10 more big retail tech plays in 2019

These innovative retail tech initiatives should be on your radar right now. At the end of the year, we will be putting together a shortlist of the coolest 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. Nextatlas, Westfield London partner on AI powered fashion store

Nextatlas is partnering with Westfield London to create The Trending Store.

This is pitched as the first ever bricks and mortar fashion boutique selling only the top 100 items of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories that are trending online that day, powered by Nextatlas’ technology. The store will run from 3rd to 7th July in association with Save the Children, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

2. Rakuten and Seiyu announce drone delivery first in Japan

Rakuten and Seiyu are working on a drone delivery service to deliver products from the Seiyu LIVIN store in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, to visitors to Sarushima, an island in Tokyo Bay and popular tourist spot.

3. Neiman Marcus deploys Alipay in-store, preps online launch

Neiman Marcus is rolling out Alipay. The Chinese mobile payments service is now available at the US retailer’s 43 Neiman Marcus department stores and two of its Bergdorf Goodman locations. It will also be accepted at 24 Neiman Marcus Last Call outlets. It is also in the process of working to launch Alipay as an online payment option later this year.

4. Walmart deploys AI-powered cameras to tackle checkout theft

Walmart is tapping computer vision technology to monitor checkouts and deter theft and other causes of shrinkage in more than 1,000 US stores.

5. Circle K adds Bitcoin ATMs to 20 convenience stores

US-based crypto venture DigitalMint has teamed with convenience store chain, Circle K, installing 20 Bitcoin ATMs across Arizona and Nevada as part of a pilot programme.

6. Tesco hackathon announces European and India finalists

Tesco colleagues and suppliers from the Czech Republic, India, Poland and UK recently came together to compete in the retailer’s eighth annual hackathon.

7. Walmart Mexico green lights grocery orders via WhatsApp

Walmart’s Mexico unit has launched grocery deliveries from its Superama stores via WhatsApp.

8. Stateside first for Citrus as Hy-Vee signs up

Grocery chain, Hy-Vee, has become the first retailer in the US to partner with the Citrus digital media platform.

9. The Co-op to launch eco-friendly Glastonbury pop-up

The Co-op has opened the doors to its Glastonbury festival pop-up store tomorrow.

10. Instagram boss reveals ambitious retail plans

Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, has been discussing the social media’s long-term retail plans.