RTIH presents the retail technology week in numbers
Do you like numbers? Do you like retail systems news? Then this is the article for you. Featuring Walmart, OnBuy, Flipkart and Klarna.
25…Walmart has announced a supply chain automation partnership with Symbotic.
The two will deploy robotics tech at 25 regional Walmart distribution centres, with roll-out set to take several years to complete.
This builds on a 2017 pilot that brought Symbotic’s autonomous robotics platform to Walmart’s Brooksville, Florida distribution centre in a bid to increase freight sorting, stocking and unloading.
42% of UK consumers say they have missed, on average, three deliveries due to miscommunication by a brand or courier during the coronavirus pandemic, according to research from Sorted.
The company surveyed 2,000 people and says that, with 63% expecting to be out of the house more frequently now that Covid-19 restrictions have begun to lift (rising to 77% of those aged 18-34), retailers must focus on customer communications and a connected delivery experience to put fears at rest.
150…Proud of My Store, the competition from customer interaction management specialist, Critizr, that celebrates frontline retail workers in the UK, is being extended until the end of July.
Nearly 150 entries are currently featured on the competition website, telling tales of dedication, community spirit and customer service that went above and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic – from big name supermarkets to small regional boutiques and cafes.
$70 million…UK-based Banking as a Service outfit Railsbank has raised $70 million in a funding round led by Anthos Capital.
£5 million and £20 million…E-commerce technology platform startup, The Moot Group, has secured £5 million in seed funding in a round led by Fuel Ventures.
This is set to be followed by a Series A round anticipated to be in the region of £20 million.
$1.7 billion…Yanolja, a South Korean venture that provides cloud-based booking and other systems for the hospitality and travel sector, has completed a $1.7 billion investment round involving SoftBank Vision Fund 2.
It plans to use the funding to invest in the development of technologies and to expand its technology offerings in new markets.
The venture is looking to build and operate a more advanced global travel platform (GTP) by enhancing its automated solutions using artificial intelligence and personalised offerings based on Big Data.
£35 million…UK-based online marketplace OnBuy.com has closed £35 million in Series A+ funding through VC and strategic technology investors.
$10 million and $21 million…Retail AI solution provider, Shopic, has bagged $10 million in equity funding, bringing the total amount raised to date to $21 million.
14.1%…Faced with a reopened high street and further easing of coronavirus restrictions, UK online retail sales continued to fall to record breaking lows in June, down -14.1% YoY, according to research from IMRG and Capgemini.
$30 million…Online personal shopping service, Lookiero, has announced a $30 million Series C funding round, led by Perwyn, a family-backed private equity and growth capital investor.
$1.57 million…Vaayu, a startup which has developed carbon tracking software company for retailers, has raised $1.57 million in pre-seed funding.
1…Imagr recently opened its first popup store in London, UK, located on Oxford Street.
The New Zealand-based startup fitted out a Sook adaptable retail space into a mini-market for “a fully immersive autonomous supermarket experience”.
It invited prospective customers, tech experts and press into the space for demonstrations of the offering, which includes smart carts and an imaging station.
$3.6 billion and $37.6 billion…Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart has raised $3.6 billion at a post-money valuation of $37.6 billion.
The was co-led by main owner Walmart, GIC, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and comes ahead of an initial public offering (IPO), which is set for early next year.
250,000…Buy now pay later big hitter Klarna has acquired social shopping platform HERO. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In a press release, Klarna says it will “introduce HERO to its 250,000 retail partners, allowing their in-store teams to become content creators instantly, offering reviews, real-time advice and richer, more engaging and informative content around products to bring the best of in-store shopping to the online experience for consumers.”
HERO, based in London and New York, was founded in 2015 and its client roster includes Levi, rag & bone, Chloé, and Harvey Nichols.
It also shares a number of retail partners with Klarna’s network, such as Nike and JD Sports. All 100+ HERO employees will join Klarna.
130,000…Kroger is working with KNAPP to expand the capacity and enhance the capabilities of its Great Lakes distribution centre in Delaware, Ohio, USA.
The facility is currently being renovated to add new technology, including KNAPP's OSR Shuttle Evo and RUNPICK systems, with work set for completion this summer.
The DC – which opened in 2003 and currently services 115 stores in central and northwest Ohio, southeast Michigan and the Ohio River Valley region – will be expanded by 130,000 square feet.
$2.2 billion…Kurly, a startup that provides next day grocery delivery services across South Korea, has closed $200 million in Series F funding, valuing the company at $2.2 billion.
Last April, it closed a Series E of $150 million at a $780 million valuation.
2…Shekel Brainweigh has announced a second Paris-based autonomous store opening with Monoprix, part of French retailer Casino Group.
Located in Rue De Marseille, this features an autonomous section, which is part of a standard store during working hours, but once it closes, the section remains open with unique access control.
Shoppers use a mobile payment app to walk in, select their goods and walk out.
27.6%…Overall UK footfall levels in June saw little improvement on the previous month, although retail parks and shopping centres experienced an uptick, according to research from the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic IQ.
Total footfall decreased by 27.6% in June (Yo2Y), with a 0.1 percentage point improvement from May.
Footfall is down on pre-pandemic levels, as the public are making more purposeful shopping trips, with less browsing and more buying.
With most overseas holidays on hold, many Brits have sought out-of-town escapes while foreign tourist numbers have fallen. This appears to have helped footfall in smaller towns and cities.
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