Five retailers/brands that are so innovative right now

These retailers and brands are leading the way in providing technology and experiences that are one step ahead of their customers’ expectations.

1. El Cortes Inglés

El Cortes Inglés is piloting Alibaba Cloud’s artificial intelligence and cloud driven technology. The European department store group is tapping the Image Search and Recommendation Engine as part of its efforts to personalise the customer experience online.

2. Shinsegae I&C

South Korean retailer Shinsegae I&C is venturing into Amazon Go territory. Its first automated store will be tested out at the company’s new datacentre facility in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province.

3. Starbucks Japan

Starbucks Japan is now selling pens with built in NFC wallets.

Starbucks Touch: The Pen works with FeliCa technology, which powers the retailer’s popular domestic card system.

4. Amazon

Amazon has ordered 100,000 electric delivery trucks from Rivian as part of its aim to become carbon-neutral by 2040, 10 years earlier than is outlined by the United Nations Paris Agreement.