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 NFT drops, store windows becoming augmented reality powered gamification platforms, and frictionless store technology.
Asda
Just Eat has announced a partnership with Asda, marking its first tie-up with a major grocer in the UK.
From January, Just Eat customers will be able to shop from five Asda stores, with the exact locations to be announced in the near future.
This builds on an existing relationship, which sees Just Eat delivering pizzas and meal deals from Asda Kitchen. The service runs across 42 locations nationwide.
Chico's FAS and Walmart
Chico's FAS has become the first fashion client for Walmart's white label delivery service, Walmart GoLocal.
This has launched in select US markets, including Chicago, Illinois, and Fort Myers, Florida, and will expand to other parts of the country in 2022.
E-commerce orders from the company’s three brands - Chico's, White House Black Market and Soma - can be delivered to customers in as quickly as two hours.
The Giant Company and Ahold Delhaize USA
Retail Business Services, part of Ahold Delhaize USA, has announced a new location powered by its frictionless store technology.
The Giant Company has added the solution at its new e-commerce fulfilment centre in Philadelphia as an option for its more than 125 team members to shop food items.
“This innovative technology was created to meet the needs of connected customers – or busy associates – whose lives are in constant motion,” says Rom Kosla, EVP, IT and CIO at Retail Business Services.
“Once an individual downloads the app, they can simply scan in, shop and walk out. It’s that easy. Shoppers can grab a snack, a salad, fresh fruit or even a carton of milk as they head home.”
“It’s a particularly relevant capability for a location like this, where team members would otherwise need to travel off site to purchase food products.”
Miconex
Miconex is rolling out its digital gift card technology to 16 towns and cities across the UK.
Sunderland, Watford, Gloucester, Malmesbury, Perth, Scarborough, Wimbledon, Ipswich, Swansea, Worthing, Arran, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Bradford, Edinburgh, and Colchester are the first places to introduce the place based digital e-card gifting solution.
The tech allows the towns and cities to have their own digital gift card, which works though the Mastercard network, digital wallet services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, and a new Love Local app.
adidas Originals
adidas Originals has landed in the world of Web3 with what it calls “one of the most widely distributed NFT drops in history”.
Last weekend, the company pulled in over $22 million after its NFT pieces were minted within minutes of going live on sale.
Each of these were priced at ETH 0.2, which converts to $769. Out of the 30,000 NFTs that were made available, 29,620 have been sold while Adidas Originals’ partners kept 380 pieces for future events.
Nespresso
Nespresso has worked with LIGANOVA on the launch of an augmented reality and sound technology powered Gifts of the Forest festive campaign.
This turns the former’s store windows in to gamification platforms, with a competition being activated by scanning a QR code.
Tiziana Della Croce, Global Shopper Brand Experience Manager at Nespresso, says: “LIGANOVA has managed to enhance our storefronts around the world with a unique retail experience on a digital level and provided them with a walk in activation – not just for a single flagship store, but as a global campaign for boutiques worldwide. This year we are setting new standards with our festive campaign.”
Mulberry
GoodBox has partnered with Mulberry to offer its contactless devices in UK stores, with the aim of raising funds for The Felix Project.
A number of the luxury fashion brand’s stores have been fitted with the devices to raise awareness of the charity and encourage shoppers over the festive period to donate with a simple tap.
Unilever
Livestream commerce platform provider Firework has been selected to explore a partnership with Unilever.
This follows Firework’s participation in the global consumer goods giant’s Positive Beauty Growth Platform, powered by its Beauty & Personal Care Division and The Unilever Foundry, Unilever’s collaborative innovation network.
“Building a thriving two way relationship with the global startup community helps power experimentation, deliver business solutions and fuel growth: this is the Positive Beauty Growth Platform,” says Baz Saidieh, Head of The Unilever Foundry.
“In areas like social commerce, harnessing the disruptive approach of startups like Firework, a definite rocket-ship we’ve been watching, will help us pioneer revolutionary consumer experiences.”
