Ten retail technology investments that should be on your radar
These companies are leading the way in providing innovative retail systems powered customer experiences, including Best Buy, Watsons, New Look, Sodexo and John Lewis Partnership.
1. Chelsea F.C.
English Premier League club Chelsea F.C. has deployed Fiserv’s Clover platform.
More than 200 Clover PoS devices and handheld Clover Flex devices have been rolled out to enable contact free purchases at stadium food and beverage outlets, and for match day programmes, museum entrance and stadium tours.
“The implementation of Clover devices at Stamford Bridge is the next step in our progression toward a completely cashless experience,” says Guy Laurence, Chief Executive at Chelsea Football Club.
2. Best Buy
Best Buy has signed on to Criteo’s retail media platform.
Advertisers can use the cross retailer, self-service offering to reach BestBuy.com and BestBuy.ca shoppers in the US and Canada, via sponsored products.
"The full range of tech products and services that we provide to customers have helped us build relationships with them that extend well before and after they use their technology," says Frank Crowson, Chief Marketing Officer at Best Buy.
"First-party data helps us enhance the customer experience both in stores and on BestBuy.com. By joining Criteo's retail media platform, we'll be able to better serve our customers with relevant content we know they're looking for when shopping online."
3. M.Video-Eldorado Group
Russian consumer electronics retailer, M.Video-Eldorado Group, has rolled out an artificial intelligence powered in-store video analytics solution.
This was developed in-house by the company’s data office.
4. Watsons
Asian health and beauty brand, Watsons, has launched its artificial intelligence powered Foundation Finder tool in its mobile app for Watsons Hong Kong and Malaysia customers.
This will also later be rolled out to other Asian markets including the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan.
5. Starship Technologies
Starship Technologies is to begin an autonomous delivery service on four additional US college campuses: University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), University of Kentucky (UK), University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach, FL campus.
6. New Look
New Look has selected Kibo’s Kibo Personalization solution as it looks to scale its testing and personalisation programme.
The retailer is planning to implement a conversion rate optimisation programme with Kibo across key channels.
There will be a special focus on improved agility, more flexible testing and experimentation (utilising features like dynamic testing), advanced customer segmentation, analytics and insights, and out-of-the-box integrations with partners like Contentsquare.
7. Otero Menswear
Perfitly, a VR/AR and AI powered virtual fitting room solution for online retailers, has partnered with Otero Menswear, a brand catering to men with heights between 5’4” – 5’10”.
As a result, Otero’s new website is centred around Perfitly’s virtual fitting and tailored size recommendation capabilities. Once on the homepage, users select their height, body type, body shape, pant waist size and length.
From there, Perfitly powers and presents a personalised virtual avatar based on the user’s measurements. They can then select from a range of polos and T-shirts which are displayed on the avatar.
8. Sodexo
Kiwibot has partnered with food services and facilities management giant Sodexo to bring its robots to US college campuses.
Students and faculty at New Mexico State University, Loyola Marymount University and Gonzaga University now have the option to order fresh meals via robots from Sodexo serviced locations on campuses.
It’s a welcome boost for Kiwibot, whose main competitor, Starship Technologies, has made more than 1.5 million autonomous deliveries around the world, and operates in many college campuses.
9. John Lewis Partnership
The John Lewis Partnership has inked a deal with Tesco to lease a one million sq ft distribution centre at Fenny Lock in Milton Keynes.
It says that the move will help it meet growing customer demand for online orders. Since the start of the Covid pandemic, online sales have grown from 40% to over 60% of John Lewis’s total sales.
The warehouse, leased for 11 years, will become its second largest distribution centre after its two million sq ft campus at Magna Park in Milton Keynes.
10. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Amazon Web Services is working with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to upgrade its technology infrastructure and develop and deliver new guest services across its 21 brands, including Days Inn, La Quinta, Microtel, Ramada, Super 8, and Wyndham.
This is part of Wyndham’s multi-year digital transformation and investment in technology that aims to automate hotel reservations, support its franchisees by helping simplify operations, and enhance the guest experience across properties globally.
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