What's hot in retail technology investments 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. Pinterest
Pinterest is launching its augmented reality Try on feature in the UK.
The company says in an online post: “We’re taking what makes discovering beauty inspiration on Pinterest fun and easy.
“This includes skin tone ranges, shoppable Pins and visual style recommendations, and enhancing it through AR so Pinners can try on different lipstick shades for their skin tone, save for later shopping, or buy directly through the retailer’s site.”
2. Zalando
Online fashion and lifestyle platform Zalando has selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider.
It is tapping the company’s machine learning tech as it looks to “innovate faster and redefine the online shopping experience”.
3. Co-op
Co-op is expanding its use of autonomous home delivery in partnership with Starship Technologies.
It plans to use around 300 of Starship’s robots by the end of 2021 as it looks for more towns and cities to operate autonomous deliveries after launching in Milton Keynes, and now Northampton.
4. Next
Next has partnered with Morrisons to trial Click & Collect delivery and return pods in the latter’s supermarket car parks.
5. eBay
Bitcoin rewards startup Lolli has announced a partnership with eBay.
Its users can now earn 1% back in Bitcoin when they shop from eBay’s marketplace.
6. Nectar360
Nectar360, part of Sainsbury’s, is working with CitrusAd on a platform that enables brands and ad agencies to launch targeted sponsored product, banner advertising and reporting and analytics across Sainsburys.co.uk.
7. R-kioski
Finnish convenience store retailer R-kioski has announced that customers can now receive a digital receipt for purchases made with a card, following a tie up with ReceiptHero.
8. Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is now accepting cryptocurrency payments at all stores in Venezuela.
The move follows CryptoBuyer teaming with Mega Soft to drive crypto adoption in the South American country by facilitating payments at more than 20,000 shops and businesses.
9. X5 Retail Group
Russian retailer X5’s Perekrestok supermarket chain is implementing a system based on visual food freshness sensors.
The Green Dot project will be used for 300 products in the X5 Smart Kitchen offering of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook foods, delivered to 460 supermarkets across Central Russia.
10. Westfield London
Westfield London has opened the doors to what is pitched as the world’s first store where you can rent everything you need for Christmas.
A Very Rental Christmas is curated by TV presenter, Laura Whitmore.
It will be open until 13th December and offer the likes of eco-friendly potted Christmas trees, a range of decorative lights, traditional and modern decorations and tableware.
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