The retail technology space during the coronavirus pandemic
Retail Technology Innovation Hub rounds up the key Covid-19 developments from last week.
90% of UK parents think home schooling amid the coronavirus pandemic will have long-term implications for their children’s development, according to research from Curry’s PC World.
Camile Thai Kitchen is set to open 15 new locations across the UK and Ireland with the creation of over 300 full and part time jobs.
It is also planning to raise €10 million as part of its plans to move ahead with “a technology-centric strategy”.
The chain claims to be the first in Europe to deliver its menu by drone and has plans to automate its kitchen operations with robotics in 2021.
US-based autonomous checkout solution provider, Standard Cognition, has announced a $150 million Series C round led by SoftBank.
This puts the venture’s valuation at $1 billion+, making it tech/retail's newest unicorn.
China is set to become the first country in which e-commerce surpasses 50% of retail sales, according to eMarketer.
It forecasts that 52.1% of the country’s retail will come from online in 2021, up from 44.8% last year. For almost every other country in the world, this datapoint remains far out of reach.
Artificial Intelligence startup Peak has announced a $21 million Series B funding round led by VC firm Oxx, with participation from existing investors MMC Ventures and Praetura Ventures, and newbie Arete.
29% of UK consumers have changed their diet since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
That’s according to a report commissioned by PwC’s Strategy& division in association with Google and food technology startup Spoon Guru and involving over 2,000 people.
Cult Beauty has launched a MatchMe digital foundation finder, powered by AI technology.
This has been developed in partnership with MIME (Make It My Experience).
Natural herbs product brand Gaia Herbs has announced a new partnership with Emarsys.
The latter will provide customer engagement and data analytics tools that, according to a press release, will “act as the lynchpin of the Gaia Herbs’ marketing tech stack, as part of its three-year plan for growth, establishing best practice within the business.”
Furniture Village has opened a virtual store.
Using Matterport technology, it has mapped the inside of its Guildford branch, allowing customers to ‘walk’ around the store and look at products. Clicking on a product opens another web page showing further information.
36% of American consumers are interested in trying on clothes using augmented or virtual reality to avoid physical fitting rooms during the coronavirus outbreak, according to research from Contentsquare.
Irgen Retail Management, a developer of shopping centres, retail parks and outlets in Italy, has selected Coniq’s geo-loyalty solution, IQ Connect.
It is looking to increase turnover by 10% this year at Cilento Outlet Village when normal footfall returns after Covid-19.
UK-based digital agency Profound has appointed Will Treasure, co-founder of retail strategy consultants Javelin Group, as Chairman.
Tesco Technology last week launched a virtual work experience programme in partnership with Speakers for Schools. This was aimed at Y10 students from across the UK.
Marks and Spencer Online has reported a record breaking Valentine’s Day.
“There was an unprecedented amount of love being shared this year and, as a result, I am incredibly proud to say that we’ve delivered our best ever Valentine’s Day online for flowers and food gifting,” Sreena Jamieson, Head of Online Trading & Digital Marketing (Foods) at M&S, said in a LinkedIn post.
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