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From AI to automation: 30 retail tech startups changing the game

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

In the dynamic realm of retail, 2024 is marked by technological innovations driving transformative changes. The industry is buzzing with retail tech startup solution companies, each bringing unique offerings to the table. Dive into this exploration of 30 companies set to redefine the retail space.

See how Solink can help your retail business.

What is a retail tech startup solution?

A startup, in its essence, is a young company formed to bring a unique product or service to the market. When it comes to retail, technology solutions help businesses improve their operations, customer experiences, and overall profitability. From enhancing in-store experiences to optimizing backend processes and reducing inventory shrinkage, these companies play a pivotal role in the retail industry’s evolution.

We provide a list of the best retail tech startup solution companies across many categories:

  1. Cloud video security
  2. Customer feedback
  3. AI
  4. E-commerce
  5. Inventory management
  6. Digital marketing
  7. Access control
  8. Scheduling
  9. Data analytics
  10. Customer experience
  11. Customer loyalty
An image of a cloud with a laptop and a tablet.

Retail cloud video security solutions

In our interconnected world, the tenets of security and data-driven insights are paramount. Advanced cloud video security systems today not only promise real-time security but also offer profound insights into customer behavior, store efficiency, and inventory movements.

As the torchbearer of this revolution, Solink presents a symbiotic amalgamation of cloud video security and transactional data analytics. In fact, it’s hard to place Solink in a single category, as it could be placed under the AI and data analytics sections as well.

This broad range of benefits, from improved security and better loss prevention to new business insights, ensures top-tier security for retail establishments while also painting a vivid portrait of customer interactions, preferences, and buying patterns. Retailers wielding Solink’s prowess can effortlessly optimize store layouts, personnel deployment, and inventory placement.

Retail POS solutions

Beyond mere transactional hubs, contemporary POS systems are intricate mosaics of sales analytics, inventory calibration, and customer relationship enhancement. They form the neural centers of retail entities, influencing decisions, strategies, and customer engagement.

Synthesizing simplicity with power, Clover’s POS system presents a streamlined interface backed by robust functionality. Their all-in-one solution adapts seamlessly, catering to the bustling café or the expansive retail chain. Detailed sales reporting, inventory tracking, and customizable features make Clover a choice many retailers gravitate towards.

Vend, a cloud-based POS system, offers a cohesive nexus between sales, inventory, and customer loyalty. With real-time reporting, multi-outlet functionality, and deep e-commerce integrations, Vend becomes more than just a transaction hub—it’s the epicenter of retail growth.

Catering specifically to the nuances of retail and hospitality, Revel Systems presents a POS solution that’s both scalable and intuitive. Their cloud-based platform ensures real-time access to data, automated inventory management, and a suite of CRM tools.

With a focus on efficiency and user experience, Lightspeed Retail’s POS system is a powerhouse of features. From detailed sales analytics to intricate inventory management and an integrated customer database, Lightspeed ensures that every aspect of retail operations is at the retailer’s fingertips.

PayGo provides a versatile POS system catering to the unique needs of retail businesses. Their platform combines sales, inventory, and customer management, creating a seamless shopping experience for customers while simplifying operations for retailers.

A household name, Square Retail brings a robust POS system designed for retail businesses. With its intuitive interface and comprehensive features, retailers can manage inventory, sales, and customer data effortlessly.

Retail customer feedback solutions

The voice of the customer is the lighthouse guiding the vast ship of retail. Capturing, decoding, and acting on this voice is the alchemy of success. Modern feedback platforms translate these ethereal voices into tangible action points.

Offering a conduit between the consumer and the retailer, Feedbackify is not just a feedback tool but a strategic asset. Each feedback is categorized, analyzed, and transformed into actionable strategies, ensuring the retail entity is in constant evolution, aligned with customer desires.

With the online world awash with reviews and feedback, ReviewTrackers acts as a centralized hub. Retailers can amass reviews from a multitude of platforms, derive actionable insights, and craft strategies based on genuine customer feedback.

Retail AI solutions

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer the future; it’s the present. Retailers are leveraging AI to transform everything from customer interactions to inventory management. Startups in this domain are providing tools that infuse intelligence into retail operations, promising enhanced efficiencies and richer customer experiences.

At the vanguard of AI-driven customer service, Chatfuel’s chatbots are more than reactive tools; they’re proactive engagement enhancers. Every customer query is met with a precise, timely, and personalized response, ensuring an elevated interaction experience.

Pushing the envelope of AI-driven customer engagement, Replika offers virtual assistants that are dynamic and intuitive. Each customer interaction is unique, driven by past behaviors, preferences, and potential future engagements.

Retail e-commerce solutions

In the digital age, the virtual storefront is as critical as the physical one. E-commerce platforms offer this virtual real estate, ensuring retailers can showcase their wares to a global audience.

As a titan in the realm, Shopify offers a turnkey solution for retailers. Whether it’s designing the virtual storefront, integrating payment gateways, or offering sales analytics, Shopify is the Swiss army knife for all e-commerce needs.

A canvas offering infinite customization, WooCommerce is the dream tool for retailers wanting to craft a unique online shopping experience. Every pixel, every functionality, and every integration can be tweaked, ensuring the platform mirrors the brand’s ethos.

Retail inventory management solutions

The heart of retail operations is inventory. Effective, efficient, and evolved inventory management systems ensure product availability, minimize wastage, and optimize storage costs.

An operational management platform designed for high-growth brands, Stitch Labs offers robust inventory management. The platform provides centralized inventory visibility, automated operations, and detailed reporting, helping retailers make more informed decisions.

Bridging the realms of sales and inventory, Ordoro is a symphony of precision and efficiency. Its automated reordering, sales tracking, and inventory optimization tools ensure that no sale is lost due to stockouts and no capital is locked in excess inventory.

Retail digital marketing solutions

Branding and outreach in the digital realm are governed by precision, relevance, and timeliness. Digital marketing solutions for retailers ensure that their brand voice is heard, and their products are showcased to the right audience at the right time.

Tailored for retail, AdRoll’s platform enhances online visibility. Through targeted ads and campaigns, retailers can attract and retain more customers. Whether it’s retargeting a potential customer, reaching new audiences, or launching a new product, AdRoll’s platform ensures maximum ROI.

Stretching beyond email marketing, Mailchimp is a comprehensive digital outreach tool. Whether it’s crafting the perfect newsletter, automating outreach sequences, or analyzing campaign performance, Mailchimp is the trusted partner for countless retailers.

Retail access control solutions

In the intricate dance of retail operations, ensuring that only authorized personnel access critical areas is paramount. Modern access control solutions are not just about locks and keys; they’re integrated systems ensuring security while offering insights into personnel movements.

Synonymous with reliability, Brivo’s access control solutions are trusted by retailers globally. Its advanced features ensure that retail spaces are sanctuaries of security, ensuring peace of mind for stakeholders. Brivo seamlessly integrates with Solink to pair video evidence to every entry.

Revolutionizing the domain of access control, Nexkey offers a platform that’s both secure and insightful. Integrated with other security systems, it ensures comprehensive protection while offering data-driven insights into personnel movements, timings, and access patterns.

At the forefront of modern access control, Kisi offers a seamless blend of security and convenience. Their cloud-based platform ensures that retailers can manage access in real-time, integrating with existing security systems and offering detailed insights into access patterns.

Global leaders in electronic access control, Salto Systems provides solutions that are both innovative and reliable. Their wire-free and keyless networked locking solutions ensure optimal security while providing retailers with the flexibility they need.

Specializing in access control solutions, Paxton Access offers systems that are both intuitive and powerful. With features like wireless door handles, energy-saving readers, and touch screen panels, Paxton ensures that retailers have both security and sophistication.

Retail scheduling solutions

Optimal staff deployment is the secret sauce for retail success. Advanced scheduling tools ensure that customer footfalls are matched with the right number of staff, ensuring impeccable service.

In the field of scheduling, Deputy stands out as a beacon of efficiency. Its algorithms ensure that staff strengths match customer footfalls, ensuring peak service levels and optimized operational costs.

In the field of scheduling, Deputy stands out as a beacon of efficiency. Its algorithms ensure that staff strengths match customer footfalls, ensuring peak service levels and optimized operational costs.

Crafting the perfect schedule is an art and a science. Shiftnote’s platform ensures that staff availability, skill sets, and operational needs are perfectly aligned, resulting in seamless retail operations.

Retail data analytics solutions

In the retail industry, each data point is a pixel. Advanced analytics tools ensure that these pixels come together to form a coherent, insightful picture, guiding strategies and decisions.

A leading platform in the world of data visualization, Tableau transforms complex retail data into interactive, easy-to-understand visual dashboards. Retailers can glean insights from sales trends, customer behavior, and inventory data at a glance.

Focused on business intelligence tools and data visualization, Domo helps retailers understand their operations, sales, and customer preferences in real-time. With an interactive dashboard, it’s a potent tool for data-driven decision-making.

Retail customer experience solutions

Today’s customer is not just buying a product; they’re buying an experience. Solutions in this category ensure that this experience is memorable, leading to loyalty and repeat business.

Crafting loyalty programs that resonate, Smile.io is the trusted partner for many retailers. Its platform ensures that customers are rewarded, engaged, and, most importantly, feel valued.

Beyond a mere purchase, Yotpo’s platform ensures that the entire customer journey is curated. From initial engagement, to product discovery, purchase, and post-purchase feedback, every touchpoint is optimized for delight.

Retail customer loyalty solutions

For modern retail enterprises, retaining customers is often more vital than acquiring new ones. Customer loyalty platforms strive to deepen the connection between brands and their customers, creating lasting bonds and compelling reasons for return visits. These solutions leverage a combination of rewards, personalized experiences, and data-driven insights, ensuring customers feel recognized, valued, and understood. By nurturing these relationships, retailers not only boost repeat business but also turn regular customers into brand ambassadors.

An automated loyalty solution, FiveStars offers tools for retailers to create custom-tailored loyalty programs, enhancing repeat visits and increasing sales.

Redefining customer engagement, Perkville operates at the nexus of loyalty and experience. Their platform allows retailers to craft unique loyalty programs, integrating elements like referral bonuses, social media engagement rewards, and activity-based points. By turning everyday interactions into rewarding experiences, Perkville ensures that customers become active participants in the brand’s journey.

Solink is the best retail tech startup solution

Among retail tech startup solution companies, one name resonates with unparalleled clarity: Solink. Merging the domains of cloud video security and intricate business analytics, Solink offers a vision that’s both panoramic and detailed. Its platform ensures that retail spaces are safe and secure while also being a hub for retail insights. In the evolutionary journey of retail, Solink is both the compass and the destination.

To see what makes Solink a great partner in your retail success, sign up for a demo today.