Marks & Spencer has expanded its partnership with First Insight, which offers technology aimed at helping retailers and brands make better-informed product development and pricing decisions. Marks & Spencer uses the firm's predictive analytics platform for making design, buying and pricing decisions and noted that the extended partnership involves increasing the volume of products tested.

The retailer has used the technology, which garners insights into consumer behavior, in the merchandising of fashion apparel and innerwear as well as footwear, accessories, beauty products, home goods and food. "The software has enabled M&S to test tens of thousands of products across more than 50 departments in order to buy more of what customers like," First Insight said. "The platform has helped shape collections and resulted in customers getting the best products at the right prices."