The five biggest retail technology news stories of the week
It’s Friday, the week is nearly done, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past five days, including Asda, GoodMaps, Adyen, Leon, and the 2021 RTIH Innovation Awards.
1. Asda trials indoor map service for blind and visually impaired
Asda is testing out new technology which aims to make it easier for blind and partially sighted customers to navigate their way around its Stevenage store.
To coincide with the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, from 3rd December Asda’s flagship technology store is the first supermarket in the UK to be integrated into the GoodMaps smartphone app, specifically built for use amongst the blind and partially sighted.
2. 2021 RTIH Innovation Awards: winners announced
Metapack, Asda, Carrefour UAE, Situ Live, Starbucks, Oracle, Go Instore and Halla were among the companies who emerged victorious at RTIH’s 2021 retail technology awards.
The awards, sponsored by PMC, StoreSpace, Critizr, Marxent, QVALON and Selazar, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
3. Sorted announces Series C round and Clicksit acquisition
Sorted, a UK-based startup that specialises in software for online checkouts, warehouses and shipping, has closed a $40 million Series C funding round and acquired Clicksit, an automated returns company.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Carmen Carey, CEO at Sorted, comments: “Our acquisition of Clicksit marks an important milestone in the company’s rapid expansion journey.”
“Returns is, now more than ever, a crucial step in the e-commerce customer journey, and we are excited to power returns innovation as part of our full delivery experience platform.”
4. 7-Eleven and Nuro test out autonomous delivery service in California
7-Eleven has teamed with Nuro to pilot a commercial delivery service using autonomous vehicles in Mountain View, California.
Customers can access this through the convenience store giant’s 7NOW delivery app.
The pilot will initially use Nuro’s self-driving Priuses before moving on to its R2 delivery vehicles.
5. LEON boosts charitable efforts through Adyen tie up
Payments big hitter Adyen has announced the extension of its partnership with fast food brand LEON to include Adyen Giving.
This enables customers to donate directly to LEON’s chosen charity when making payments on digital kiosks in-store.
Since the partnership began in June 2020, the company has worked with Adyen and Vitamojo to create an online Click and Collect ordering channel and power the roll-out of self-service digital kiosks in-store.
LEON also relied on Adyen’s solution to help launch its coffee subscription service, which was used to encourage guests back into restaurants as they returned to the office post lockdown, making it possible for customers to order drinks online and collect in-store.
LEON has chosen to direct donations to Bags of Taste, a non-profit that helps people in poverty to cook healthy, delicious food on a tight budget.
The Adyen Giving feature is currently running at 20 of its restaurant locations and has so far raised over £8,000 from 11,000+ individual donations.
