value propositions for customers and employees alike.

With the growth in the number of RetailTech companies in the industry, how can you stand out in a crowded market? How do you break out from the industry noise?

Nominate for a RetailTech Breakthrough Award today and BREAK THROUGH!

Nominate today for a RetailTech Breakthrough Award

Disruptions in Retail through Digital Transformation

$68.8 B

The global smart retail technology market is expected to grow from $22.6 billion in 2021 to $68.8 billion by 2026

87%

87% of shoppers prefer to shop in stores with touchless or robust self-checkout experiences

80%

80% of brands worldwide are already using or going to use AI chatbots in the near future

Our Mission

The mission of the annual RetailTech Breakthrough Awards program is to honor excellence and recognize the creativity, hard work and success of companies, technologies and products within the retail technology sectors.

RetailTech Breakthrough is part of the Tech Breakthrough organization, a leading global market intelligence and recognition platform for today’s most competitive categories of technology. Founded in 2014, Tech Breakthrough creates market intelligence and industry recognition programs for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to early-stage startups in today’s most competitive technology sectors.

The company’s expertise includes Internet-of-Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), CyberSecurity, Mobile & Wireless, Educational Technology (EdTech), Financial Services and Technologies (FinTech), Digital Health & Medical Technology, and Data Technologies.

Tech Breakthrough has worked with companies, including Intel, Cisco, Sprint, American Express, HP, Comcast, Spotify, Bayer, Philips, PayPal, Samsung, General Electric, Dell and other leading technology industry titans, as well as many of the leading startup companies in the world. Tech Breakthrough Award winners receive well-deserved recognition and third-party validation from an independent organization to help rise above the most crowded technology markets.

RetailTech Breakthrough Awards are available in a comprehensive set of categories, including:

Robotics

Inventory Management

Fulfillment

In-Store Financing and Payments

Merchandising

Checkout Automation

AR/VR

Store Management

Customer Experience

Data and Analytics

Industry Recognition

RetailTech Breakthrough winners receive well-deserved industry recognition and third-party validation from an independent organization.

The program is open to all individuals, companies and organizations involved in producing publicly available products and services.

To be eligible, an entry must have been produced or updated after January 1, 2021 (2-year window).

Earning the coveted RetailTech Breakthrough Award provides compelling benefits.

  • BRAGGING RIGHTS
  • Industry-wide recognition and media attention through RetailTech Breakthrough press, influencer, social media, analyst and media outreach campaigns touting the honorees.
  • RetailTech Breakthrough Award winner badge available to include on marketing materials (press release, social media, product packaging, advertising materials, etc.)
  • RetailTech Breakthrough trophy to display in your exhibit at tradeshows, events and in your company’s trophy case.

Submit Your Award Nomination

Submission Period: December 5, 2022 – March 3, 2023

Complete and submit for your entry online by March 3.

Emailed or hard copy submission forms will not be accepted.

You may submit the same product in multiple categories if applicable.

Terms of Use

RetailTech Breakthrough Awards recognizes that many of the entries are internal or proprietary in nature, or are done for the government or another company, so unless you grant permission for your entries to be displayed in our winner’s gallery, only the judges will see your work.

Entries will not be returned unless special arrangements are made. No entrant information is sold, traded, made available to a third party or used for any other purpose.

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