Last night’s BT Retail Week Technology Awards gave IT teams from across the industry a chance to shine (and show off their Scalextric skills).

The diverse mix of winners at the BT Retail Week Technology Awards demonstrates that it doesn’t always require big budgets or huge IT departments to deploy technology in a meaningful way.

IT directors from the biggest supermarkets through to small etailers were among the almost 600 in the room. And there was much agreement that despite the budget-trimming many have experienced in the past few years that no one is short of work. If anything, the tough trading conditions make investment in technology that can help to grab market share from competitors all the more crucial.

Highlights included Argos and Shutl being honoured for the launch of the retailer’s 90-minute delivery service, the team from Debenhams clear delight at scooping a gong for their mobile phone app, and the surprise of the co-founders of tailor A Suit That Fits for beating several big-name retailers to a prize.

Probably the biggest cheer of the night came from the Net-a-Porter team when they realised they had won IT Team of the Year. Still a relatively small business compared to many we follow at Retail Week, it is investing not only in technology, but the career development of the staff that deliver the systems which support the beautiful pages of its websites.

Many of the winners stayed around for the after-party, and for those that came away empty handed there was the change to redeem themselves on the air hockey table and Scalextric track.