Carrefour UAE named global retailer of the year at RTIH Innovation Awards
Carrefour UAE was 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.
We received a record number of submissions this year across 14 categories (you can find a full rundown of the 2021 shortlists here).
Our winners and highly commended companies were announced during an exclusive event that took place in central London last week and was attended by retailers, members of our judging panel, and sponsors.
Carrefour UAE, which was launched in 1995 by Majid Al Futtaim, picked up the Most Innovative Global Retailer gong for launching checkout free store, Carrefour City+.
A first for Carrefour worldwide and situated in Mall of the Emirates, this taps AiFi powered artificial intelligence technology.
Store access and shopping payment is enabled via the MAF Carrefour app. Once inside Carrefour City+, every item picked up by customers is automatically added to a digital shopping basket and the purchase is completed by walking out.
Also this year, Carrefour UAE teamed with Russian tech giant Yandex to explore autonomous technology solutions that enhance its last mile delivery capabilities.
This made it the first omnichannel retailer to use self-driving robots for online order delivery in the region.
Majid Al Futtaim also joined IBM Food Trust, a blockchain-enabled initiative run on IBM Cloud.
As a result, Carrefour UAE become “the first retailer in the region to offer new levels of insight and transparency to its customers about the provenance of their food via end-to-end visibility on products throughout its supply chain”.
What our judges had to say…
Mike Cadden, IT Director (Sales, Marketing and Customer Services), Office Depot: “A number of things stood out in the Carrefour entry, primarily the focus on ESG honesty in the supply chain.”
“With all consumers becoming more aware of the need for sustainability through the SC, the only way to deliver change is to ensure the there is transparency throughout the chain and by working with the IBM Food Trust Carrefour are acting on the promise.”
“Additionally the work with autonomous and electric delivery mechanisms is the icing on this particular entry.”
Martin Newman, Founder, The Customer First Group: “Majid Al Futtaim have proven that they are a truly innovative retail group. From autonomous vehicles to leveraging blockchain to ensure food safety, they are leveraging technology to improve all aspects of their business and of the experience for their customers.”
Tiffany Lung, Retail Analyst: “Carrefour has shown strength in becoming a global leader in digital retail, having had success with its checkout-free stores in UAE and bringing it forward to France with Carrefour Flash. Strong digital transformation and strategy plan in place with its data-centric, digital first approach.”
Simon Curtis, Sales and Marketing Director, PMC Retail: “They are driving every possible innovation, forward thinking, and driving the best possible customer experiences. The list of initiatives are outstanding.”
“Checkout free store, electronic shelf labels, smart checkout, and mobile scan and go. Autonomous technology solutions that enhance last mile delivery capabilities, the first omnichannel retailer to use self-driving robots for online order delivery in the region, and blockchain technology in its supply chain.”
In conclusion
Scott Thompson, Editor and Founder of RTIH, says: “Innovation and technology play a critical role in the success of the retail sector, so it was great to recognise standout examples through our awards.”
“Competition was tougher than ever, so to emerge victorious was no mean feat.”
He adds: “Congratulations to Carrefour UAE and all of our other winners and highly commended companies. And thank you to our 2021 judging panel; their assistance in producing the winners list is hugely appreciated.”
