Ten stand out retail technology investments
These retailers and brands are leading the way in providing technology and experiences that are one step ahead of their customers’ expectations.
1. IBM and Burberry
As part of its Extreme Blue internship programme, IBM has collaborated with Burberry to develop a prototype system that aims to improve product traceability.
2. Gousto
UK-based recipe box venture, Gousto, has partnered with biotechnology company Living DNA to launch DNA Dishes.
The pilot service will offer free DNA kits so that people can get recipe inspiration from some of the regions or countries that appear in their ancestral make-up.
3. Amazon
Amazon has taken the wraps off its first customised electric delivery van, designed and built in partnership with Rivian.
The e-commerce giant is pitching this as a major milestone on its path to get 10,000 Amazon EVs on the road by 2022 and 100,000 by 2030.
4. Kroger
US retailer The Kroger Co. is launching two on-premise ghost kitchens at stores in Metro Indianapolis, IN and Metro Columbus, OH.
Developed in partnership with startup ClusterTruck, these will provide freshly prepared meals on-demand with no service or delivery fees.
5. The University of Houston
Autonomous checkout startup Standard has landed a new customer, the University of Houston.
The university and its dinning services partner, Chatwells Higher Education, have worked with Standard to open the first store retrofitted with checkout-free technology. Standard is partnering with Chartwells on two additional stores in North Carolina and Ontario, with more to follow.
6. Groupe Casino
French retailer Groupe Casino is working with Shekel Brainweigh on an automated store situated at its Monoprix HQ in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, near Paris.
7. H&M
H&M has installed an in-store system, called Looop, that turns old clothes into new ones.
“We are constantly exploring new technology and innovations to help transform the fashion industry as we are working to reduce the dependency on virgin resources. Getting customers onboard is key to achieve real change and we are so excited to see what Looop will inspire,” says Pascal Brun, Head of Sustainability at H&M.
8. Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s is accelerating the roll-out of its SmartShop solution.
The technology will be deployed at all 770 of its convenience branches over the next three months, in time for Christmas. This is up from 250 Local branches currently, alongside all Sainsbury’s supermarkets.
9. Woolworths Australia
Woolworths Australia has launched its first supermarket featuring automated picking technology.
The retailer last year announced a tie up with Takeoff Technologies covering an initial three sites. The first store is in Carrum Downs in south east Melbourne. The 2,400 sqm space uses technology to sort and move products from automated storage units directly to team members hand picking customer orders.
These units can hold up to 10,000 of the most in-demand grocery products, while fresh fruit and vegetables and meat will continue to be picked from the shopfloor.
10. Asda
Asda has launched a personalised chocolate machine at its innovation store in Stevenage.
It has also testing out Fragrance Point in its health and beauty aisle. This is a self-service kiosk with over 300 fragrance lines, from Vera Wang to Hugo Boss, that customers can browse, purchase and get delivered to their home.
