RTIH Innovation Awards: Most innovative retailer (rest of world)

RTIH is pleased to announce the shortlists for its first ever Innovation Awards.

There are seven categories in all. We have already revealed the shortlists for Bricks and Mortar Innovation, Supply Chain Innovation, Payments Innovation and Most UK innovative retailer. And today it’s time to lift the lid on the Most Innovative Retailer (Rest Of World) category.

Runners and riders as follows:

Walmart

2019 highlights include announcing InHome Delivery, which sees items delivered directly to customers’ kitchen or garage fridges. And “leasing a floor” in a new virtual store called KidHQ, which lets users browse toys and merchandise in videos with various choose-your-own-adventure formats.

Alibaba Group

Nominated for a record breaking Singles’ Day and a voice ordering and delivery tie up with Starbucks.

JD.com

In the running for the likes of JD E-SPACE, a 50,000-square metre shopping destination in Chongqing, China.

Starbucks

This year, Starbucks has been testing out a Bakkt consumer payments app and opening its first ever Pickup store in New York City’s Penn Plaza.

Amazon

2019 has seen the e-commerce giant move forward with its Amazon Scout project and announce a new robotics innovation hub.

Ahold Delhaize

Highlights include launching an AI for Retail (AIR) Lab in Delft, the Netherlands and kicking off an in-store robots initiative.

McDonald’s

Shortlisted for a blockchain media pilot and the acquisition of Dynamic Yield, an AI startup based in Tel Aviv, for $300+ million.

It’s now over to our judges who will decide the winner, to be announced during December.

Judging panel as follows:

Hayley Meenan-Wilkin, Web Trading Management, Ocado.com

Christine Bardwell, Global Strategy Lead, Oracle

Martin Newman, Founder, The Customer First Group

Toby Pickard, Head of Insight - Innovation & Futures, IGD

Natalie Berg, Retail Analyst, Author & Founder, NBK Retail

Tiffany Lung, Retail Analyst

Nadine Neatrour, Independent Consultant

The other two categories will be announced throughout the week. If you would like to be an Innovation Awards sponsor, please email scott.thompson@retailtechinnovationhub.com