Six brands deploying innovative retail technologies

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

1. Boots

Nike has lent Boots nine of its cobots (collaborative robots) to help the retailer’s warehouse staff keep picking and packing for customers as the coronavirus intensifies.

2. Edeka

German supermarket chain Edeka has introduced a Pepper robot to teach customers how to appropriately social distance during the coronavirus outbreak.

3. DPD

Parcel delivery firm DPD has announced a coronavirus related partnership with 3DCrowd, a community of 3D printer owners.

Thousands of volunteers across the UK are giving up their time to use their 3D printers to make components to create face shields - a full face visor on a plastic headband - which protects the whole of the front of the face of frontline healthcare workers.

4. Ikea

Ikea, by way of Ingka Group (set up by the Swedish retailer’s founder, and the primary franchisor of Ikea and owner of Ikea.com), has acquired AI imaging startup Geomagical Labs.

5. Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s has announced a trial involving its one-hour bicycle delivery service Chop Chop and a closed store in central London.

The retailer pulled the plug on Chop Chop while it concentrated on stocking stores and its online business amid the coronavirus outbreak. It has now turned its Blackfriars outlet, which, along with 11 other central London Local locations, temporarily closed last week, into its first ‘dark’ convenience store for the trial.

6. Nestlé

Nestlé is expanding its IBM Food Trust blockchain technology platform to the Zoégas coffee brand.

Zoégas fans can now trace select coffee editions back to different origins in Brazil, Rwanda and Colombia. Consumers will also be able to access information including time and location of harvest, roasting period, transaction certificate for the specific shipments, farmers, via scanning a QR code on the packaging.