This week's coolest retail technology reveals
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ten ‘future of retail systems’ deployments from the past seven days, including autonomous shopping technology, Q-commerce offerings, QR codes, and virtual try on experiences.
1. Oh Polly
Fashion brand Oh Polly has signed up to InPost’s QR code-based Instant Returns service.
This was launched earlier in the year.
There is no need for online shoppers to print a label at home when returning items, or at the drop off point. Instead, they scan their QR code at an InPost locker and hand the parcel over.
Missguided, New Look and schuh have also added Instant Returns to their online offerings.
2. Giant Eagle
US retailer Giant Eagle is working with Grabango on the installation of autonomous shopping technology at four more of its GetGo Cafe+Market convenience stores in the Pittsburgh area.
This builds on its initial deployment of Grabango's tech at a single GetGo location last year.
3. Walmart
Walmart has worked with Argo AI and Ford to launch an autonomous vehicle delivery service in Austin, Miami and Washington D.C.
This will use Ford self-driving test vehicles equipped with the Argo AI Self-Driving System to deliver Walmart orders to customers.
The service will be available within defined service areas of the three markets and will expand over time, with initial integration testing slated to begin later this year.
4. Barry M
UK cosmetics brand, Barry M, has launched a virtual try on online shopping experience, powered by Perfect Corp.’s YouCam for Web technology.
Customers can try on 180 SKUs across Barry M’s collection of shades and categories, including eyeshadow, eyeliner, lip paint, bronzer and contour. The service also enables people to discover their perfect Barry M Fresh Face foundation shade match.
5. wilko
wilko, a British high street chain which sells homewares and household goods, has announced a £3 million investment in UK autonomous delivery company, StreetDrone.
The investment, which is part of a wider multi-million-pound pre-Series A round, will enable StreetDrone to accelerate the development of its delivery vehicle and systems.
The plan is to bring autonomous deliveries to Wilko consumers by the end of 2023.
6. Kroger and Instacart
Instacart has partnered with Kroger to launch a Q-commerce offering called Kroger Delivery Now.
By using Kroger’s network of more than 2,700 stores, this focuses on delivery (within 30 minutes) of food and household staples via the likes of Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Fry’s, Mariano’s, and Smith’s.
7. Amazon
Amazon’s biometric scanner for retail, the Amazon One palm reader, is for the first time expanding beyond the e-commerce giant’s own stores.
“As we approach the first anniversary of the launch of Amazon One later this month, I’m excited to share that it’s now available as an option to enter Denver, Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre,” says Dilip Kumar, Vice President, Physical Retail and Technology.
“Amazon One will be offered by Amazon at the venue, where AXS, a leading digital ticketing company, will deploy standalone ticketing pedestals including Amazon One.”
“This means, upon enrolling their AXS Mobile ID with Amazon One, fans now have the option to simply scan their palm to enter concerts and events much faster and easier than before.”
8. AiFi
AiFi is enabling autonomous retail at US music festivals including BottleRock (3rd-5th September, Napa Valley), Sea.Hear.Now (18th-19th September, Asbury Park) and Governor’s Ball (24th-25th September, New York).
At BottleRock, event attendees were able to purchase an assortment of snacks, beverages, and merchandise from an Express Shop powered by AiFi and Verizon 5G + MEC.
People entered by tapping a credit card at the entrance. Once inside the store, AiFi’s computer vision powered cameras tracked what items were taken and customers could exit with receipts delivered to their email in minutes.
The Express Shop also included event t-shirts and a variety of merchandise.
9. Laybuy
Illusionist Ryan Tricks has teamed up with buy now, pay later provider Laybuy for an, erm, magical publicity stunt.
He has been conjuring up prizes out of nowhere for passers by, including a QR code. When scanned, a shopper was told they had won £1,000.
Other prizes included one person finding freshly dropped Nike trainers appearing in an empty box with their name and correct shoes size, while another who had said they had always wanted to visit Iceland was rewarded with tickets from Lastminute.com.
10. Co-op
Co-op has announced a new partnership with Amazon and a Starship Technologies powered acceleration of robot deliveries.
The moves are part of the UK retailer’s plan to more than double online sales from £70 million to £200 million by the end of the year.
