To Affinity and Beyond - Decision Intelligence for Retail

In this episode, Tom is joined by Jessie, Head of Analytics at HyperFinity, to explore what agentic AI really means for retail loyalty and pricing. They discuss how retailers can move beyond static campaigns, blanket promotions and slow pricing decisions, using AI to support faster, smarter and more commercially grounded action. From pricing guardrails and semantic layers to loyalty offers, boardr...

In this episode, HyperFinity speaks with Andy Tudor, CEO of Clekt, about what retailers need to do to get ready for the agentic AI era. Tom and Andy explore why trusted, connected data is now a commercial necessity, how product feeds and semantic layers need to evolve, and why AI should be treated as assisted intelligence that helps great retail teams make better decisions faster.

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. For episode one of series five, we're joined by Thomas Hill, Chief Commercial Officer at HyperFinity. We're diving into the agentic AI opportunity for retailers; what it really means, where it can create commercial value, and how brands can move beyond the hype into practical action. From product...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. For episode eight, we're joined by Thomas Hill, Chief Commercial Officer at HyperFinity. We're diving into the Retail Loyalty Index 2026; our definitive research into the UK's favourite loyalty scheme in collaboration with Bloomreach and Eagle Eye. The report reveals which programmes drive cho...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. For episode seven, we're joined by James Mackenzie, Head of Insights at PZ Cussons. Customers don't suddenly become loyal at checkout. It happens over time through repeated experiences that feel easy, relevant and worthwhile. Emotional loyalty like this is rarely conscious - instead, it's inst...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. For episode six, we're joined by Zsuzsa Kecsmar, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Antavo. Loyalty programmes are evolving - including how we track their performance. Loyalty's in its value era, so measurement can no longer be confined to sign ups and redemptions alone. Zsuzsa explains what...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. For episode five, we're joined by Sebastian Wangerud, keynote speaker and founder of growth agency SCHMACK. The best loyalty programmes of 2025 look more like fan clubs than transaction schemes. Tom and Sebastian explore how loyalty, personalisation and AI are reshaping the relationship between retail...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. For episode four, we're joined by Ed Child, Costa Coffee's Global Head of Consumer Data and Digital Analytics. Everyone’s talking about AI, but few retailers are making it pay its way. We dive into a how retailers can use AI to drive real commercial results, and explore why most AI projects fail (...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. For episode three, we're joined by Rasmus Houlind, author of 'Hello $Firstname' and Chief Experience Officer at Agillic. Personalisation can be frustrating. It's been stretched to cover targeting, segmentation, automation and product recommendations - but more often than not, it fails to d...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. For episode two, we're joined by Toolstation's Senior Customer Insights Manager, Victoria Pickup. She explains how retail personalisation is more than just adding a first name to an email. Microsegmentation allows retailers to go deeper and truly treat customers as individuals. It's not option...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. We're back for season four. This time, we're interviewing leading retail experts on their views on customer loyalty. For episode one, we're joined by JD Sports’ Global Customer Director, Chris Chalmers. He explains how the real power of customer loyalty comes from the data it generates. For ye...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. Join us for a summary of what we've covered in season three, including how to measure loyalty; why you need to explore supplier funding, and whether loyalty pricing is here to stay. We also round off the episode with our predictions for what's coming next in the world of customer loyalty. There&#3...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. Loyalty pricing is a growing retail trend right now. Tesco and Boots are leading the way with highly personalised prices and discounts; reserved for loyalty programme members only. But with some consumers wary of member pricing, we dive into whether it's a con, or a genuine benefit that's here to...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. Loyalty schemes are hot right now. Every brand wants one –but the uncomfortable truth is most are haemorrhaging money faster than they’re building genuine loyalty. 58% of consumers don’t even use the loyalty programmes they’ve signed up for - so what’s going wrong? We dive into it in episode six. There&#3...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. When you're building an engaging loyalty programme, you don't have to do it alone. In this episode, we explain how many suppliers are keen to fund retailers' loyalty programmes - to create stronger brand engagement and improve their understanding of customers. It's a triple win - for customers, retailers and...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. You’ve got your loyalty programme. You’re dishing outrewards left, right and centre. But you’re still struggling to change customer behaviour. In this episode, we’ll explain how the answer isn’t to buy another SaaS platform. It's to get the most from your existing tech stack by powering loyalty decisions with...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. We're back with a new season - focusing on everything customer loyalty. Monolithic SaaS platforms promise you the world - but they can't deliver flexibility. This episode explores composable alternatives to rigid SaaS and uncovers the missing layer in a modern retail loyalty stack. There's more on our website...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. We're back with a new season - focusing on everything customer loyalty. Ineffective loyalty programmes are a real budget drain. Relying on a one-size-fits-all approach means retailers are missing an opportunity. This episode digs into decision intelligence and how it can drive real customer behaviour change....

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity's decision intelligence for retail podcast. We're back with a new season - focusing on everything customer loyalty. Loyalty programmes are everywhere in retail these days. But there's one huge hurdle marketing teams consistently face: convincing the finance department that loyalty is worth the investment. So how do you justify the costs ass...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity’s podcast about decision intelligence, data science and AI for retail. In the final episode of season two, we’re looking back at the topics we’ve covered over the last couple of months. Host Peter Denby walks through sound bites from each episode – from demand forecasting and decision intelligence to location planning and 2023’s retail trends. Resource...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity’s podcast about decision intelligence, data science and AI for retail. In this episode, we’re covering location planning. Host Peter Denby is joined by Asheeka Hyde, Dunelm’s Head of Trading Analytics, to discuss how retailers use data and analytics to power crucial location decisions. Resources Resource one: A retailer’s location often determines its...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity’s podcast about decision intelligence, data science and AI for retail. In this episode, we’re going back to our roots. Host Peter Denby is joined by Dr Lorien Pratt, the co-inventor of decision intelligence (DI), to discuss how it came about, why businesses need it, how organisations can get started with DI, and it’s potential for the future. Resource...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity’s podcast about decision intelligence, data science and AI for retail. The key to business growth and success is retaining customers. Join host Peter Denby and Costa Coffee’s Ed Child, as they discuss how data plays a vital role in creating loyal customers. Resource one: The importance of customer loyalty – https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycoun...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity’s podcast about decision intelligence, data science and AI for retail. Tune in as we explore how retail is changing; common archetypes; and the importance of retailers understanding and delivering on their value proposition. This time, our host Peter Denby is joined by Ian Shepherd, a former executive who led Pan-European retail, consumer and hospitali...

This is To Affinity & Beyond; HyperFinity’s podcast about decision intelligence, data science and AI for retail. This episode demystifies decision intelligence; a fast-growing tech category that’s rapidly being adopted by leading retailers. Our host Peter Denby is joined by fellow co-founders Adam Barrowcliff (Chief Data Officer) and Damon Bryan (Chief Technology Officer). Resource one: Dr Lor...