The Very Group adopts UiPath technology

UiPath has entered a three‑year agreement with The Very Group to overhaul the retailer’s pricing approach using artificial intelligence, a move that could reshape how large catalogues are priced in the UK market.

Partnership details and expected outcomes

The collaboration follows a competitive selection process in which UiPath was chosen to deliver an AI‑driven pricing platform. The system is designed to accelerate decision‑making and provide clearer explanations for price changes across The Very Group’s portfolio of online brands.

According to the announcement, the new solution will add capabilities such as campaign simulation, optimisation, and scenario planning. It also aims to align the retailer’s operating model by reducing manual steps, freeing staff to focus on technical and analytical tasks.

The company projects that the AI tool will help optimise gross margin and improve stock management while boosting pricing agility amid intensifying competition. Enhanced visibility into performance and margins is also highlighted as a benefit.

Executive comments on the initiative

“Our partnership with The Very Group demonstrates how artificial intelligence can fundamentally reshape retail pricing,” said Catherine Frame, Director of Retail Solutions at UiPath. “By combining automation with intelligent, explainable decision‑making, retailers can better access a strategic, data‑led approach that drives both profitability and customer value.”

Sam Wright, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at The Very Group, added that the retailer manages “a range of over 200,000 products and pricing is one of the most powerful levers in retail.” He noted that merging the retailer’s data with UiPath’s technology helps the group stay ahead of shifting consumer demand and trends, by leveraging online sales tools.

The partnership marks a significant step in The Very Group’s broader effort to scale its artificial intelligence capabilities. By embedding the technology across its pricing functions, they hope to maintain a competitive edge as online commerce continues to evolve.

From a broader perspective, this rollout resembles earlier attempts by major retailers to automate pricing, yet the emphasis on explainability distinguishes it from past efforts that often left end‑users in the dark about algorithmic choices.

Implementation will proceed over the next three years, with milestones that include pilot testing, full integration, and ongoing performance monitoring. The agreement also signals that The Very Group is positioning itself as an early adopter of advanced artificial intelligence in the retail sector.

Industry observers note that the move could influence other large‑scale merchants to consider similar AI‑centric pricing solutions, especially as the technology matures and regulatory scrutiny around algorithmic transparency grows.

They will be watching closely.