The AI-powered platform, called Digital Brain, will replace and modernise M&S’s existing systems across merchandise planning, sales stock & intake, and range planning – “bringing them together into a singular integrated platform”, the tech firm said. Phase two of the programme will see M&S’s current forecasting and replenishment systems also replaced and integrated onto the platform.  

The platform’s rollout over the next three years “will enable M&S’s Clothing & Home business to become more agile, joined-up and better able to respond to customer needs and emerging trends”, we’re told.Richard Price, Managing Director of Clothing & Home at M&S, said: “By having an end-to-end planning platform, we will be able to better use data and AI to inform decision making and future planning so we can continue to be more relevant, more often to our customers.”Chakri Gottemukkala, co-founder and CEO of o9 Solutions, added: “We have a unique opportunity to help an iconic brand jump into the future with our next-generation platform as it reshapes for growth.” In fiscal year 2022/23, M&S’s Clothing & Home division grew sales 11.5%, with like-for-like sales up 11.2%. Last week, the retailer updated the market on its Christmas trading with Clothing & Home sales increasing 4.8%.