Tracking the retail technology sector during the coronavirus

Retail Technology Innovation Hub rounds up the key Covid-19 developments from last week.

McDonald's is set to reopen its first restaurants for delivery only on 13th May after closing down due to the coronavirus lockdown. It is starting the long road back to normality with 15 outlets. The fast food giant uses Uber Eats and Just Eat for delivery.

Tesco CTO Guus Dekkers and CEO Dave Lewis have praised the grocery giant’s technology team for their hard work during the coronavirus outbreak.

Dixons Carphone is working on drive through and zero contact stores, as well as livestreaming its sales assistants.

The GMB union has once again hit out at Asos for its treatment of workers.

In a post-coronavirus world, retailers should spare no expense when it comes to technology and intellectual property innovation, according to ex-Waitrose MD, Mark Price.

Online electricals retailer AO.com has launched a TV advert campaign, reassuring customers that it continues to safely deliver essential electricals around the UK.

With almost three million cases of coronavirus worldwide and numerous countries enforcing lockdowns, global retail spend is set to fall 3% in 2020, equating to $549.7 billion, according to GlobalData.

Starbucks has unveiled plans to have 90% of its company-operated outlets in the US up and running by early June.

A month on from the introduction of the £45/€50 limit in the UK and Ireland, Barclaycard has processed over seven million contactless payments above the previous limit of £30/€30, and up to the new one.

Buy now, pay later specialist Klarna supported the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in its response to Covid-19, by donating £1, $1 or €1 for every Klarna transaction placed at Asos on 29th April

Tesco reports that it has delivered one million online grocery orders in a week amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The coronavirus outbreak will accelerate automation of retail, according to Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant who has also worked at Amazon, Deloitte and Capgemini.

John Lewis is reopening its textiles factory Herbert Parkinson in Lancashire, to make protective gowns for the NHS.

Partners who usually sew bespoke blinds, curtains and pillows and duvets will this week begin making around 8,000 washable, clinical gowns for the Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

Starship Technologies’ robots are delivering shopping to Milton Keynes NHS staff for free.

Prezzo has worked with Wagestream on a service that allows staff on furlough to receive their pay early.