Accelerating their net zero ambitions has been top of retailer's agendas for a number of years, with the sector considering itself one of the most ambitious when it comes to tackling climate change, but the real picture is alarming. According to research from Microsoft, only 28 per cent of UK retail organizations are currently on course to be net zero by 2050 – in stark contrast to the national average of 41 per cent. Furthermore, as 74 per cent of organizations within all sectors describe a'one foot in, one foot out' approach on sustainability, whereby strong ambitions have yet to be translated into meaningful action, retailers can't afford to be left behind. Harnessing available technology, such as data analytics and AI, to accurately record their progress is one of the fundamental steps to securing their continued success, in an ever more competitive marketplace. Contributing to the protection of the future of the planet is obviously the core reason for improving the sustainability performance of any business, but aside from that, retailers should view boosting their sustainability credentials as a way of remaining competitive and relevant in a fast-changing world.

That retail has experienced extreme disruption in recent years is beyond questioning. Even before Covid turned the world on its head, headlines about the so-called "retail apocalypse" were near-ubiquitous in the media. Since then, we've seen lockdowns, fluctuating openings and closings, some firms going out of business altogether, celebrations of essential retail workers and a surge in online shopping that brought record profits while yielding more ambiguous results for others. And now, with ongoing supply chain disruption, inflation and a tight labor market, it's clear that the retail sector still faces substantial challenges. But these challenges also represent opportunity, and harnessing the power of digital transformation will remain central to every business leader serious about thriving in the post-Covid world.