Press Release | 04 Apr 2023

Vodafone and Allwyn partner on digital upgrade for next National Lottery licence

The partnership will help support high street retailers over the course of the ten-year lottery licence period.

Vodafone and Allwyn UK have finalised an agreement to upgrade the technology underpinning the new UK National Lottery licence launching in February 2024.

The partnership will see the existing National Lottery communications infrastructure upgraded to a mobile-first approach, which is easier to deploy, more manageable and helps support retailers to grow sales. Vodafone will also be working with Allwyn to provide digital skills training for retailers across the UK, as part of Allwyn’s commitment to support high street retailers over the course of the ten-year licence period.

Research by Vodafone and Allwyn found that a third of Brits would like to see more digital technology in their local convenience store, rising to half with consumers aged 35 and under. It revealed that the most common forms of digital tech being used by local corner shops were websites (19%), social media (16%), and self-service checkouts (15%). However, only 12% of customers said their local store had a mobile app or loyalty scheme and only 9% said they were aware of online collection ordering services. These findings suggest there is an opportunity for local convenience shop retailers to include digital technology in their customers’ shopping experience. 

Young adults keen to see digital technology improvements at local corner shops – new Vodafone and Allwyn research reveals

New research from Vodafone and Allwyn reveals that young adults want more online and digital tech at their local corner shops, even more so than lower prices.

As part of the agreement, Vodafone will provide IoT connectivity and broadband which will be delivered as a private secure network for all retail sites. Vodafone will also host the lottery in its UK data centres and provide Allwyn with Wide Area Network (WAN) connectivity to all their offices.

Nick Gliddon, UK Business Director, Vodafone, said: We understand the role that digital technology can play in transforming a business and improving customer experience. Since the lottery began, local shops have used pen and paper at lottery kiosks and, despite the significant technological shifts, not much has changed. This partnership is a significant digital step forward that will help high street retailers keep up with changing consumer patterns, engaging new audiences and supporting Allwyn with reinvigorating the UK National Lottery so that it can continue to raise funds for good causes.

Vodafone network improvements check out at 10 shopping centres

Vodafone network improvements, both 5G and 4G, are being rolled out in shopping centres across the UK.

Robert Chvatal, Interim CEO, Allwyn UK, said: “Today’s news concludes the partnership agreement we signed during the competition for the Fourth National Lottery Licence. What we have now, with Vodafone, is a clearly defined scope and plan that will lead to numerous improvements on the current technology offer. In line with this improvement, there will be a number of benefits for retailers. Physical retail is a critically important part of our plan to grow the National Lottery and this is just one of the many things we are committed to doing over the course of the Fourth Licence to better support our retail partners with the investment and equipment they need to grow their own businesses.” 🥚

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Notes to editors: 

About Allwyn 

Allwyn is a leading multi-national lottery operator and has been officially awarded the Fourth Licence to operate the National Lottery for a decade starting on 1 February 2024. Allwyn builds better lotteries that return more to good causes by focusing on innovation, technology, efficiency and safety across a growing casual gaming entertainment portfolio. The lottery-first approach of focusing on affordable recreational play has earned Allwyn leading market positions with trusted brands across Europe in Austria, Czech Republic, Greece and Cyprus, and the UK. https://www.allwynentertainment.com/ 

 

About Vodafone UK

Vodafone UK is a technology communications company that connects people, businesses and devices to help our customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span mobile, fixed-line connections, home and office broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

We have a strong track record as a tech pioneer, making the UK’s first mobile phone call, sending the first text message, and making the UK’s first live holographic call using 5G in 2018. We were the first to start carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester and now have 5G in locations across Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain as well as the UK. Meanwhile, our 4G network coverage currently reaches over 99% of the UK population.

Today, Vodafone serves more than 18 million mobile and fixed-line customers in the UK. Vodafone is the largest provider of full fibre in the UK – our superfast broadband services are now available to nearly 12 million homes across the UK.

Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do: as of 1 July 2021, 100% of the grid electricity we use in the UK is certified to be from renewable sources.

For more information about Vodafone UK, please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk.

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