10 more big retail tech plays in 2019

These cool 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.Origin Kebabs buys into Bitcoin payments

Australian fast food chain Origin Kebabs is now accepting Bitcoin payments in four of its Queensland stores, with more set to follow in the near future.

2. Alipay lands at Capital One Arena

Monumental Sports & Entertainment has struck a first of its kind deal with Alipay, meaning that Chinese visitors to the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. can now use the mobile payment solution at concession stands, ticketing windows and souvenir shops.

3. Mobile milestone for Argos as it launches first self-service store

Argos has opened its first self-service store, in Dulwich, London.

4. West Ham United signs up with Socios.com blockchain platform

West Ham United has joined Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus in announcing a strategic partnership with blockchain-based fan engagement platform, Socios.com.

5. First ever Taostyle omnichannel store opens in China

Alibaba-owned online marketplace Taobao has teamed with Hangzhou Shunhong to pilot the first Taostyle store at the Hangzhou Kerry Center in China. Plans are afoot to expand the model to more locations “in the near future”.

6. Domino’s Pizza embraces AI with SingularityNET tie up

Domino’s Pizza Malaysia & Singapore has announced a partnership with decentralised platform/AI venture SingularityNET.

7. Starbucks to test out bean-to-cup blockchain

Starbucks is to implement Microsoft’s recently announced Azure Blockchain Service to track coffee production.

8. Hideout Festival taps Klarna Pay in 3 solution

Hideout Festival, set to take place in Croatia this summer, is offering Klarna’s Pay in 3 solution through ticketing platform, Kaboodle.

9. Peak helps Footasylum become ‘AI-driven retailer’

Footasylum has expanded its partnership with Peak to introduce AI and machine learning algorithms into a recent social media advertising campaign. The retailer claims that this has led to an 8,400% return on ad spend, compared with an industry average of 287%.

10. Hugo Boss enlists One iota for digital stores push

One iota has announced a technology partnership with Hugo Boss.