The retail technology space during the Covid pandemic
Retail Technology Innovation Hub rounds up the key retail systems related Covid-19 developments from last week, including Amazon, Square, Tesco and the 2021 RTIH Innovation Awards.
In the third quarter of 2021, the overall UK store vacancy rate weighed in at 14.5%, the same level as Q2. It was 1.3 percentage points higher than in the same point in 2020, according to research from the BRC and LDC.
No locations saw an increase in vacancies in Q3.
Amazon reported third quarter revenues of $110.8 billion, slightly behind market expectations despite rising 15% year-on-year.
Amazon has opened YUL9, pitched as the e-commerce giant’s most advanced sort centre in Canada, in Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec.
The 720,000 square foot YUL9 facility will be the first sort centre in Canada to implement Amazon Robotics' mobile robotic order fulfilment systems.
The move will enable faster order fulfilment to communities in Eastern Canada.
Almost two years on, the holiday season is slowly becoming immune to Covid-19, according to research by Bazaarvoice.
Payments venture Square has released research that looks at the future of restaurants and retailers in the UK.
Key findings include: 97% of consumers now make monthly retail purchases online. Half of UK stores now offer same day in-store pick-up.
57% of online shoppers around the world have made at least one online purchase from a company in another country in the last 12 months, while a further 22% have considered doing so, according to research from Logistyx Technologies.
Brits plan to spend less this Christmas, with sales scepticism rife, according to research from Ve Global.
Tesco’s late entry into the checkout-free stores race won’t stop it reaping rewards as ‘ambient commerce’ is the future of physical retail, according to GlobalData.
RTIH has announced Critizr as sponsor of the Best Coronavirus Innovation category at the 2021 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The pandemic has had a major impact on the way that we shop and the way that retailers operate.
This award will go to the company who has best turned to technology to solve the challenges presented by the Covid-19 era, improving in-store and/or online experiences for both staff and customers.
Last year, Ocucon emerged triumphant, impressing our judging panel with Occupi by Ocucon, an intelligent occupancy management system that allows retailers to remotely monitor and manage the flow of shoppers in and out of their stores – coordinated via signage, CCTV and door entry and closing systems.
To be in with a chance of joining them in our hall of fame, click here.
