Six retailers and brands deploying innovative technologies

These retailers and brands are leading the way in providing technology and experiences that are one step ahead of their customers’ expectations.

1. Tesco

Tesco has opened its first cashless store, situated in High Holborn, London.

Shoppers are able to use the likes of contactless cards, Tesco Pay+ and Apple Pay at self-service tills. Staff will be on hand to help. This builds on a cashless store trial at a staff-only branch in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.

2. Amazon

Amazon has opened its first Amazon Go Grocery store in Seattle.

The 7,700-square-foot space taps cameras, shelf sensors and software to allow shoppers to pick up items and walk out without stopping to pay or scan merchandise. Accounts are automatically charged through a smartphone app when they exit.

Elsewhere, Amazon has installed “mini-fulfilment centres” closer to where customers live in Philadelphia, Phoenix, Orlando, and Dallas. These allow the e-commerce giant to reduce same-day delivery times down to just a few hours for Prime members.

3. Woolworths Australia

Woolworths Australia has said that its first supermarket featuring automated picking technology will launch later this year.

The retailer last year announced a tie up with Takeoff Technologies to implement automated micro fulfilment capabilities at an initial three sites. It would then evaluate the suitability of the technology for further roll-out.

4. Walmart

Walmart has joined open source blockchain consortium Hyperledger.

This launched in 2016 and is hosted by the Linux Foundation. It aims to “advance cross-industry blockchain technologies,” and has received contributions from IBM and Intel.

5. Target

Target plans to continue its significant investment in technology, supply chain and new stores, its new CFO has said. “We want to play offence,” Michael Fiddelke commented.

6. Iris Nova

Avery Dennison has deployed its newest RFID technology at The Drug Store, a cashierless store in New York owned and operated by Iris Nova, the Coca Cola-backed company behind the Dirty Lemon line of beverages.