Frasers Group has launched an AI shopping assistant on the FRASERS website, saying the tool has lifted sales conversion rates by up to 25% compared with traditional search.

Ask Frasers is available across the group’s premium fashion and lifestyle banner, relaunched under the FRASERS name after previously trading as House of Fraser. The assistant is designed to help shoppers find products through conversational queries rather than standard keyword searches.

The system uses Algolia’s Agentic Experience, drawing on external large language models alongside the retailer’s product data. It interprets details including product features, stock availability and real-time popularity signals to return answers tailored to individual queries.

Customers can use the tool to explore fashion and beauty ranges, compare prices and refine results by describing the type of item they want. The interface is designed to narrow options quickly and surface relevant products without requiring shoppers to navigate conventional category filters.

Retail push

The launch forms part of a broader technology drive at Frasers as retailers look for new ways to improve online product discovery and reduce friction in digital shopping journeys. Search has become an important battleground for online retailers, particularly in fashion, where shoppers often begin with broad or subjective requests rather than exact product names.

Conversational shopping tools have spread across the sector as retailers test whether AI can turn browsing into purchasing more effectively than standard site search. Frasers’ early conversion figure suggests the group is using sales outcomes as a key measure of whether the tool changes customer behaviour.

FRASERS sits within the group’s premium retail estate and carries fashion, beauty, accessories and home products. The brand traces its origins to a Glasgow flagship opened in 1849, and Frasers Group has expanded the store network in recent years to more than 10 FRASERS locations across the UK.

The online launch also follows the brand’s recent repositioning under the FRASERS name, part of a broader effort by the group to reshape the chain’s identity in the premium segment.

Search changes

Retailers have been investing in AI-led search and recommendation systems to make large catalogues easier to navigate. In sectors with frequent stock changes, seasonal trends and wide product assortments, traditional search bars can struggle when customers use open-ended phrases or seek advice rather than a specific item.

Frasers said Ask Frasers is context-aware, meaning it can process a shopper’s question in relation to product data and previous refinements within the same session. That is intended to produce more direct responses and cut the number of steps between search and checkout.

The group did not provide absolute sales figures tied to the launch, but said the conversion uplift came from early indicators since implementation. Conversion rates are a closely watched eCommerce metric because they track the share of visits that result in purchases, making them a useful gauge of whether a search or recommendation tool is influencing buying decisions.

Richard Lallo outlined the company’s view of the rollout in a statement: “At Frasers Group, we are committed to enhancing the customer journey, from discovery through to conversion, by creating innovative solutions that give shoppers a connected, relevant and efficient shopping experience. The launch of Ask Frasers marks an important step forward in this mission, enabling us to offer a faster, smarter and more seamless way to shop our premium fashion and lifestyle offering, reinforcing our belief that intelligent technology is shaping the future of retail.”

For Frasers, the test will be whether the tool can maintain those conversion gains as more shoppers use it across a broader mix of categories.

Genetec will showcase its security technology with Convergint and Axis Communications at The Security Event in Birmingham, with a display focused on cloud, AI and unified security platforms.

Visitors to the Genetec stand will see its unified platform, cloud-enabled architecture and a wider range of supported devices and workflows. The company will also share a partner stand with Convergint and Axis Communications, focused on integrated security systems.

The announcement places Genetec among a group of suppliers using the Birmingham event to present new products and partnership models to security installers, consultants and end users in the UK. For physical security suppliers, the event is a venue to meet channel partners and customers as buyers weigh cloud migration, system integration and the use of AI in operational settings.

Montreal-based Genetec sells software for video management, access control and automatic number plate recognition, as well as intrusion detection, intercom and digital evidence management. It says it serves more than 42,500 customers in more than 159 countries through a network of channel partners and consultants.

Partner focus

The joint stand with Convergint and Axis Communications reflects the importance of alliances in the security sector, where software, cameras, access systems and services are often sold and installed as part of broader projects. Integrators and manufacturers have increasingly emphasised interoperability as organisations seek to connect older equipment with newer cloud-based tools rather than replace systems entirely.

That approach has become more prominent as customers look for ways to modernise estates across offices, industrial sites, public spaces and critical infrastructure. In many cases, buyers want software-led systems that can pull in data from multiple devices while allowing staged upgrades over time.

The exhibition will highlight modern system architectures and how newer technologies are changing the security market. It will also address practical uses for those systems, including workflows that bring together separate parts of physical security operations.

Convergint, a major systems integrator, described the event as a chance to discuss how the market is changing. “The security industry is evolving rapidly, with increasing demand for integrated, scalable, and intelligence-led solutions. At Convergint, we’re focused on working with leading partners like Genetec and Axis to help our customers navigate this shift-bringing together physical security, data, and cloud capabilities to deliver smarter, more resilient environments. Events like The Security Event are a great opportunity to share insight, showcase innovation, and connect with the people shaping the future of our industry,” said David Palmer, UK Commercial Leader at Convergint.

UK market

The UK security market has seen sustained interest in platforms that combine video surveillance, access control and analytics, especially where operators want central oversight across multiple sites. Vendors argue that unified systems can reduce management complexity, though customers still face questions around integration costs, cyber security, data governance and procurement cycles.

AI has become a growing part of that discussion, particularly in video analysis and event management. Security providers are positioning AI tools as a way to filter large volumes of alerts, identify anomalies and improve response times, while buyers and regulators continue to scrutinise accuracy, bias and the handling of personal data.

Cloud adoption is another area of debate across the sector. Some users are moving workloads to the cloud to simplify remote management and updates, while others continue to favour hybrid models that keep parts of the infrastructure on site for resilience, compliance or cost reasons.

Genetec expects the event to help deepen ties with its partner channel and customer base. “The Security Event is an unmatched opportunity for us to engage with our channel partners, integrators, consultants, and end users. We look forward to strengthening industry relationships, holding meaningful conversations, and uncovering new opportunities,” said Nicholas Smith, Regional Sales Director UK & Ireland at Genetec.

NetAlly has launched the LinkRunner AT 1500 network link and cable tester, expanding its LinkRunner range for frontline network technicians, IT teams and managed service providers.

The device is intended for routine troubleshooting, moves, adds and changes, and fault isolation on copper network links and cables. It is designed to help technicians validate connectivity and identify faults more quickly without relying on a laptop or specialist training.

The tester checks connectivity, link speed, VLAN and Power over Ethernet in a single action. It also automatically uploads results and screenshots to Link-Live, NetAlly’s reporting and analysis platform, helping site staff share findings with colleagues and remote experts.

According to NetAlly, the unit tests several parts of a network link, including cable length, common miswires and distance to fault, and can identify the nearest switch name and port.

It also verifies link speed and duplex up to 10 Gig, validates VLANs and network services, and checks connectivity to devices on and off the network. For power testing, it measures PoE voltage, wattage and active pairs, including validation of full 90W PoE performance for equipment that requires PoE++.

Dan Klimke, Director of Product Marketing at NetAlly, outlined the company’s positioning for the device and its target users. “The 1500 brings pro-level testing to frontline techs at just £1,140 MSRP. It draws on our twenty-five-plus years of experience building innovative troubleshooting tools for network engineers and technicians,” he said.

NetAlly linked the product to growing power and network demands in connected buildings and device deployments. “The goal is simple: put fast, definitive answers in the hands of the technicians closest to the problem, so issues get solved at the source, not escalated up the chain. With Wi-Fi 7 access points, smart building systems, and modern IoT devices increasingly demanding higher power levels that only PoE++ can deliver, the LinkRunner AT 1500 validates full 90W PoE performance to ensure those devices are fully powered upon deployment,” Klimke said.

Speed claims

NetAlly also cited customer survey data to support the case for handheld testing tools in day-to-day network work. In a 2025 survey, customers reported completing installs and repairs up to 60% faster using its tools, according to the company.

The claim reflects the operational pressure on IT teams managing more complex wired and wireless environments with limited staffing. Products that let less experienced technicians capture and share structured test results have become a bigger part of network operations, particularly for distributed sites and service providers managing multiple customer estates.

Channel focus

NetAlly sells its products only through authorised channel partners. In the UK, Full Control Networks is one of those partners and, according to the company, has worked with NetAlly for more than 25 years.

Full Control Networks describes itself as an independent supplier of network products and services, offering support on product selection and training for IT teams. That long-standing relationship gives NetAlly an established route to UK customers seeking network testing and diagnostic tools.

The launch comes as network teams face growing pressure to prove not only basic connectivity but also correct power delivery and service availability before devices go live. As enterprises roll out higher-powered wireless access points, smart building systems and a wider range of connected devices, handheld testers that combine cable checks, switch discovery and PoE validation are becoming more relevant in field operations.

NetAlly said the LinkRunner AT 1500 is priced at £1,140 MSRP.