Europe | 12th May 2026 | London

CO-LOCATED WITH:
FTT Embedded Finance
FTT Embedded Finance
FTT Embedded Finance
FTT Embedded Finance

Winning for the customer,

wins the customer

Customer Alpha

12th May 2026 | London, UK

Competing on experience,

winning the customer

Customer Alpha

12th May 2026 | London, UK

Customer Alpha is a leading customer experience event bringing together a cross-industry community of professionals who never stop striving to better understand and deliver for customers. It’s a platform for learning about the behaviours and complex drivers that underpin decision making, and the tools and technologies that help win the hearts and minds of customers. 

By leveraging leading edge tools and technologies, forward looking firms gain the customer insights needed for market success. Whether you’re from a large organisation or a small enterprise, outdated assumptions about customers no longer suffice. Join a diverse community of brands and come away with the knowledge and tools to build a successful customer strategy.

Check out the 2025 show highlights

Key event stats

700+

Senior
attendees

1

Day of
innovative content

150+

Rockstar speakers
across all stages

5

Stages
of content

Key themes

Understanding the modern customer

The modern customer moves at a fast pace. From changes in preferences and needs, to the growth of the digital channels and emerging technologies, end users both shape and are shaped by the digital revolution. But customers aren’t fully reliable when sharing what drives them. It has never been more important to the success of an enterprise to keep up to speed with the factors and behaviours that motivate the modern customer.

Designing a winning customer experience

Winning and retaining customers means delivering the kind of journeys that translate into sales and retention. A poorly designed customer journey across any channel can turn the customer away in moments. From decision, to purchase, to ongoing engagement, discover how successful companies are winning and retaining the customer.

Data as a way of knowing

Data is at the core of understanding customers and knowing how to create the best products and services. It also informs how, when and where customers are most likely to respond. Data driven personalisation, AI tools and technologies, and algorithms that deliver great outcomes are all key components of the modern tool kit for successful businesses.

Tools and strategies for brand success

Modern customers, whether interacting physically or digitally, have high expectations. Building and maintaining a successful brand requires effort but a single bad experience can quickly damage reputations and undermine trust. Understand various models for building and maintaining customer relationships and the tools and technologies supporting success. Explore the drivers of customer loyalty in a world where choice is just a Google search away – or handed over completely to an AI agent.

Past attendees include

Financial institutions, customer experience leaders, technology providers & policymakers

Sponsors

4 star sponsors

3 star sponsors

Industry partners

Financial Promoter
Fintech Futures
IBS Intelligence
Kantara Initiative
11 | FS

Rockstar speakers

Our line-up is growing daily. Check back for updates...

Alicia Skubick
Chief Customer Officer

Trustpilot

LinkedIn
Tania Ziegler
Head of New Venture - Business Development & Revenue

Booking.com

LinkedIn
Michaela Weber
SVP, GM Payments, Strategic Business Development & Global Partnerships

Commerce

LinkedIn
Sean Hederman
Chief Technology Officer

Zilch

LinkedIn
Andy Patton
CEO

Lycamoney

LinkedIn
Shaul David
Consultant

University of Oxford

LinkedIn
Paul Loberman
Senior Consultant

May Business Consulting

LinkedIn
Nanna Bergmann
Managing Director/ General Manager

Moonrise by Lunar

LinkedIn
Arati Kurien
Director, Global Head of Commercial Cards Product Management

HSBC

LinkedIn
David Cox
Payment Strategy Lead

Virgin Media

LinkedIn
Erdem Ersoz
Director of Cards

Tide

LinkedIn
Aurelie Seth
Head of Product

The Whisky Exchange

LinkedIn
Zil Bareisis
Head of Retail Banking and Payments

Celent

LinkedIn
David Wilson
Head Of Payments Customer Journey

Nationwide Building Society

LinkedIn
Rochelle Sharpe
Senior Product Owner - Payments

Allica Bank

LinkedIn
Sophia Furber
Research Analyst, Emea Fintech

S&P Global Inc.

LinkedIn
Francesco Di Costanzo
CEO

Jaja Finance

LinkedIn
Garrett Cassidy
Founder & Managing Director

Abarta Consulting

LinkedIn
Sanjeev Pottay
Commercial Director, Financial Services

The Very Group Limited

LinkedIn

Agenda

11:20 – 11:25 - Welcome to Customer Alpha Stage

11:25 – 12:00 - Please speak to my agent

AI is stepping beyond assistance into action. Agentic commerce introduces intelligent agents that anticipate needs and make purchases for customers, creating effortless, personalised experiences. This panel explores how AI-driven decisions are reshaping trust, convenience, and the emotional core of customer experience in a future where your AI might be your most loyal shopper.

12:00 – 12:30 – I only want to ask once: Mastering unified customer experience

Customers expect seamless journeys where one conversation spans every channel with no repetition, no friction. This panel dives into unified customer experience, where AI-powered memory and contextual continuity turn fragmented interactions into effortless connections. Experts explore how to eliminate silos, harness real-time data orchestration, and deliver “once-and-done” services.

12:20 – 13:15 – Lunch and networking break

13:15 – 13:20 – Welcome back to Customer Alpha

13:20 – 14:00 – Designing for the generations

From Boomers to Zoomers to Alphas (and not overlooking Gen X), each generation has unique expectations, behaviours, and values. This panel explores how brands can design experiences, products, and communications that resonate across age groups, balancing personalization with universal appeal. Panellists share strategies for bridging generational gaps, fostering loyalty, and creating inclusive experiences that connect with every customer.

14:00 – 14:40 – Smarter ways to engage

Emerging technologies like AI, AR/VR, and blockchain are reshaping customer connections, delivering personal, exciting experiences that foster loyalty. This panel explores practical ways voice assistants, smart AI chats, and secure blockchain technologies turn casual viewers into devoted fans. Are all customers ready for next-gen tech? Discover the best ways to innovate for the future without leaving users behind.

14:40 – 15:10 – Networking and refreshments break

15:10 – 15:15 – Welcome back to Customer Alpha

15:15 – 15:55 – Is loyalty a programme?

Is loyalty still just a programme, or the core of modern customer relationships? This session challenges traditional rewards models, exploring how seamless, data-driven experience, like embedded finance, personalised perks, and frictionless journeys, forge genuine emotional bonds and lifelong advocacy. Join experts to unpack strategies that turn one-off transactions into enduring value for brands and customers alike.

15:55 – 16:30 – Social scroll to seamless buy

Social platforms are turning casual scrolls into instant commerce on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. This panel unpacks how influencers and platforms power frictionless buying through shoppable posts, live streams, and affiliate links, turbocharged by embedded fintech for one-tap payments and rewards. Discover what ‘good’ social selling looks like and proven tactics delivering real results in conversions and retention.

16:30 – 16:35 – Closing remarks

16:35 – 17:30 – Networking and drinks reception

Content, community & experience

Look forward to lively conversations, new connections, and good times

Iconic London

venue

Customer Alpha will take place at Convene 22 Bishopsgate.

The perfect space to experience our live content sessions and busy exhibition area, right in the heart of London.

Drinks
reception

To finish off a day of inspiring content and smart networking, attendees can join a drinks reception on the expo floor whilst networking with strategic partners.

VIP Hosted Meetings
Programme

Fast-track access to the industry leaders and technology providers you want to meet with efficiency and ease. Look no further to strengthen existing partnerships and build new connections.

Co-located with

One event day, unlimited opportunities and an interconnected community

FTT Payments is dedicated to exploring the latest trends, technologies, and business model innovations across the payments industry creating a gateway to the future of transactions, offering a unique platform to learn, share, and shape the next wave of payment solutions.

Future Identity Customer will bring together 600+ key players in identity and customer experience to explore how consumer facing businesses in retail, gaming, mobility, entertainment, travel, healthcare and other key sectors, are approaching digital identity.

FID IAM brings together top minds to crack the code on everything from identity orchestration that makes friction vanish, IAM strategies that empower both employees and customers, and to cutting-edge solutions for managing the growing army of non-human identities.

Sponsorship & exhibition
opportunities

Discover the unique sponsorship and exhibition opportunities available at Customer Alpha 2026. Click on the button below to find out more and how you can get involved.

What does our community think?

"The Customer Alpha event was an extremely relevant and detailed event which was of benefit to companies across many industries. The VC Innovations preparation for the event was very professional and it was a pleasure to be a part of."

LEE TAYLOR

ONLYFANS

"Customer Alpha was a wonderfully curated event with some of the best insights I’ve heard to date around CX.I particularly enjoyed working with Giovanna Mefli, John Sills and Susannah Simmons on our panel discussion and I also enjoyed hearing Livia Bernadini from Zag on the panel titled, “how can businesses better serve customers during a time of rising prices and stretched incomes.” I thought this topic was extremely relevant and timely.Looking forward to participating in more conferences organized by VC Innovations!"

ELENA CICCOTELLI

TELEPERFORMANCE

"The organization of the event was remarkable. Although there were countless speakers, I could sense the people in-charge provided personal attention to any request and question. At the event itself, from the very first moment I could feel completely aware of how things are handled and what should I do. An untrivial point was the panel actually started exactly on time.
Also the speakers that shared the stage with me – Andrew (Disruption Banking), Alexandra (Bike Club) and Edward (Pret A Manger) – handled the event professionally and I could sense we had a nice chemistry."

SAGI AVITAN

PAYLOW

"Customer Alpha was an excellent experience. Talking on a panel gave me exposure to a wide range of perspectives and allowed me to field questions from peers. Listening in to other speakers and asking questions was valuable to my organization's pressing needs. Beyond the panels, networking with peers was smooth and productive. I'm looking forward to opportunities surfaced through that process."

WESLEY MANN

ETSY

"I had a great time networking and engaging in insightful and thought provoking discussions. This was a very well organized event and it was fun meeting some old acquaintances and making new ones. I would highly recommend these events to anyone looking to hone their networking skills, meet some great people and brainstorm together to expand their perspectives. Enjoyed every minute of it."

DMITRIY KURBANOV

DISH

“The depth of expertise and diversity of thought at Customer Alpha made it one of the most interesting and helpful conferences I've attended this year. It felt less like a conference and more like a community of intelligent, curious, and connected people who share similar professional and career goals.”

TREVOR MENGEL

CLOUTDESK

Contact us

Reach out to the Customer Alpha team with queries on how to get involved through sponsorship, exhibition, speaking or media partnership opportunities

Milana Vlaović
Community Manager

Sponsorship & exhibition enquiries

LinkedInEmail
Alicia Condon
Head of Marketing

Marketing & media enquiries

LinkedInEmail
Victoria Smart
Portfolio Manager

Content & speaking enquiries

LinkedInEmail
Lisa Moyle
Chief Strategy Officer

Content & speaking enquiries

LinkedInEmail