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 Metro, Specsavers, M.Video and Purina.

1. Purina

Purina has partnered with Perch to launch an in-store product engagement platform at 200 supermarket locations in the US midwest.

Tapping Perch’s “lift-and-learn” technology, interactive end caps in the pet section incorporate a digital screen that automatically senses what products shoppers touch to respond with videos and information about said products.

2. M.Video

Russian consumer electronic retail chain M.Video has launched a virtual assistant called Alyona.

Voice processing technologies have, it says, enabled the company to reduce the workload of its contact centre staff, reduce response times and increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.

3. HERO

Virtual shopping platform, HERO, has launched a new product, Stories, pitched as as an alternative to livestreaming events.

Currently being used by the likes of Ted Baker, size?, Faherty, and Innersense Beauty, this aims to make it easy for brands to create shoppable, short-form One-To-Many videos that bring products to life, and share them directly on their online store.

Today, eCommerce comes alive.

Introducing our most impactful product to-date, Stories—bringing the familiarity of social style-stories to online shopping 🤳

Discover more 👉 https://t.co/qRUbEETwYD pic.twitter.com/h6aP4K7WV4
— HERO® (@usehero) June 17, 2021

4. Sports Direct

Sports Direct has reopened its London Oxford Street flagship store, following a £10 million retail tech centric makeover.

The retailer says that the 50,000 sq. ft location will host the most LED, digital and interactive technology on Oxford Street.

5. Majid Al Futtaim

Majid  Al  Futtaim, which owns and operates shopping malls, retail, and leisure establishments in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced a partnership with RELEX Solutions.

RELEX’s automated planogramming solution will be implemented at Carrefour’s 350 stores across 17 countries that are part of Majid Al Futtaim Retail’s portfolio.

Initially, the tech will be rolled out to stores in the United Arab Emirates. It will be expanded to Majid Al Futtaim’s other markets as the project continues.

The leading shopping mall, and retail and leisure pioneer, @MajidAlFuttaim, selects RELEX to optimize on-shelf inventory across 350 Carrefour stores in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. #retail #technology https://t.co/TRkE5d0FKY
— RELEX Solutions (@RelexSolutions) June 17, 2021

6. Specsavers

Specsavers is working with Accenture as it looks to improve its technology capabilities.

This builds on an existing relationship between the pair and calls for Accenture, working with Microsoft, to modernise Specsavers’ legacy IT architecture with cloud, intelligent automation and security solutions.

7. Metro

Pricer’s partner JRTech Solutions has inked a new framework agreement with Canadian food retailer Metro to continue supplying the former’s electronic shelf labels.

The pair have also reached an agreement to deploy Pricer Plaza’s Cloud Automated Product Positioning solution. This leverages ESLs to automatically position a product in a store.

@JRTechSolutions est fier d'annoncer la signature d'un nouvel accord-cadre avec Metro Inc. pour continuer à fournir des #étiquettesélectroniques @PricerAB dans leurs magasins.

Pour plus d'infos👇https://t.co/ylRqh2aWa6 #ESL #digitalisation #épicerie #newnormal
— JRTech Solutions (@JRTechSolutions) June 22, 2021

8. Decathlon

Decathlon has deployed Datadobi’s DobiMigrate software to help enable the move of its IT operations into the cloud.

9. M&S

Go Instore and Appointedd have teamed with Marks and Spencer to launch M&S Video Expert, a live video offering designed to recreate in-store beauty and furniture services for online customers.

This is operated by colleagues at M&S White City in London.

The service taps Go Instore’s live video tech and Appointedd’s online booking and scheduling platform.

A key feature is M&S staff being able to deliver interactive StoreStream live sessions on the retailer’s website, which allows an unlimited number of customers to join a live stream broadcast to learn more about products as they are browsing.

10. Verizon

Verizon has partnered with UK digital technology innovation centre, Digital Catapult, to launch a 5G immersive retail accelerator initiative.

The aim is to help brands, including Burberry, Diageo and L’Oréal UK & Ireland, explore how 5G enabled solutions can solve real world challenges.

Such concepts include experimentation of the in-store experience, out of store experience, digital product visualisation and virtual events such as fashion shows and product showcases.