logo
Currys launches AI-powered employee-led ideas platform

Currys launches AI-powered employee-led ideas platform

Yahoo21-07-2025
UK electricals retailer Currys has introduced the Pitch, an AI-powered ideas platform that transforms suggestions from the company's staff members into actionable improvements.
Developed on Sideways 6's Microsoft-integrated platform, the Pitch is fully embedded in Microsoft Teams, making it easily accessible and user-friendly for Currys' employees.
According to the early results, the platform has seen significant engagement, with 450 ideas submitted and more than 100 already in progress.
41% of the implemented ideas are 'delivering measurable results', including savings of more than 3,000 hours and 'unlocking six-figure cost efficiencies'.
The platform's adoption rates are tracking 3% above the market average, indicating 'strong' employee engagement.
Currys chief operating officer Lindsay Haselhurst stated: 'We're very pleased with the early results. Our colleagues are our greatest asset - close to our customers, they are full of ideas, insights and practical suggestions. We've always believed in the value of colleague ideas but struggled to consistently capture, assess, action and track them. This is where the Pitch has been a game changer for us.'
Currys plans to expand the Pitch to an additional 9,000 employees, which would increase the total number of users to 14,000 by the end of the financial year 2025/26.
The expansion will include stores, support functions, digital operations, contact centres and Currys' third-party partner, Concentrix.
The ideas implemented from the platform range from improving in-house training processes to enhancing console repairs, all contributing to increased efficiency and cost savings.
The AI technology behind the system streamlines the process by automatically grouping similar suggestions and identifying trends, allowing teams to spot patterns and collect the best ideas from the start.
Sideways 6 founder Will Read stated:'This is a great example of cost optimisation done right. Currys has built a culture where people on the ground drive real value and feel a part of the company's most important aims. The fact that they're seeing results this fast is a credit to their leadership and their people.'
In early July 2025, Currys Group recorded an adjusted profit before tax of £162m ($221.07m) in the fiscal year 2024/25 – a 37% jump from the previous year.
"Currys launches AI-powered employee-led ideas platform" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.
The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

New ETC report demonstrates that wind and solar-dominant power systems are competitive, reliable, and technically and economically feasible
New ETC report demonstrates that wind and solar-dominant power systems are competitive, reliable, and technically and economically feasible

Yahoo

time9 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

New ETC report demonstrates that wind and solar-dominant power systems are competitive, reliable, and technically and economically feasible

LONDON, July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) has today published a landmark report, Power Systems Transformation: Delivering Competitive, Resilient Electricity in High-Renewable Systems. The report sets out that global power systems dominated by wind and solar generation can reliably deliver electricity at costs comparable to or lower than today's fossil fuel-based power systems in most parts of the world. Electricity is projected to provide up to 70% of global final energy consumption in a decarbonised energy system, growing from around 20% today. Total global electricity demand could potentially triple, reaching 90,000 TWh by 2050 compared to 30,000 TWh today, and be met with new generation predominantly from wind and solar. A Global Opportunity The report shows that many countries can operate power systems with 70% or more electricity from wind and solar, using proven technologies available today, like battery storage, other energy storage, long-distance transmission, and flexible energy use. It highlights significant regional opportunities: "Sun belt" countries – including India, Mexico, and much of Africa – are best-positioned to cut power system costs by transitioning to low-cost, solar-led systems, which mainly require day-night balancing. In contrast, "wind belt" countries – such as the UK, Germany, and Canada – that rely on higher shares of wind face higher balancing costs, but can still achieve affordable, stable systems through smart policy and innovation. In many regions, long-distance transmission lines can be one of the most cost-effective solutions to balancing supply and demand, and should be maximised where feasible. Rapid electrification of buildings, transport and industries and decarbonisation of power systems must advance together to keep costs per kilowatt-hour affordable for consumers and businesses. "Multiple technologies, including nuclear and geothermal, may play a role in zero-carbon power systems. But wind and solar will be the dominant source of power in most countries, providing 70% or more of electricity at costs at or below today's fossil-based systems. In particular, in the global sun belt, the collapsing cost of solar PV and batteries makes possible far cheaper and more rapid growth in green electricity supply than seemed feasible 10 years ago. But wind belt countries can also achieve cost-effective decarbonisation by leading in offshore wind, long-duration storage, and grid innovation." said Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission. Key Findings: It is technically possible for wind- and solar-dominant systems to be stable and resilient with the right mix of balancing and grid technologies. These systems are no more likely to experience blackouts than thermal generation-dominated systems. High wind and solar systems can be competitive with today's wholesale prices and grid costs. Sun belt countries could see costs more than halve to $30-$40/MWh by 2050. Wind-dependent country costs (e.g., UK) are higher, but in the future could be comparable to current levels. The "last mile" of decarbonisation will be the most expensive, particularly in countries which need ultra-long duration balancing to meet seasonal variations in supply and demand. Once countries have reached very low levels of carbon intensity (e.g., less than 50g per kWh), electrification is more important than rapid last-mile decarbonisation. Up to 30% of all global power demand could be time-shifted through demand-side flexibility. This requires the development of dynamic pricing and the use of smart management technologies. Grid costs per kWh can be kept stable. Total global grid length will need to more than double by 2050, reaching around 150–200 million km. Annual grid investment could rise from $370 billion in 2024, peaking at $870 billion in the 2030s. However, ~35% of grid expansion costs (equivalent to $1.3 trillion in Europe1) could be avoided between now and 2050 through the usage of innovative grid technologies. Delivering low-cost, high variable renewable energy power systems will require strategic vision and planning, including market reform to put all technologies on a level playing field, grid modernisation enabled by innovative technologies, supply chain development strategies and customer engagement. "Clean electricity is essential for climate action and is the most affordable way to power economic development. Countries can build resilient economies fit for the future by investing in renewables, grids, and flexibility now. Indeed it is their obligation to do so, according to the recent ICJ advisory opinion. Low-cost, clean power is what people, industry and businesses want. Countries must deliver it now, and this report shows that they can." said Christiana Figueres, Founding Partner, Global Optimism. Policymakers, the power industry, and financial institutions should collaborate to ensure: Appropriate planning of high wind/solar systems to expedite planning approvals and minimise deployment bottlenecks. Electrification of demand that keeps pace with generation and grid build-out to avoid the cost per kWh increasing for consumers. Accelerate power market reforms to unlock investment in critical technologies. Address workforce and supply chain bottlenecks to enable delivery at scale. "Renewables are the core of the global energy transition, delivering clean, reliable, and affordable power. Wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, storage and modern grids are transforming electricity systems and opening new opportunities for growth, investment, and energy security. To keep this momentum, deployment must advance alongside grid expansion, market reform, and investment. Together, these build competitive, resilient systems that support jobs and economic progress. With governments leading and the private sector supporting, renewables will deliver a clean, secure, and just energy future." said Bruce Douglas, CEO at Global Renewables Alliance. The ETC also published a supplementary briefing, Connecting the World: Long-Distance Transmission as a Key Enabler of a Zero-Carbon Economy, focused on the role of cross-border interconnectors and long-distance transmission in accelerating the energy transition. Additional Quotes Additional quotes from Ausgrid, Iberdrola, Mission Possible Partnership, Octopus Energy, Schneider Electric, SSE, Ember, and Transition Zero are available here. About the ETC:Power Systems Transformation: Delivering Competitive, Resilient Electricity in High-Renewable Systems was developed in collaboration with ETC members from across industry, financial institutions, and civil society. The Energy Transitions Commission is a global coalition of leaders from across the energy landscape committed to achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century. This report constitutes a collective view of the ETC; however, it should not be taken as members agreeing with every finding or recommendation. Download the report: For further information on the ETC, please visit: 1 BNEF (2024), New Energy Outlook. Logo - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Energy Transitions Commission Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Cheyenne to host massive AI data center using more electricity than all Wyoming homes combined
Cheyenne to host massive AI data center using more electricity than all Wyoming homes combined

Yahoo

time9 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Cheyenne to host massive AI data center using more electricity than all Wyoming homes combined

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — An artificial intelligence data center that would use more electricity than every home in Wyoming combined before expanding to as much as five times that size will be built soon near Cheyenne, according to the city's mayor. 'It's a game changer. It's huge,' Mayor Patrick Collins said Monday. With cool weather — good for keeping computer temperatures down — and an abundance of inexpensive electricity from a top energy-producing state, Wyoming's capital has become a hub of computing power. The city has been home to Microsoft data centers since 2012. An $800 million data center announced last year by Facebook parent company Meta Platforms is nearing completion, Collins said. The latest data center, a joint effort between regional energy infrastructure company Tallgrass and AI data center developer Crusoe, would begin at 1.8 gigawatts of electricity and be scalable to 10 gigawatts, according to a joint company statement. A gigawatt can power as many as 1 million homes. But that's more homes than Wyoming has people. The least populated state, Wyoming, has about 590,000 people. And it's a major exporter of energy. A top producer of coal, oil and gas, Wyoming ranks behind only Texas, New Mexico and Pennsylvania as a top net energy-producing state, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accounting for fossil fuels, Wyoming produces about 12 times more energy than it consumes. The state exports almost three-fifths of the electricity it produces, according to the EIA. But this proposed data center is so big, it would have its own dedicated energy from gas generation and renewable sources, according to Collins and company officials. Gov. Mark Gordon praised the project's value to the state's gas industry. 'This is exciting news for Wyoming and for Wyoming natural gas producers," Gordon said in the statement. While data centers are energy-hungry, experts say companies can help reduce their effect on the climate by powering them with renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. Even so, electricity customers might see their bills increase as utilities plan for massive data projects on the grid. The data center would be built several miles (kilometers) south of Cheyenne off U.S. 85 near the Colorado state line. State and local regulators would need to sign off on the project, but Collins was optimistic construction could begin soon. "I believe their plans are to go sooner rather than later,' Collins said. OpenAI, the developer of Chat GPT, has been scouring the U.S. for sites for a massive AI data center effort called Stargate, but a Crusoe spokesperson declined to say if the Cheyenne project was one. 'We are not at a stage that we are ready to announce our tenant there,' said the spokesperson, Andrew Schmitt. 'I can't confirm or deny that is going to be one of the stargate." Recently, OpenAI announced it had switched on the first phase of a Crusoe-built data center complex in Abilene, Texas, in a partnership with software giant Oracle. 'To the best of our knowledge, it is the largest data center — we think of it as a campus — in the world,' OpenAI's chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane told The Associated Press last week. 'It generates, roughly and depending how you count, about a gigawatt of energy.' OpenAI has also been looking elsewhere in the U.S. to expand its data centers. It said last week that it has entered into an agreement with Oracle to develop another 4.5 gigawatts of data center capacity. 'We're now in a position where we have, in a really concrete way, identified over five gigawatts of energy that we're going to be able to build around,' Lehane said. OpenAI hasn't named any locations, besides its flagship site in Texas, where it plans to build data centers. As of earlier this year, Wyoming was not one of the 16 states where OpenAI said it was looking for locations to build new data centers. ___ O'Brien reported from Austin, Texas. Mead Gruver And Matt O'brien, The Associated Press

Record high rents as tenants pay £400 more per month than five years ago
Record high rents as tenants pay £400 more per month than five years ago

Yahoo

time9 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Record high rents as tenants pay £400 more per month than five years ago

Asking rents across Britain have reached new record highs, according to an index. The average rent being asked across Britain, excluding London, has reached a record £1,365 per month, according to figures from Rightmove covering the second quarter of this year. Despite reaching a new record, the average asking rent for a home outside of London is now 3.9% higher than this time last year, the lowest this annual growth figure has been since 2020. In London, the average advertised rent has also reached a new high, at £2,712 per month. Average advertised rents for new properties in London rose by 1.9% annually. Rightmove, which used data from its website, said that it is taking an average of 25 days for a rental home to be marked 'let agreed', up from 21 days last year and 18 days in 2022. Nearly a quarter (24%) of rental homes are having price reductions while they are advertised, marking the highest proportion recorded by Rightmove since 2017. It said that the slowing in the pace of rental price growth has been partly because of the balance between supply and demand improving. It is seeing the best balance between supply and demand in the rental market since 2020. The number of properties for tenants to choose from is 15% higher than a year earlier, but remains 29% below the level seen in 2019, just before the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns in the UK. Tenant demand has also fallen by 10% compared with a year earlier. The average number of inquiries a typical rental property receives is now 11 – down from 16 last year, but up from seven in 2019 – the report said. Five years on from when the pandemic began, the average monthly rent that a new tenant faces paying is more than £400 (£417) more than in 2020, Rightmove said. Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, said: 'Despite another new record in average asking rents for tenants, the big picture is that yearly rent increases continue to slow, which is good news for tenants. 'Supply and demand is slowly rebalancing towards more normal levels, though we still have a way to go before we reach pre-2020 levels of available homes for tenants.' Alex Caddy, manager at Clarkes Estate and Letting Agency, said: 'The rental market has undergone a marked shift in 2025. 'After several years of sharp rent inflation post-pandemic, tenants hit a ceiling by late 2024, leading to widespread price slowdowns. 'Competitively priced, well-presented properties continue to attract strong interest, echoing trends seen in the sales market. However, the market is now dealing with a much higher supply of rental homes, a complex reversal of previous trends. 'Some landlords have exited the sector over the past two years due to rising regulatory and financial pressures, but with the sales market slowing in some areas, a growing number of those properties have re-entered the rental market. 'Demand remains robust, particularly for quality one and two bedroom homes. Larger properties are moving more slowly, with some seeing longer void periods as tenants benefit from increased choice.' Andrew Ralph, managing director, lettings at LRG (Leaders Romans Group) said: 'We're seeing a shift in the rental market this quarter. Stock levels are up, and demand remains strong but more measured, bringing us closer to a sustainable balance. 'Average rents are still rising year-on-year, but at a slower pace. Pricing correctly from the outset is key, and being quick to adjust price in line with market response helps avoid unnecessary void periods.' Megan Eighteen, president of property professionals' body Arla Propertymark, said: 'Many landlords within the private rental market are grappling with substantial hikes in their overall costs, including increased taxes, unfavourable mortgage rates, and ongoing regulatory challenges. 'These factors are making property investment less appealing and potentially riskier.' Richard Lane, chief client officer at StepChange Debt Charity, said: 'The last five years have hit household finances hard, but few have felt it more sharply than those in the private rented sector. 'The majority of our clients struggling with debt are renters, with a third in the PRS (private rented sector). Our data shows that among StepChange clients, housing costs take up 37% of private renters' incomes on average – compared to 29% among social renters and 27% among mortgage holders. 'When so much of your income goes on rent, it's no wonder private renters are more exposed to debt and financial hardship.' Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, said: 'When so much of our income is swallowed up by landlords, it can mean that we can't afford to heat our homes for the winter or feed ourselves properly. Some renters are staring down the barrel of debt and homelessness.' Sign in to access your portfolio

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store