Card Factory unlocks major energy savings with Optimal Monitoring’s EMMA AI

Card Factory, the UK’s leading greeting cards and gifts retailer, has achieved significant energy and cost savings after deploying Optimal Monitoring’s EMMA AI across its retail estate.

The retailer faced the challenge of monitoring and managing energy consumption across over 1,000 stores nationwide. To address this, Card Factory began a three-month pilot using EMMA AI in 193 stores. The results were immediate and measurable, with the project delivering a full return on investment in less than three months.

Following the success of the pilot, Card Factory rolled out EMMA AI to more than 900 stores, providing its sustainability and facilities teams with real-time insights into energy performance, consumption patterns, and cost-saving opportunities. The platform provides continuous monitoring and reporting, ensuring that energy reduction efforts remain on track without requiring any new hardware or complex IT integration.

A spokesperson for Card Factory commented: “The savings generated during the pilot with EMMA AI were so compelling that rolling it out across our stores was the natural next step. The platform provided clear, actionable insights that allowed us to cut energy consumption and drive efficiency, delivering an impressive return on investment in just a few months. With EMMA AI now in place across various stores in our estate, we’re confident we can continue reducing costs while improving our sustainability efforts.”

Duncan Everett, CEO of Optimal Monitoring, added: “Our mission with EMMA AI is to make energy management effortless and transparent. Card Factory’s success shows what can be achieved when organisations combine artificial intelligence with a proactive approach to sustainability. The speed of their results demonstrates how AI can deliver measurable business benefits while supporting environmental goals.”