From Hesitation to Momentum: How Greater Manchester Retailers Can Confidently Adopt AI
Monday, 18th August 2025Author – Karina Kelly, Enterprise Development Lead at Galvia
We recently joined leaders from across the retail sector at Pro-Manchester’s Retail Lunch, where the conversation focused on evolution.
Although the headlines may point to a slowdown in bricks-and-mortar retail, the reality is more nuanced: physical stores remain indispensable, now reshaped by omnichannel strategies, value-led expansions, and a focus on experience. What truly matters is how brands are evolving – not disappearing – to meet today’s consumer expectations.
That resonates with what we see in our work across the UK and Ireland. Many retailers recognise AI’s potential to help navigate this period of change, yet hesitate to take the first step. Concerns about cost, complexity, data quality and measurable value are common.
In my role, I meet key decision makers in retail every week who are curious but cautious. They want to know where to start, how to make AI practical, and how to ensure it delivers. Over time, we’ve seen five common barriers that stall AI adoption – and clear ways to overcome them with confidence.
- “AI seems too complex and too expensive for my business.”
The myth that implementing AI into a business’s unique processes and operations is only for global giants with armies of data scientists still runs deep. For many smaller or independent businesses, it feels like a closed world – expensive, technical, and out of reach.
The reality? AI can be simple, affordable, and transformative. We’ve helped businesses boost retention, recover lost revenue, and make smarter daily decisions by tapping into the data they already have and applying the right tools. No jargon. No costly rebuild. No endless integrations. Just faster decisions, clearer insights, and growth that feels within reach.
- “We can’t wait years for results.”
In fast-moving markets, no business can afford to wait years for a return on investment. Growth targets, customer needs, and competitive landscapes shift too quickly for long, drawn-out AI projects.
Our approach is to layer onto the systems you already use without the need for a complex rebuild. Within weeks, we build with you a platform that works on your data where you get a single source of truth, predictive insights and real-time prompts. These quick wins ensure that everyone on the team knows, everyone acts, and everything flows.
Take Petstop, Ireland’s largest Irish-owned pet-care chain, which partnered with Galvia to drive more revenue from data.
The short-term result? Their best online sales outside the holiday period, a 2.5% revenue dip recovered (without spending on ads), and campaigns that prioritised retention over acquisition and delivered stronger ROI.
“It’s like we switched the lights on. Galvia helps our teams act in real time, without the guesswork,” says Declan Gallagher, Head of Strategy and Finance at Petstop.
- “Our data is all over the place.”
Data fragmentation is one of the biggest barriers to AI adoption. Marketing has one set of data. Finance has another. When information is scattered across departments, decisions are slower and less informed.
We’ve seen firsthand how providing a single source of truth can align your whole business.
- “We’re unsure what AI can do to actually help us.”
Uncertainty is paralysing. I often hear leaders say they can see the potential of AI but don’t know which problem to solve first. The risk is that, in trying to do everything, you end up doing nothing.
This is why we run structured programmes like our AI Adoption Accelerator. The five-week cohort model lets a retail team leave with a clear grasp of AI fundamentals, insight into their own data potential, and tangible next steps for driving impact with AI. We want retailers to see that AI is about business clarity – giving teams the insights, prompts, and confidence to act faster, manage smarter, and grow with precision. It’s designed to work alongside your leadership team to identify high-impact opportunities and deliver solutions that align directly with your business goals.
- “We’re not ready for big change.”
AI doesn’t have to mean big change. Often, the most powerful starting point is to unlock value from what you already have. Start with one dataset, one decision or one challenge.
Why this matters for Manchester businesses
The business community here is recognised as one of the most dynamic in the UK, across a range of sectors and industries. We thrive on collaboration and practical innovation. By reframing AI as a series of small, supported steps rather than a huge, risky leap, we can help more businesses harness its potential, driving growth not just for individual organisations, but for Greater Manchester and the North West as a whole.
AI doesn’t need to be overwhelming. By addressing common concerns, cost, complexity, data quality, and strategic direction, with grounded, supported action plans, Greater Manchester businesses can begin leveraging AI now, not later.
Applications are now open for our five-week AI Adoption Accelerator programme in Manchester, starting 18th September.
It’s a specialist initiative to help retailers and other businesses explore how they can unlock business value with their data and AI. Find out more at www.galvia.ai/accelerator