French Retail Tech on display at RBTE 2018

LONDON - April 17, 2018 - PRLog -- The French retail industry is the 3^rd largest in Europe in terms of revenue (£385.65bn in 2016), after Germany (£470.7bn) and the UK (£403bn) according to the French national statistics bureau.

Gathering over 520,000 brick and mortar stores (https://www.entreprises.gouv.fr/files/files/directions_services/etudes-et-statistiques/Chiffres_cles/Commerce/2017-Chiffres-cles-commerce.pdf), its growth is now largely driven by e-commerce – or more specifically, m-commerce. In 2017, 27 million French consumers spent more than £70bn on online purchases (14.3% annual growth). The number of online merchants keeps increasing, now standing at around 170,000.

Retail Tech is one of the most dynamic sectors for the start-up 'ecosystem' in France: in 2017, 44 companies raised £195.8m, second only to the FinTech sector.

Globally, the retail industry faces major challenges with the balance between physical and online retail still in transition. Customers demand more from retailers, whether it be in terms of shopping experience or services. The French Tech Pavilion exhibitors on stands F200 and F208 are keen to meet British retailers and seek out foreign partners to help them overcome these challenges:

• Omnichannel & Ecommerce Platforms

KALIOP (https://www.kaliop.com/)is a leading digital agency that supports retailers' digital ventures to create a unique and global purchasing experience.

ONESTOCK (https://www.onestock-retail.com/en/)has developed an omnichannel enablement software suite for retailers which optimises order processes, both in-store and online. Jigsaw, in partnership with OneStock, won the Best Multichannel Retailer award (https://digitalfestival.drapersonline.com/2017-winners) at Drapers Digital Festival 2017.

PROXIMIS (https://www.proximis.com/en/) is an e-commerce platform: a smart order management engine and an in-store sales application. Proximis was chosen by Gartner as a platform of reference for digital commerce.

STORETAIL (http://www.storetail.com/) is a digital advertising platform aimed at empowering e-commerce retailers and their vendors with technology to generate incremental revenue and boost sales. Having raised $9 million, Storetail invests heavily in R&D: of their 60+ employees, 50% are fully dedicated to R&D.

• Instore Customer Experience Services

AKOUSTIC ARTS (https://akoustic-arts.wixsite.com/akoustic-arts/copie-de-accueil)'s directional speaker "A" uses pioneering ultra-directional sound technology.  It's like listening to music, without headphones.

OCCI (https://www.occi.io/)specialises in in-store customer behaviour analysis to improve shopper experience and in turn, increase sales.

• Online Customer Experience Tools

ALCMEON (https://www.alcmeon.com/3/eng/press.html)is a SaaS customer interaction management tool that enables retailers and brands to transform their social media accounts into 24/7 premium customer service channels.

REACHFIVE (https://reachfive.co/en/) is a customer identity and access management (CIAM) platform aimed at improving customer experience through advanced authentication management.

SPREAD & COLE (http://spreadncole.com/)'s platform enables retailers and brands to report defective products, order their removal from stores and manage these withdrawn stocks.

SOYOOZ (http://www.soyooz.com/)is a unique recommendation tool, based on intended use. Developed using AI, it is capable of providing recommendations for all types of products and services, on the web and in-store, on many devices using different interfaces (web, apps, chatbot, etc.).

UNTIENOTS (http://www.untienots.com/en/) used AI and machine learning algorithms to develop the 'Loyalty Challenge', a promotion personalisation platform. No more mass promotions, shoppers receive targeted coupons and take part in gamified challenges to earn rewards on their favourite products.

• And more

BOTFUEL (https://www.botfuel.io/en) is an enterprise-grade chatbot builder platform for developers to run and manage highly conversational chatbots.

USERS LOVE iT (http://usersloveit.com/wp/) has created negOptim, a cloud-based app suite for retailers that covers business and marketing strategy, including negotiation processes, promotional event management and budgets.

For further information, to connect or organise a meeting with the startups, please contact:

Catherine Ryall, Press Officer

catherine.ryall@businessfrance.fr / + 44(0) 207 024 3613

www.youbuyfrance.com/uk/

About Business France

The French Tech Pavilion at RBTE is organised by Business France, the national agency responsible for supporting the international development of the French economy.

It is responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses as well as promoting and facilitating international investment in France. It promotes the economic image and attractiveness of France, its companies and regions. It runs and develops the V.I.E. international internship program.

Please visit the Business France website (https://en.businessfrance.fr/en/home) for more information.