Check out this week's coolest retail technology reveals
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail systems’ deployments from the past seven days, including augmented reality powered Christmas window displays, checkout free stores, and shoppable digital OOH campaigns.
The Worcester Red Sox
The Worcester Red Sox and Standard AI are laying claim to baseball’s first autonomous retail experience at the WooSox Market in Polar Park.
Tapping AI powered cameras and the cloud, this enables fans to shop for snacks and memorabilia and pay without any scanning, waiting in line, or stopping to checkout.
Using the Standard AI Checkout app, they can add payment information and view their receipt shortly after purchase.
Kave Home
UK-based Hullabalook’s Stickers online technology is now live in Spain, France and Italy thanks to its partnership with Kave Home.
This converts retailers’ products into 2D ‘stickers’, which furniture shoppers can select and move around a blank canvas.
Users can explore a product catalogue, design their space and then checkout in one click.
Harrods
Harrods has worked with Visualise AR & VR on an augmented reality experience which blends the retailer’s Christmas window displays with 3D animations, delivered through WebAR technology in a mobile browser.
Mall of the Emirates
Mall of the Emirates has launched a sustainability themed festive installation.
During December, every hour from 12pm until midnight, its eight metre tall carbon neutral LED tree will showcase a display based around climate change.
Visitors will be encouraged to make a commitment to a more sustainable life through a festive pledge, which will see Mall of Emirates owner Majid Al Futtaim plant a tree for every pledge made.
boohooMAN
Rise at Seven has created and launched a non-fungible token (NFT) collection for online fashion retailer boohoo’s boohooMAN brand.
“We're used to starting trends, and this is no different. For the first time, an affordable fashion brand is launching an unforgettable line of NFTs, and who could get the virtual ball rolling better than boohooMAN?” the pureplay says in an online post.
“We're bringing our freshest threads from reality to NFT, to create a range of boohooMAN fits to hang on your virtual rail.”
“We've got a whole collection on offer, including t-shirts, outerwear, tracksuits and hoodies, meaning you can turn your digital wallet into a digital wardrobe in no time. Each item is brand new and completely unique, so once it's gone, it's gone.”
It adds: “Create a metaverse worthy streetwear fit, or just keep them as a collection: once they're yours, the sky's the limit. It's not enough to look cool in real life anymore - time to take your style into the virtual realm.”
Hudson
Hudson, which has more than 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks and tourist destinations across North America, has become the first retailer in the travel industry to offer Amazon’s palm recognition service, Amazon One.
This is now available at Hudson Nonstop – powered by Just Walk Out technology – at Dallas Love Field Airport.
Compass Group UK & Ireland
Compass Group UK & Ireland, part of foodservice business Compass Group, has unveiled plans to launch its first fully frictionless store in a workplace in early 2022.
This is set to open in Ireland followed by additional sites in the UK over the next year, including units within other corporate clients, as well as in the sports and leisure and defence sectors.
The new stores will utilise AiFi’s AI powered computer vision technology which allows shoppers to purchase items in-store without having to wait in line or stop to scan or pay.
They will typically stock a selection of both hot and chilled ‘grab-n-go’ dishes, drinks and confectionery.
Amazon
Amazon has opened Amazon Fresh locations in Euston, Wandsworth and Chingford, London, bringing the total number in the UK to 15.
These are powered by the e-commerce giant’s Just Walk Out technology, which was pioneered at Amazon Go in the States. and offer a selection of its private food brand, by Amazon.
Other stores can be found in the likes of Camden, Ealing, Wembley Park, White City, Canary Wharf and Dalston. Opening hours are from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, seven days a week.
Customers use the Amazon app to enter and put their phone away and shop for what they need. At the end of their visit, they can head for the exit, with no need to stand in a queue or check out.
eBay UK
eBay UK and McCann London have teamed up with window display designers from CLM Agency to create Small Business Shopfronts, a shoppable digital OOH campaign encouraging consumers to shop small in the run up to Christmas.
Five of eBay UK’s Small Business Award winners (Botanico, Brown & Ginger, Bosede Accessories, Go Thrift and St Rocco’s Hospice) were chosen to have their own shop fronts designed and photographed, each celebrating the seller’s products and personalities.
The campaign covers the likes of both Westfield centres in London, New Street Station in Birmingham, and Manchester One.
QR codes on each display allow members of the public to visit and support over 300,000 small businesses on eBay over the festive period.
Netto
Discount grocery retailer, Netto, part of the Edeka Group, has opened its first ever Trigo powered frictionless checkout store in Munich, Germany.
The 250 square metre store underwent a retrofit to become a Pick&Go hybrid autonomous offering.
