The retail technology space during the coronavirus pandemic

Retail Technology Innovation Hub rounds up the key retail systems related Covid-19 developments from last week.

62% of UK shoppers believe they will do most of their shopping online a year from now, according to research by Klarna involving 1,022 people.

With the easing of coronavirus restrictions on retail and some hospitality on 12th April, UK consumers have been returning to their local high streets, shopping centres and retail parks. But it is unlikely we will see a return to pre-pandemic levels of footfall anytime soon.

According to research from BRC and Sensormatic, total UK footfall decreased by 40% in April (Yo2Y), with a 28.7 percentage point improvement from March. This is above the three month average decline of 59.2%.

Munich Airport has become the first European airport to introduce the mobile PayPal QR Code payment system in all its stores.

This has been deployed at its Eurotrade subsidiary which operates 41 shops including duty free, news and fashion.

Wir freuen uns, dass der #munichairport als erster Airport in Europa den #PayPal QR-Code direkt am POS in ausgewählten Shops integriert hat. Die Bezahlung per @PayPalDE App ist eine schnelle und vor allem kontaktlose Alternative. Mehr Infos gibt es hier: https://t.co/se5ObOTRZm https://t.co/EjGxqxzUnz
— Munich Airport (@MUC_Airport) May 6, 2021

Delivery firm DPD is rolling out a new air quality monitoring programme across six UK cities.

Project BREATHE is live in London with 100 mobile air quality sensors on the roof of DPD vans and 20 fixed units on the company’s PickUp shops close to schools and play areas.

By the end of May, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff will join the initiative, creating a network of over 400 sensors in total, delivering 1.5 million pollution readings a day.

54% of UK shoppers prefer interactions with both workers and technology rather than fully automated retail experiences, according to research from VoCoVo.

The company surveyed 4,024 people who shop online and in physical stores in the UK and US. It also found that 49% value store workers more as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

22% of UK shoppers regularly use guest accounts to purchase online goods in order to avoid handing over personal data, according to a new report from Empathy.co.

Aldi UK will mark the lifting of coronavirus lockdown restrictions with Junemas, a summer sequel to the damp squib that was Christmas 2020.

Let's be honest, last Christmas didn't have our hearts, and sleigh bells weren't ringing like they usually do. Time for round two!
Just one thing. It's in June.
INTRODUCING ✨🎄JUNEMAS🎄✨ Mark your calendars for June 25th & look out for some surprises instore! #AldiJunemas pic.twitter.com/K9NJlKuIoh
— Aldi Stores UK (@AldiUK) May 5, 2021

71% of UK shoppers will make a conscious effort to support bricks and mortar retailers now non-essential stores have reopened, with 66% saying they had missed the high street during coronavirus lockdowns.

That’s according to research by Sensormatic Solutions, involving over 1,000 Brits.

Online furniture retailer Made.com has announced the development of an additional 350,000 square foot warehouse at DP World’s London Gateway Logistics Park in Tilbury.

The UK-based firm’s current furniture warehouse at the Tilbury site measures 225,000 square feet, handles approximately 750,000 units per year and has an average SKU range of 2,300.