10 innovative retail technology deployments

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

1. Flipkart

India’s Flipkart has launched a hyperlocal service, Flipkart Quick, in suburbs of Bangalore.

This leverages its supply chain infrastructure and a new location mapping technology framework to deliver more than 2,000 products across grocery, perishables, smartphones, electronics accessories, and stationary items within 90 minutes to customers.

2. A.S. Watson

A.S. Watson is opening up its Moneyback loyalty programme to retailers across Hong Kong as it looks to stimulate consumer spending during the coronavirus outbreak.

The move will enable them to promote their business on the platform for free by uploading offers. The aim is to encourage cross-retailer shopping in all 18 Hong Kong districts.

3. Holland & Barrett

Holland & Barrett has previewed its new omnichannel experiences store concept.

Its store in Chelmsford, Essex features Click & Collect lockers for customers to collect online orders and digital screens throughout delivering content.

Also on offer are QR and NFC codes for shoppers to get access to information, reviews and recipes direct to their mobiles. In-store tablets, meanwhile, are available to info seeking shoppers.

4. Asda

Asda says that it is the first UK supermarket to trial a permanent trolley wash facility.

Developed by The WasteCare Group, the unit is now in place at its Morley store and works by coating trolleys in fine particles containing an anti-microbial solution, leaving them clean and dry to the touch in seconds.

5. Nike

Nike is opening a third House of Innovation, situated at 79 Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Over four ﬂoors and some 26,000 square feet, this will give access to Nike’s best innovations, athlete storytelling and experiences. It lines up alongside flagship stores in New York and Shanghai.

6. John Lewis Partnership

Waitrose and John Lewis have announced plans to increase the use of electric vans as they look to end the use of fossil fuels across their entire transport fleet by 2030.

The John Lewis Partnership will use two new designs of vehicle for its Waitrose.com food deliveries and for smaller John Lewis deliveries, saving over 20,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.

7. Walmart

Walmart Marketplace has surpassed 50,000 sellers, doubling in size from July 2019. A partnership with Shopify, announced last month, has accelerated its growth, bringing over 5,000 new sellers during the six weeks since, according to Marketplace Pulse.

8. AO

AO has announced an artificial intelligence partnership with Peak. It will initially be utilising Peak’s system to generate data for its mobile business, AO Mobile.

9. Auchan Retail Portugal

Auchan Retail Portugal is to deploy Trax’s autonomous shelf monitoring solutions, including robots, across its network of 34 supermarkets and hypermarkets.

10. The White Company

Quadient’s automated packaging system, CVP Everest, has been selected by The White Company, and will be installed in August at its fulfilment centre in Northampton, UK.

This is the first commercial installation of the technology since its January launch.