The retail technology space during the coronavirus pandemic
Retail Technology Innovation Hub rounds up the key Covid-19 developments from last week.
The John Lewis Partnership has become one of the first UK businesses to pilot and roll-out NHS Test and Trace lateral flow Covid-19 testing.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) have called for an urgent inquiry into disruption at UK ports and across the shipping market in the crucial run up to Christmas.
In a letter to Lilian Greenwood MP, Chair of the Commons Transport Select Committee, and Angus Brendan MacNeil MP, Chair of the Commons International Trade Committee, they blame this on the impact of Covid-19 on global shipping schedules and the shipping workforce along with a shortage of empty containers.
Ocucon has emerged triumphant in the Best Coronavirus Innovation category at the 2020 RTIH Innovation Awards.
It impressed our judging panel with Occupi by Ocucon, an intelligent occupancy management system that allows retailers to remotely monitor and manage the flow of shoppers in and out of their stores – coordinated via signage, CCTV and door entry and closing systems.
This is installed in Aldi’s 1,040 UK and Ireland stores with other major retailers now looking to invest in the technology.
Just 28% of UK retailers felt that they were properly equipped to maintain business continuity in the early stages of Covid-19, according to research by Google Cloud.
Rackspace Technology has migrated the British Heart Foundation’s online gift shop to a VMware environment.
UK online retail sales in November increased by 39% year-on-year, according to IMRG and Capgemini research involving over 200 retailers.
M-commerce payments will reach $3.1 trillion in 2025, from $2.1 trillion in 2020, according to Juniper Research.
The coronavirus pandemic’s massive boost to digital wallet services in the offline arena with OEM Pay has been a key driver here.
Morrisons has extended its 10% discount to teachers, school staff, NHS staff and blue light card holders until further notice.
A spokesperson for the supermarket said that this was to “recognise and thank them for the care and support they have offered to the British public throughout the coronavirus pandemic”.
Online furniture retailer Made is to give its staff a stake in the business.
All 650 employees, apart from senior management, will receive the same number of share options vesting in equal tranches over the next three years. The move is in recognition of their work during the coronavirus pandemic.
New research from buy now, pay later specialist Klarna shows how shopping behaviour has changed over the past 12 months.
The company surveyed over 4,000 consumers across Europe, the UK, the USA and Australia and identified five key shopper tribes and subtle differences between the priorities and preferences of each. These are: Family Firsts, Aspirational Achievers, Here and Nows, Savvy Fashionistas and Conscious Consumers.
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