Seven innovative retail technology deployments

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

1. Dior

Dior has launched an official account on Chinese video sharing website Bilibili. It’s the first luxury brand to go down this route.

2. Amazon

Amazon has deployed its new Distance Assistant solution at a handful of its buildings. This is a magic mirror like tool that helps employees practice physical distancing during the coronavirus outbreak.

3. Coop Sweden

Coop Sweden has started to test out the EBI.AI virtual assistant Cooper.

EBI.AI was chosen by the retailer earlier this year to build the solution. When Cooper is rolled out across Sweden, it will provide users with the likes of dietary requirements, suggested recipes, nutritional and loyalty scheme information.

4. Ikea

Ikea’s research and design lab SPACE10 has launched EverydayExperiments.com, which looks at how technology will redefine the way we live at home.

The ‘experiments’, focusing on artificial intelligence, machine learning, augmented reality and spatial intelligence, include Room Editor, enabling people to virtually try out new furniture.

5. Five Guys

Five Guys UK’s finance team is using artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotic process automation software from Yooz to automate the burger restaurant’s accounts payable function.

Optical character recognition technology uses learning algorithms to ‘read’ and understand invoices, cutting processing time from weeks to a few days. It took two weeks to implement and create automatic exchanges between Yooz and Sage X3. The solution is now automating more than 90% of Five Guys’ invoices.

6. Lebs.com

Luxury fashion venture Lebs.com has deployed Hullabalook’s Outfit Builder solution.

London-based Hullabalook, which launched in 2016, helps e-commerce retailers make products more discoverable.

“This is our first customer in the Middle East, and the first time we’re showcasing the new Outfit Builder,” says Lydia Dalrymple, Software Engineer at Hullabalook.