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 the 2021 RTIH Innovation Awards, Black Friday, and the supply chain crisis.
Burger King, Qvalon, Red Ant and Scantranx are among the nominees in 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, sponsored by Critizr, 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.
2021 shortlist as follows:
Qvalon worked with Burger King Russia to put into a mobile application all the business processes that regulate and monitor the quality of cleaning and janitorial services, and deployed special digital checklists to ensure compliance to all Covid related hygiene and safety standards and protocols.
When Covid-19 forced consumers to stay home for much of 2020, they logged online in droves to order their groceries. But, while online grocery shopping enjoyed 300% growth, consumers complained about the disappointing and frustrating experience of online grocery shopping. Enter Halla.
Developed as an extension of its clienteling app during the pandemic, Red Ant’s shoppable virtual consultations solution was the first of its kind to launch to market.
Since the pandemic began, Scantranx has helped lots of SMB to quickly adopt online sales to weather the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The cloud native Sitoo platform, with its retail PoS, makes omnichannel a given and turns unified commerce into reality.
ÏDKIDS Group and its children’s fashion brand Okaïdi saw the shifting retail environment caused by Covid-19 as an opportunity to accelerate digital transformation plans.
What’s next?
We will now ask our judging panel to cast their votes and provide their feedback. The winner will be revealed on 8th December at a roundtable discussion/networking event in central London.
Toby Carveries, Miller & Carter, Harvester, Browns and various pubs will soon be on the Uber Eats UK app.
By the end of the year, food from 1,000 Mitchells & Butlers restaurants, bars and pubs will be available for home delivery.
US-based online grocery startup, Misfits Market, has launched in California.
Following the company’s $225 million Series C-1 this September, Misfits Market, which specialises in the delivery of food that would otherwise be wasted, has been focused on Stateside expansion and increasing the selection of items available to customers.
Overall spend during the Black Friday peak period (Friday, 12th November to Monday, 29th November) is set to hit £6.25 billion in 2021, according to Wunderman Thompson Commerce.
Cancelled orders and lengthy delays because of the supply chain crisis are seriously testing British consumers’ brand loyalty, with 85% of young shoppers saying they would rather switch labels than wait for their favourites to arrive, according to research from Oracle.
The company surveyed 1,000 people. 91% were worried that the aforementioned problems are here to stay.
77% have felt the supply pinch, which has been blamed on the impact of Covid and post-Brexit adjustments.
