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 Ocado Group vs AutoStore, Amazon’s major online grocery delivery plans, and Asda winning big at the RTIH Innovation Awards.
1. Ocado blasts 'misconceived' AutoStore robot warehouse patent infringement move
UK-based Ocado Group has won a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Norwegian robotics firm AutoStore in the International Trade Commission (ITC).
AutoStore had filed the lawsuit last year in both the United States and the United Kingdom, claiming Ocado’s grocery picking robots infringed on its automated designs.
The ITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge held three of the four AutoStore patents were invalid while the fourth one was not infringed by Ocado. A fifth patent was abandoned by AutoStore the night before the trial.
The judge also rejected AutoStore's request for barring Ocado and its partners from making and selling the products involved, and from importing them into the United States.
2. Amazon set to ramp up online grocery delivery efforts in 2022
Amazon is planning to launch a new grocery delivery service in the US next year and expand its current offering in Europe, according to a report by The Information.
While the e-commerce giant has been making deliveries through Whole Foods and from Amazon warehouses for a number of years, this latest move brings in third-party retailers, supermarkets and vendors.
In the UK, Prime subscribers are already able to order same-day deliveries of groceries from Morrisons and Co-op, using the Amazon app and website.
Amazon didn't respond to a request for comment, but a spokesperson told The Information that "partnerships with other grocers enable more customers to shop online and allow us to provide Amazon Prime members with more choice, value and convenience."
3. Asda named UK retailer of the year at RTIH Innovation Awards
Asda 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.
4. Instacart boss Fidji Simo joins Shopify board of directors
Canadian e-commerce platform giant Shopify has added Fidji Simo to its board of directors.
Simo is the CEO and member of the board of directors at Instacart.
Prior to joining Instacart, she was the Vice President and Head of the Facebook app. Before that, she helped build out eBay’s local commerce and classified advertising initiatives.
5. Netto taps Trigo tech for hybrid, checkout-free store in Munich, Germany
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.
Christina Stylianou, Head of Corporate Communications at Netto Marken-Discount, says: “Using Pick&Go, we’re testing an innovative shopping service for customers. At the same time, this new offer enables us to respond to the current desire of many people for fewer contacts in everyday life.”
