Turnpike awarded The Swedish Start-Up of the Year by Microsoft

Turnpike, a leader in digital retail innovation, has been named “Swedish Start-Up of the Year” by Microsoft. The award was announced at Microsoft’s Partner Inspiration Show yesterday and highlights Turnpike’s continued commercial progress with joint domestic and international retail customers.

“Retail is in the midst of an enormous transformation. If there is one sector you want to be in as tech innovator, retail is it,” says Carl Norberg, Co-founder & CMO of Turnpike. “Being recognized as the ‘Start-up of the Year’ is a fantastic acknowledgement of the effort made by our customer-obsessed human tech stars. I’m so proud of the team effort that led us to this prize.”

The lion’s share of current retail innovation is currently focusing on serving customers’ new desires and demands. Initiatives like self-checkout, self-scanning, and connecting online purchases with in-store pickup options are creating an amazing new landscape of shopping options for consumers. However, this disruption to the traditional customer journey is also creating a more complex work environment for in-store retail employees. It’s more stressful than ever to serve customers and bring joy, while still focusing on prioritizing daily activities. In our post-pandemic age, fewer employees are expected to accomplish more while adapting to a new store environment where priorities can change many times throughout the day.

“We believe the winners in the retail race will be those that can create an inspirational journey for both customers and employees,” says Joanna Command, Head of Customer Success at Turnpike. “It will be critical to connect the dots between the customers and those who serve them with intuitive, real-time, non-intrusive technologies. Retail 2.0 is all about empowering staff with digital intelligence.”

Turnpike’s SaaS solution includes smart devices worn by retail staff members who get discreet vibrations and messages when they need to take action. The platform aims to solve some of the biggest pain points in retail:

- Real-time Shift Communication: Full schedules are now available directly on employees wrists so they never waste time looking for a manager or running to the break room to track their next shift.

- Queue Busting: when customers are asked to wait in line, stores lose millions. Turnpike’s solution discreetly notifies employees when a new till should be opened or customers need assistance in self-checkout.

- Instant Customer Service – Speed matters. For instance, sales numbers can increase by 300-400% when consumers get proper assistance in fitting rooms. Turnpike ensures customers are served in real-time.

"We are a tech company, sure. But first and foremost, we’re about empowering people. Our technology is a catalyst to make humans even more human. Microsoft truly understands this, which makes this award even more meaningful,” says Carl Norberg.

The Turnpike Team in Stockholm

Working with clients like and H&M Home and Willys, Turnpike is building proof points that illustrate how wearable technology can help staff perform more efficiently, while lowering employee stress, and increasing satisfaction, motivation and joy.

Thank you to Microsoft for this award, and a big thanks to the customers and partners that helped bring us here. We look forward to continued collaboration during the very exciting times ahead.