The five most important retail tech news stories of the week
It’s Friday, the week is nearly done, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail technology space. Here's your briefing on the most important and interesting stories from the past five days.
1. Amazon Go stores are coming to the UK
Amazon is planning to open as many as 30 Amazon Go cashierless convenience stores in the UK.
The Sunday Times reported that the e-commerce giant has struck deals to open around 10 Go stores and is in talks about another 20 locations. The first one is expected to launch in London this year.
2. Dixons Carphone to cut 800 jobs as it pursues omnichannel vision
Dixons Carphone is to cut 800 jobs as it looks to “make store team management structures leaner and create new roles and ways of working to deliver its Vision - We Help Everyone Enjoy Amazing Technology”.
The company, which owns Currys PC World, said that retail managers, assistant managers and team leader roles will be cut, while new sales manager, customer experience and operational excellence manager positions will be created.
3. Walmart puts brakes on Walmart+ initiative
Walmart has once again delayed the launch of its Amazon Prime competitor Walmart+.
It had planned to debut the subscription service in July, at a cost of $98 a year. The offering includes the likes of same-day delivery of groceries and general merchandise, discounts on fuel at Walmart gas stations, and early access to product deals.
4. Marks and Spencer announces launch date for Ocado online venture
M&S has emailed its customers, informing them that on 1st September it will for the first time launch its full product range online.
It has partnered with Ocado on this, with more than 6,000 M&S products being made available.
5. Reliance Group on track to dominate Indian retail sector
Reliance Group is set to emerge as the leader in the Indian retail landscape, according to GlobalData.
It notes that Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is grabbing every single opportunity, be it collaborating with technology companies, acquiring leading retailers or adding physical stores or its entry into the online retail space for gaining access to advanced technologies, to gain a dominant position.