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. M&S
Hermes UK has announced that Marks & Spencer is its first retail partner to use its new video technology – Hermes Play.
This allows videos to be played on parcel labels using augmented reality that can be accessed by downloading the Hermes app.
M&S is using the tech to promote its festive jumpers to online customers who receive next day delivery from Hermes.
2. Cole Haan
American performance lifestyle brand and retailer, Cole Haan, has opened a GRANDSHØP concept store on Cat Street in Harajuku, Tokyo.
3. Metro
Canadian retailer Metro has partnered with startup Bringg to use its solution for delivery and fulfilment orchestration and offer the likes of contactless grocery delivery and curbside pickup.
4. AO
Online electricals retailer, AO, is to use Microsoft Dynamics 365 to manage its finance, supply chain and commerce operations.
5. JD.com
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com has become the first online platform to accept Beijing’s homegrown digital currency.
Its FinTech arm, JD Digits, will accept digital yuan as payment for some products on its online mall, as part of a giveaway of the token to citizens of Suzhou, near Shanghai.
6. Zippin
Zippin has announced Fujitsu as an exclusive distributor of its checkout-free solution in Japan.
7. AiFi
US startup AiFi has opened what is pitched as the largest hybrid computer vision only store with a cashier option.
A joint partnership with an unnamed company, the 4,000-square foot convenience store is stocked with 2,000 SKUs ranging from fresh meats to snacks.
Named AI Go, which means love shopping in Chinese, it is located in Shanghai and is the largest of four stores in the city now powered by AiFi’s computer vision technology.
8. Desigual
Desigual, a fashion brand headquartered in Barcelona, has partnered with Finboot to integrate its MARCO Track & Trace application within its import and export process.
9. Lounge Underwear
Lounge Underwear has partnered with Emarsys to gain a better understanding of its customers.
Emarsys’s customer engagement platform will analyse and centralise the data of shoppers. It will integrate with Lounge Underwear’s wider technology stack, including Shopify+.
10. The Very Group
LoopMe has launched an artificial intelligence solution that provides guarantees on media investment effectiveness goals, such as ad recall, brand lift, brand affinity, consideration and purchase intent.
This was trialled as a beta by The Very Group, together with its agency partners, dentsu/Amplifi UK and Vizeum, earlier this year, and is now available for global advertisers.
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