The five biggest retail technology news stories of the month
November is nearly done, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful month for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past four weeks. Featuring Carrefour, Amazon, Starbucks, Nuro, Walmart and Twitter.
1. Carrefour taps AiFi tech for new Flash 10/10 convenience store
Carrefour opened a Flash 10/10 concept store in Paris on 24th November.
The convenience store – developed in collaboration with US startup AiFi – is pitched as the first of its kind in France, and is located at 11 avenue Parmentier, in the capital’s eleventh arrondissement.
Flash 10/10 ("10 seconds to shop and 10 seconds to pay”) features a shopping journey that does not involve having to scan any products and quick payment.
Customers don't need to take items out of their bags. They can enter and exit the store without having to pass through a gateway. There is no need to download an app or register beforehand. And they can view their total spend in real-time.
2. Amazon UK takes on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Co-op with hundreds of grocery stores
Amazon UK is planning to open more than 260 Amazon Fresh grocery stores before the end of 2024.
These will be all cashierless, tapping the e-commerce giant’s Just Walk Out technology, the company said in internal documents, according to a Business Insider report.
These state: “In 2022, we assume a broader roll-out of two store launches per week by the end of [the] year, targeting 60 total openings.”
“In 2023 and 2024, we are planning 100 store launches per year, in line with more aggressive opening programmes achieved by convenience stores in the UK in the last five years, Tesco’s, Sainsbury’s and Co-op have all exceeded 100 openings per year.”
Amazon, which has poached Tony Hoggett from Tesco to head up its international stores arm, is also reportedly looking to open a number of locations in Germany, Spain and Italy next year.
3. Nuro closes mega Series D funding round
Autonomous vehicle company Nuro has announced a $600 million round of funding led by Tiger Global Management.
This has pushed its valuation to around $8.6 billion, according to media reports.
There was also participation from Baillie Gifford, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Gaorong Capital, Google, Kroger, SoftBank Vision Fund 1, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Woven Capital, and other existing investors as part of the venture’s Series D funding round.
The cash will support the development and deployment of Nuro’s autonomous delivery service across the US.
4. Walmart enlists Jason Derulo for first shoppable livestream on Twitter
Walmart kicked off Cyber Week with a shoppable livestream event featuring Jason Derulo.
This beta tested Twitter’s shoppable livestream function, allowing customers to shop products straight from the platform.
“This will be the first time a brand in the US has leveraged this capability on Twitter and I’m excited to bring customers incredible deals on a platform they already love during the most joyful shopping season of the year,” said William White, Chief Marketing Officer, Walmart U.S.
“Twitter is a platform where we consistently see high return across top-and middle-of-funnel content, so it’s a natural next step for us to explore this new functionality.”
5. New Starbucks Pickup with Amazon Go store taps Just Walk Out tech
The first Starbucks Pickup with Amazon Go location opened this month in New York City, powered by the latter’s Just Walk Out checkout free technology.
Located at 59th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues, this offers the full Starbucks menu and an assortment of food and beverages in the Amazon Go market.
RTIH first reported on this tie up in October. Starbucks and Amazon plan to open at least two more locations over the next year.
