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 Joybird, AO, The Very Group, Urban Outfitters and Walmart.

1. Avon México

Perfect Corp., developer of the YouCam Makeup app, has partnered with Avon México.

Avon is an early adopter of Perfect Corp’s AI and AR tech within its digital shopping experience, providing virtual try-on and shade matching for a selection of Avon PowerStay products across foundations, eye makeup, and lip categories, as well as its Advanced Techniques hair colour collection.

The service is available to over 400,000 Avon representatives across the Mexican territory.

2. Joybird

Marxent has partnered with Joybird to bring ‘Inspired by Pinterest Trends’ to the online furniture retailer’s 3D Space Planner.

This comes as part of Joybird’s larger partnership with Pinterest, while Marxent says that its 3D Cloud powered 3D Space Planner provides users with the only tool that features content inspired directly by the social media platform.

The new feature allows shoppers to browse photos that reflect current Pinterest Trends data within the Joybird 3D Space Planner tool, then customise the scene in 3D to reflect their real life floorplan, without searching through catalogues or product pages to find the look that inspired them.

3. The Very Group

The Very Group, operator of online retailers Very.co.uk and Littlewoods.com, has extended the next day delivery cut off for customer orders from 7pm to 10pm, thanks to automated technology at Skygate, its East Midlands fulfilment centre.

Skygate’s automated sortation, selection, picking and single or multi-order packaging technology has orders ready for dispatch within 30 minutes, compared to around four hours at Very’s previous fulfilment centres.

4. Walmart

Walmart has launched a white label service, Walmart GoLocal, that uses its logistics network to deliver products for other retailers.

“In an era where customers have come to expect speed and reliability, it’s more important than ever for businesses to work with a service provider that understands a merchant’s needs,” says John Furner, President and CEO, Walmart U.S.

“We have spent years building and scaling commerce capabilities that support our network of more than 4,700 stores and we look forward to helping other businesses have access to the same reliable, quality and low cost services.”

Today we announced Walmart GoLocal, a new venture that uses our scale and last-mile infrastructure to offer local delivery to businesses of all kinds. Read more: https://t.co/Zakg5cZg9v pic.twitter.com/k0aKwGxp40
— Walmart Inc. (@WalmartInc) August 24, 2021

5. StubHub

US startup Lolli has announced a partnership with ticket marketplace StubHub.

This gives people the ability to earn up to 6% Bitcoin back on tickets for the likes of sporting events, theatre, and concerts.

StubHub joins 1,000+ other retailers offering Bitcoin rewards with Lolli, including Microsoft, Sephora, Kroger, and Best Buy.

BREAKING: Excited to announce that @StubHub is now LIVE on https://t.co/rGJV9bI42g! 🚀

Earn free bitcoin on tickets to millions of live events including sports, concerts, and theater.

Full release:https://t.co/qCQO1eytGR
— Lolli 🍭 (@trylolli) August 25, 2021

6. Nordstrom

Nordstrom is launching a new affiliate program geared toward recruiting younger influencers aged between 14 and 22.

The Ambassador Program will offer mentorship experiences in retail, fashion, digital styling, content creation and other roles.

“We’re looking to build an inclusive digital community for young adults in high school and college by creating a platform to share your voice and values through mentorship experiences, digital styling opportunities, content creation roles and so much more,” the retailer said in a statement.

“Through our program, you’ll be able to participate in meaningful conversations, explore career interests, ask questions and get advice from a supportive network of peers and professionals.”

7. The Post Office

It is now possible to collect parcels and letters from Post Offices using an app on your phone to show your ID, instead of having to bring a document such as a passport or driving licence.

The Post Office EasyID app, which has been created by Yoti, can be used for completing online transactions that require proof of identity at: 10,500 Post Offices for mail collections.

Also, 5,000 Post Offices that offer National Lottery ticket purchases or for claiming prizes under £500.

13,000 Payzone outlets within convenience stores as a proof of identity or a proof of age for example when buying a national lottery ticket or age-restricted items such as cigarettes; 12,000 retailers across the UK that already accept ID provided by Yoti.

To use the app, customers download it from Android Play or the Apple App Store. They then verify their identity using documents such as a passport, driving licence or national ID card, and facial recognition software.

This creates a secure digital ID on their mobile device, including their photo and date of birth, which is protected by their biometrics and a PIN, and can be presented in Post Offices and shops.

SPOILER ALERT: Daryl finally finds a place to charge his phone and ends up using an app to prove his ID in a Post Office that opens just outside of Alexandria 📦 https://t.co/xTqS78PMR6
— Yoti (@getyoti) August 23, 2021

8. Grubhub

Grubhub and Yandex Self-Driving Group are rolling out food delivery via Yandex’s robots at The Ohio State University (OSU).

The two companies announced a tie up in July and this is the first US college campus to go live with their service.

More than 60,000 Buckeyes will be able to order from dining locations via the Grubhub app and have food delivered by one of 50 Yandex robots.

These will operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Students can request robots to deliver food to every residence hall on campus as well as Thompson Library and Bricker Hall.

9. JD Sports

In a campaign to support the new Nike Air VaporMax, JD Sports has teamed up with TikTok for an augmented reality shoe try on initiative.

The @Nike VaporMax 2021 are now available to pre-order 👀

Want a chance to WIN @Nike kicks for a year?! We’re challenging you on TikTok to move ya feet to the beat in our #JDVaporMaxShuffle comp! 🕺

Hit the link to order & enter 📲https://t.co/TEtkDQyxxk #JDOfficial #Nike pic.twitter.com/QGLJ9Y5HQJ
— JD (@JDOfficial) August 17, 2021

10. Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters is set to launch a marketplace for secondhand goods.

Nuuly Thrift will be available as an iPhone app later this year.

It will be a sister platform to Urban Outfitters’ subscription rental programme, Nuuly Rent, and will allow customers to sell and buy items from any brand, not just in-house products.