10 more big retail tech plays in 2019
These retail tech initiatives should be on your radar right now. We’ve been running these top 10 innovation articles throughout the year. And at the end of the year, we will be putting together a shortlist of the most innovative tech plays in 2019 and asking our judging panel to vote for their favourites across various categories. Stay tuned for more info on that.
1. Amazon starts deploying CMC CartonWrap tech
Amazon is rolling out machines from Italian firm CMC that pack orders much faster than humans.
2. Alyx to use blockchain tech for supply chain tracking
Luxury fashion brand, Alyx, is set to use German blockchain foundation Iota’s DLT solution in the supply chain.
3. Albert Heijn fights food waste, aided by AI
Albert Heijn is tapping Artificial Intelligence technology for a new food waste reduction initiative. It is testing out “dynamic discounting” of chicken and fish products at a store in Zandvoort in the Netherlands. These will be automatically reduced in price based on their sell-by date.
4. Curalate powers Lulu Guinness social commerce push
Lulu Guinness has teamed with Curalate to launch onsite social commerce.
5. Klarna unveils London pop-up stor
PayTech venture Klarna is launching its first UK “all-immersive store” in London’s Covent Garden, with a private VIP party on 4th June.
6. Starbucks Now PayTech service launches in China
Starbucks has started to roll-out its mobile order and pay offering, Starbucks Now, to 300 stores in Beijing and Shanghai and plans to introduce it across China over the next year.
7. Ocado to introduce robotic manipulation capabilities in operations
Ocado says that automating the picking and packing of customer orders is a part of its mid-term vision after introducing thousands of bots into its warehouses. Robotic grasping and in-hand manipulation are critical capabilities towards realising that vision.
8. Alibaba Group makes another blockchain play
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group is set to integrate blockchain technology into its intellectual property system of global enterprises and brands.
9. Coinme and Coinstar give Bitcoin a boost Stateside
Bitcoin ATM operator Coinme has rolled out its BTC purchasing option to 21 US states and the District of Columbia.
10. McDonald’s China links loyalty programme to Ele.me
McDonald’s customers in China can now earn loyalty points and receive vouchers when they order a Big Mac or Filet-o-Fish through Alibaba Group’s Ele.me mobile platform.
