UK omnichannel technology retailer Currys has entered a partnership with WelcoMe, a disability inclusion customer service solutions provider. 

The partnership focuses on inclusivity and seeks to enhance the shopping experience for customers with disabilities. 

The collaboration, the first for a technology retailer, coincides with the UK's Neurodiversity Celebration Week, promoting global acceptance and inclusion. 

The partners will trial a purpose-built app enabling customers with disabilities to pre-register their store visits online.  

By submitting a form detailing their specific needs and anticipated arrival time, stores receive advance notice, allowing staff to prepare and tailor services to meet individual requirements. 

The platform provides retail partners with guidance and best practices for accommodating customers with a range of disabilities.  

Currys will pilot the tool across 20 stores in the Birmingham area.

The retailer has also prepared its teams to welcome customers from mid-March 2024 using the WelcoMe tool.

The initiative complements Currys' existing Quiet Hour, which minimises in-store sensory stimuli on weekdays until 11am. 

Currys commercial initiatives, retail design and technology head Ainsley Sykes said: “We have enjoyed a lot of success with our Quiet Hour initiative, which Currys leads the way by operating every weekday, yet we wanted to do more. 

“We became aware that 60% of disabled customers could not find the information they wanted about a product online, so giving disabled customers access to our stores to see, feel and try the product and speak to our expert colleagues is even more important. The WelcoMe platform will really support us in our promise to help everyone enjoy amazing technology.” 

The WelcoMe platform is accessible to many sectors, with clients such as Northlink Ferries and the Crowne Plaza Hotel already on board. 

In March 2024 Currys announced a significant pay increase for its hourly paid employees with a £13m ($17m) investment.