ONS data shows 65% of wholesale & retail businesses have no short-term AI plans; Galvia responds with a peer-learning AI Adoption Accelerator for UK retailers after demonstrating success with retailers in Ireland.
28 July 2025 – Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that just 17% of retail businesses currently use artificial intelligence, compared with 21% across all industries and 36% among large companies, highlighting the widening gap facing smaller firms. While a further 14% plan to adopt AI in the next three months, 65% of retailers say they have no adoption plans at all.
Commenting on the findings, John Clancy, CEO of Galvia said: “This isn’t science-fiction anymore - it’s real, and it’s delivering results. Retail moves fast, and AI brings clarity where it’s needed most. We’ve seen retailers recover revenue dips without any ad spend, boost retention by identifying and re-engaging high-value customers, and double down on marketing that actually works. AI gives you one clear view of your business, online and in-store, and adds a smart, data-driven voice to every decision you make.”
To help independents close the gap, decision-intelligence company Galvia AI has opened applications for a five-week AI Adoption Accelerator starting this September at the Renold Building in Sister – Manchester’s £1.7bn science and technology innovation district.
The Accelerator offers UK retailers a roadmap to AI adoption, with the programme designed to help retailers explore how AI can unlock value from their data and drive smarter decisions.
“Independents tell us they can’t wait 18 months for pay-back,” explains John Clancy. “Our five-week cohort model lets a retail team leave with a clear grasp of AI fundamentals, insight into their own data potential, and tangible next steps for driving impact with AI.
“We want retailers to see that AI is about business clarity – giving teams the insights, prompts, and confidence to act faster, manage smarter, and grow with precision.”
Proven impact: Petstop, Ireland
Partnering with Galvia, Petstop – Ireland’s largest Irish-owned pet-care chain with 14 stores and over 200 staff – made major enhancements to their business within 16 weeks. Galvia's AI platform helped them turn 200,000 customer records into targeted segments, powering a personalised campaign that delivered their strongest online sales outside the holiday season.
According to Declan Gallagher, Head of Strategy and Finance, “Adopting the Galvia Retail Platform was a turning point for us. We finally had one source of truth – no more debates over whose numbers were right. Fulfilment, finance, sales – everyone had data, but it was fragmented. Now, we’re aligned and making decisions based on insight, not instinct. That shift has delivered real results: we recovered a 2.5% revenue dip without spending a cent on ads, improved ROI by focusing on retention over acquisition, and are running smarter campaigns that avoid wasted budget. It’s not just better data, it’s better outcomes.”
Cohort insights are just the beginning. What happened with Petstop wasn’t just a one-off analysis. It was a glimpse of what’s possible with a connected, intelligent retail stack.
Participants on Galvia’s Accelerator will leave with a clear direction on how AI can support their retail strategy, confidence to take action using their existing data, practical insight into real-world, high-impact use cases and a peer network of retailers exploring AI together.
The next AI Accelerator starts from Thursday, 18th September. Retailers can register at www.galvia.ai/accelerator or email accelerator@galvia.ai to discuss.