Ten retail technology investments that should be on your radar
These companies are leading the way in providing retail systems powered experiences that are one step ahead of their customers’ expectations, including Carrefour Group, Amazon UK, Kroger and Coca-Cola.
1. M&S
Medallia and KPMG UK have been selected to deliver Marks & Spencer’s new Voice of the Customer programme across its UK and International business.
Powered by Medallia’s technology and delivered by KPMG’s customer consulting team, this will bring together all of the retailer’s global data sources within one platform.
The aim is to gain a live, connected view of the customer experience across its operations for the first time, support its business transformation and help use data to drive decision making.
2. Amazon
Amazon’s cashierless Just Walk Out technology is now available in a full size grocery store for the first time.
A new 25,000 square foot Amazon Fresh store lines up alongside the 10,400 square foot Amazon Go Grocery that debuted last year, and the standard 1,200 and 2,300 square feet Go locations.
It will be Amazon’s 14th Fresh location in the US when it opens tomorrow in Bellevue, Washington.
3. Delivery Hero
European online food delivery venture Delivery Hero is partnering with RELEX Solutions to optimise its supply chain planning across all product categories.
RELEX’s AI driven forecasting and replenishment solution will service the company’s quick commerce across Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East.
4. Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland has partnered with Manna for a drone delivery service in Oranmore, Galway.
This is pitched as the largest commercial drone delivery trial of its kind in the world, with plans for further roll-out to Irish towns in the coming months.
Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta, Sprite and the Schweppes range will be available via the Manna platform.
5. The Very Group
The Very Group has kicked off a partnership with digital experience analytics startup Contentsquare.
The company, which operates Very.co.uk and Littlewoods.com, says that the tie up will allow it to “put data and insight at the heart of every change we make by visually bringing our data to life and giving our teams instant access to the insight that matters”.
It adds: “This will empower us to quickly make the right decisions for our customers, to create a world class customer experience at The Very Group”.
6. Carrefour Group
Carrefour Group has unveiled a new data and retail media strategy with the launch of its Carrefour Links platform.
This taps technology developed by Criteo, Google and LiveRamp.
7. LVMH
LVMH and Google Cloud have kicked off a strategic partnership.
According to a press release, the pair are teaming up to empower LVMH’s Maisons, the company’s individual luxury brands, to create “new, personalised customer experiences that foster long-term growth”.
As AI will increasingly touch every part of the value chain at LVMH, from product development to supply chain, to the interfaces with employees, partners, and customers, LVMH will leverage Google Cloud’s cloud technology and AI/ML tools to enable the development of new business use cases at scale.
8. Kroger
Kroger has opened a customer fulfilment centre (CFC) in Groveland, Florida, powered by Ocado Group technology.
This marks Kroger's entry into the Florida market with an e-commerce delivery service that features vertical integration, machine learning, and robotics.
9. The Hut Group
The Hut Group’s proprietary e-commerce platform THG Ingenuity is set to offer the Open Banking powered Mode solution as a payment option for customers.
10. Ted Baker
Ted Baker has announced the second round of its branded audio content series, Conversations In Culture, hosted on social networking app Clubhouse.
For the first session, resident host Abraxas Higgins will be joined by musician, actor, writer, and presenter Jordan Stephens to discuss live music and making connections in the industry.
Each subsequent weekly session will see different creatives take to the Clubhouse stage with Abraxas to exchange perspectives around different topics rooted in culture and fashion.
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