RTIH runs through this week's coolest retail technology reveals
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ten ‘future of retail systems’ deployments from the past seven days, including Ocado Group, Amazon, AMC Theatres and Aldi Nord.
Aldi Nord
Aldi Nord is set to test out a checkout free store in Utrecht, The Netherlands, early next year, powered by Trigo technology.
To enter, customers will need to scan a QR code, with all selected items being tracked by a combination of shelf sensors and camera technology.
These details are then sent to a customer app, enabling a contactless and automatic payment process when leaving the store.
Ocado Group
Ocado Group has announced a partnership with and £10 million investment in startup Wayve as it looks to accelerate the development of autonomous grocery deliveries for complex urban environments.
This closely follows Asda’s tie up with Wayve.
The collaboration includes an autonomous delivery trial that will see Wayve’s deep learning and camera-based technology technology fitted onto a selection of Ocado vans and tested out on urban routes for 12 months.
A portion of Ocado’s existing delivery fleet will also be outfitted with Wayve’s data collection devices to provide data for training and validating Wayve’s technology.
Nespresso
Nespresso has debuted its new experiential boutique concept in the UK at the Bluewater, Kent shopping centre.
The aim is to meet shoppers’ changing needs by offering immersive, localised and personalised experiences.
The store opened its doors to the public this week. It includes an interactive ‘Taste & Discover’ area, where customers can explore and create their own coffee recipes using iPad tutorials and Nespresso machines.
An augmented reality experience, meanwhile, gives people the opportunity to immerse themselves in the stories, heritage and expertise behind Nespresso coffees and understand how capsules are recycled.
Amazon
Avery Dennison, UpWest and ReCircled
Avery Dennison has announced a partnership with lifestyle brand UpWest, and ReCircled, an apparel and footwear recycling and reuse focused organisation.
This taps the former’s Digital Care Label solution, showing how it can be used in an upcycling context and provide a retail/brand experience.
According to current legislation, all garments sold must have a physical care and content label to communicate product information, such as washing instructions and material composition.
Avery Dennison’s Digital Care Label offers this information through a digital experience that showcases to consumers the sustainability story around the garment’s origins and where they can dispose of it.
AZ Factory
As part of a Love Brings Love tribute to late founder Alber Elbaz, fashion startup AZ Factory has launched a range of limited edition t-shirts that will each come with a unique NFT.
The five organic cotton t-shirt styles feature a specific quote from the designer, as well as signature grosgrain ribbon embroidery and hand drawn prints.
Each one is linked to its own NFT of an original Elbaz drawing. As there will be a limited number of NFTs produced for each shirt, the drawings will also show its original identification number, helping to verify and track ownership.
Amazon (again!)
Amazon has opened the doors to the first Amazon 4-star store outside of the US.
Situated in Bluewater, this offers a range of products that are rated four stars and above, are top sellers, or are trending on Amazon’s UK site, including consumer electronics, toys, games, books, kitchen, and home.
Customers can purchase online and collect orders at the store as soon as the next day. It also offers parcel free, label free returns for items purchased both in store and online.
Digital price tags are located alongside each product with the item price, average star rating, and the number of customer reviews.
Amazon account holders will pay the price as they would on the UK site. Prime members will receive exclusive perks and deals throughout the store.
AMC Theatres
American cinema giant AMC Theatres is now accepting cryptocurrencies as payment for digital gift cards.
This can be done via the AMC website, mobile app and in theatres, CEO Adam Aron announced this week.
Pets at Home
Go Instore has announced a partnership with Pets at Home.
The retailer will tap its HD-video technology that enables customers and their pets to connect with store colleagues via video calls.
SberMarket and METRO
SberMarket, a grocery and off-the-shelf goods online delivery service, has partnered with METRO to open what is pitched as the first joint dark store (aka micro-fulfilment centre) in Moscow.
