" As retail navigates a world post-Budget, Retail Week looks at who is looking at automation as an aid, and how this will impact both customers and millions in the workforce.

THG has deployed a fleet of robots in its Warrington facility to make 95% of all units sold through a form of automation. THG Ingenuity chief operating officer Tom Killeen says the group have been “obsessing” over the end customer, evolving to meet their needs.

“Through real-time data and analytics, we identified that 27% of UK consumers shopped online between the hours of 10pm and midnight. We then extended the cut-off for next-day delivery orders to 1am,” he explains. In 2023, it started upgrading current customers from standard delivery to next-day delivery, resulting in a 4% increase in retention rates and accelerated repeat spend. Killeen says this is only possible with the “support of advanced logistics and automation”. "

Read more in Retail Week