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. Holland & Barrett
Holland & Barrett is testing out Mercaux technology to support store colleagues delivering a specialist health and wellbeing service to customers.
The Sales Assist and Omnichannel solutions (accessed by tablet devices) will be deployed to train colleagues on the endless aisle, educate on new products and reduce lost sales by offering alternatives or omnichannel options.
In response to post-coronavirus lockdown social distancing measures, Mercaux’s new Queue Scenario is also being trialled to build baskets in queues at busy stores, before being transferred to staff to fulfil. This gives customers the option to only enter the store to pay as opposed to queueing and later realising something is out of stock.
2. Amazon
Amazon has introduced Amazon One, which enables people to use their palm for the likes of paying at a store, presenting a loyalty card, entering stadiums, or badging into work.
Customers can now use it as an entry option at two Amazon Go locations in Seattle.
3. JD.com
Chinese retail giant JD.com is set to build a cross border e-commerce pilot zone in Manzhouli City.
The latter is located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the country. It is China’s largest land port city with a border economic cooperation zone, a Sino-Russian mutual market trade zone, and an international logistics industrial park.
4. Aldi UK
Aldi UK is planning to invest £1.3 billion in new stores and jobs after posting rising sales during the coronavirus pandemic.
The discounter expects to open around 100 new stores over 2020 and 2021 in line with its long-term target of 1,200 by 2025, alongside over 100 store upgrades under its Project Fresh initiative.
Other investments include new and expanded distribution centres and the roll-out of its Click and Collect service which was piloted and launched to customers last week.
5. Kroger
Kroger has confirmed Romulus, Michigan, as the site for its first Ocado powered mini customer fulfilment centre (CFC).
The 135,000-square-foot facility facility will set the retailer back $95 million. It is expected to become operational 18 months after the site breaks ground and will support customers in several markets, including Michigan, Northern Ohio, and Indiana.
6. Walmart
Walmart has announced a new store design and layout focusing on a digitally enabled shopping experience.
This will come to 200 of its 4,500 US stores over the next few months and another 800 next year. The aim is to create “seamless omnichannel experiences that save our customers time and inspire them whether in-store, online or via mobile,” an online post notes.
7. Reckitt Benckiser
Google Cloud has announced a digital transformation collaboration with Reckitt Benckiser (RB), the company behind household hygiene and health brands such as Dettol, Nurofen and Vanish.
Over the course of this year, the two will focus on pulling together RB’s multiple data sources to better power consumer segmentation and marketing campaign measurement.
8. Bear Robotics
SoftBank has revealed plans to bring Bear’s Servi robot to Japan in an effort to address restaurant labour issues.
9. Hotel Chocolat
THG Ingenuity, the technology services division of online retailer The Hut Group, has announced a five-year partnership with Hotel Chocolat.
The tie up will see the launch of the UK brand’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) offering in the United States.
10. Terrys
Online retailer of blinds and curtains, Terrys, has partnered with celebrity interior designer Linda Barker to launch an iOS and Android app.
ViSULiZR allows users to choose a blind type and then view how it would look in their own window.
