December: top ten coolest retail technology reveals
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his stand out ‘future of retail’ systems deployments from last month, including NFT drops, augmented reality based Christmas experiences, and artificial intelligence powered salad bars.
Unilever
Livestream commerce platform provider Firework has been selected to explore a partnership with Unilever.
This follows Firework’s participation in the global consumer goods giant’s Positive Beauty Growth Platform, powered by its Beauty & Personal Care Division and The Unilever Foundry, Unilever’s collaborative innovation network.
“Building a thriving two way relationship with the global startup community helps power experimentation, deliver business solutions and fuel growth: this is the Positive Beauty Growth Platform,” says Baz Saidieh, Head of The Unilever Foundry.
“In areas like social commerce, harnessing the disruptive approach of startups like Firework, a definite rocket-ship we’ve been watching, will help us pioneer revolutionary consumer experiences.”
adidas Originals
adidas Originals has landed in the world of Web3 with what it calls “one of the most widely distributed NFT drops in history”.
Over the course of a weekend last month, the company pulled in more than $22 million after its NFT pieces were minted within minutes of going live on sale.
Each of these were priced at ETH 0.2, which converts to $769. Out of the 30,000 NFTs that were made available, 29,620 have been sold while Adidas Originals’ partners kept 380 pieces for future events.
boohooMAN
Rise at Seven has created and launched an NFT collection for online fashion retailer boohoo’s boohooMAN brand.
“We're used to starting trends, and this is no different. For the first time, an affordable fashion brand is launching an unforgettable line of NFTs, and who could get the virtual ball rolling better than boohooMAN?” the pureplay says in an online post.
“We're bringing our freshest threads from reality to NFT, to create a range of boohooMAN fits to hang on your virtual rail.”
“We've got a whole collection on offer, including t-shirts, outerwear, tracksuits and hoodies, meaning you can turn your digital wallet into a digital wardrobe in no time. Each item is brand new and completely unique, so once it's gone, it's gone.”
It adds: “Create a metaverse worthy streetwear fit, or just keep them as a collection: once they're yours, the sky's the limit. It's not enough to look cool in real life anymore - time to take your style into the virtual realm.”
Harrods
Harrods has worked with Visualise AR & VR on an augmented reality experience which blends the retailer’s Christmas window displays with 3D animations, delivered through WebAR technology in a mobile browser.
Hudson
Hudson, which has more than 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks and tourist destinations across North America, has become the first retailer in the travel industry to offer Amazon’s palm recognition service, Amazon One.
This is now available at Hudson Nonstop – powered by Just Walk Out technology – at Dallas Love Field Airport.
Compass Group UK & Ireland
Compass Group UK & Ireland, part of foodservice business Compass Group, has unveiled plans to launch its first fully frictionless store in a workplace in early 2022.
This is set to open in Ireland followed by additional sites in the UK over the next year, including units within other corporate clients, as well as in the sports and leisure and defence sectors.
The new stores will utilise AiFi’s AI powered computer vision technology which allows shoppers to purchase items in-store without having to wait in line or stop to scan or pay.
They will typically stock a selection of both hot and chilled ‘grab-n-go’ dishes, drinks and confectionery.
Asda
Asda is testing out new technology which aims to make it easier for blind and partially sighted customers to navigate their way around its Stevenage store.
To coincide with the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Asda’s flagship technology store was the first supermarket in the UK to be integrated into the GoodMaps smartphone app, specifically built for use amongst the blind and partially sighted.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven has teamed with Nuro to pilot a commercial delivery service using autonomous vehicles in Mountain View, California.
Customers can access this through the convenience store giant’s 7NOW delivery app.
The pilot will initially use Nuro’s self-driving Priuses before moving on to its R2 delivery vehicles.
Monoprix
French retailer Monoprix has partnered with Critizr on a new VIP customer relationship programme.
As part of an overhaul of the Monoprix M' account programme, the brand has launched an Esprit Marché service, which is accessible only to top customers, and run directly by store managers through the Critizr Connection platform.
This allows customers to message and talk directly on a one-to-one basis with their local branch, giving store managers the capability to share offers, exclusives and one-off promotions.
Albertsons
Albertsons is piloting artificial intelligence powered salad bars in six US East Coast supermarkets via a partnership with Picadeli.
It has added the internet linked self-service counters, which stock foods supplied by Picadeli using a platform that optimises assortment by analysing consumption patterns, to Safeway, Acme and Kings Food Market stores in Washington, D.C., Maryland and New Jersey.
Albertsons is the first US grocer to deploy the technology.
