Last week’s biggest retail technology plays
RTIH rounds up the stand out retail technology deals, deployments and pilots from the past seven days.
Lowe's says that it will install pickup lockers at all US stores by the end of March 2021. Parcel Pending by Quadient is providing the locker solution for the retailer.
Homebase has launched a new showroom dedicated to kitchens and bathrooms.
Located in a redesigned Bathstore site in Guildford, the split-level facility marks the retailer’s second trial of a smaller format high street store, following the launch of two DECORATE by Homebase stores in May.
Customers will be able to book free design appointments, guided by an expert designer. 3D software will then be used to mock up what their new kitchen or bathroom will look like.
Holland & Barrett is testing out Mercaux technology to support store colleagues delivering a specialist health and wellbeing service to customers.
The Sales Assist and Omnichannel solutions (accessed by tablet devices) will be deployed to train colleagues on the endless aisle, educate on new products and reduce lost sales by offering alternatives or omnichannel options.
In response to post-coronavirus lockdown social distancing measures, Mercaux’s new Queue Scenario is also being trialled to build baskets in queues at busy stores, before being transferred to staff to fulfil. This gives customers the option to only enter the store to pay as opposed to queueing and later realising something is out of stock.
Aldi UK has launched its first Click and Collect service.
Following a trial with staff, customers can order from a full range of products online, then collect them from the discounter’s Allendale Road store in Loughborough, Leicestershire.
Les Mousquetaires owned retailers Intermarché and Netto have announced a supply chain transformation partnership with Symphony RetailAI, covering the likes of forecasting accuracy, inventory and replenishment and improved store productivity.
Google Cloud has partnered with Unilever for an initiative which will look to tackle deforestation using artificial intelligence and cloud computing with satellite imagery.
Ally Lending, the personal lending arm of US-based Ally Bank, is adding to its retail market lending offerings via an agreement with buy now, pay later specialist Sezzle.
London Designer Outlet has deployed Coniq’s customer engagement and loyalty platform.
Stella McCartney is working with Board International on a project involving its financial consolidation and lease accounting activities.
Sustainable luxury shopping venture Open For Vintage customers can now split their order payment in three. This follows a tie up with Swedish buy now, pay later specialist Klarna.
Italian manufacturer of domestic appliances, smeg, has launched a new online store in Spain with the support of Kooomo and managed by its sister company, Zerogrey.
The Body Shop’s new site has gone live in the UK.
It uses SAP’s new Spartacus SPA front end coupled with SAP Commerce Cloud. The project, which started in March 2019, also involved multiple aspects of the SAP CX/C4 suite, including SAP Customer Data Cloud and Marketing Cloud.
