RTIH runs through this week's coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail’ systems launches and deployments from the past week, including checkout-free locations, livestream shopping events, robot food deliveries, and a search for innovative ways to simplify store operations.
Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced that its Boorito promo will return as an in-person event at US restaurants on 31st October.
The brand has teamed up with artist and creative director Pablo Rochat to create a trailer that celebrates the 22nd year of Boorito.
"Boorito is all about having fun with your friends and enjoying real food in our restaurants," says Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer at Chipotle.
"After two years of celebrating virtually, we're levelling up the in-person experience with fun activations on social that will help bring fans together on Halloween."
River Island
River Island is working with Scandit as part of its plans to modernise store operations.
The UK high street fashion retailer has issued each store associate a Scandit enabled Samsung Galaxy XCover rugged smartphone, equipped with Microsoft Teams, to replace shared hardware-based scanning devices.
It says that the Scandit Smart Data Capture platform unlocks a range of functionalities for it to improve workflows, introduce new services and empower store associates to uplift the overall customer experience.
Zippin
Two new Zippin Lanes have opened at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, home of the Houston Rockets.
The checkout-free stores, operated by Levy, the Rockets’ hospitality partner at Toyota Center, and Levy’s innovation studio, DBK Studio, are in section 108 on the main concourse and section 415 on the upper concourse.
Pinterest is launching its first ever holiday gift guide, enabling brands to directly inspire shoppers through curated boards of shoppable items.
In the UK, brands including Very, Sweaty Betty, John Lewis, M&S and The Cotswold Company, have selected products which align with the platform’s initiative, with a special ‘2022 Gift Guide’ badge spotlighting the selected items across feeds.
Natori
Firework has announced a new partnership with fashion brand, Natori, to bring video commerce capabilities to the company’s flagship web property.
Natori kicked off the tie up with its first livestream shopping event on 6th October. This was hosted by its President Ken Natori and featured Founder and CEO Josie Natori.
Delivery Hero
Delivery Hero has rolled out a new suite of self-service advertising tools for quick commerce partners, in collaboration with CitrusAd.
The move enables FMCG partners to participate in ‘Real-Time Bidding’ to promote their products across the former’s on-demand delivery apps.
7-Eleven
Convenience retailer 7-Eleven is teaming up with retail and consumer investment and innovation firm, True, to find innovative ways to simplify store operations in the US and Canada.
The pair are hoping to find innovators and businesses that can free up time for 7-Eleven associates so they can focus on the customer and provide excellent service.
7-Eleven is looking for technology driven solutions, including those powered by AI and AR.
Clearpay
Buy now pay later firm, Clearpay, Principal Partner of London Fashion Week (LFW), has teamed up with designer Richard Quinn and the British Fashion Council, to offer a limited edition rose NFT.
The Richard Quinn x Clearpay: London Fashion Week In Bloom collaboration, including the NFT, is inspired by the giant roses that featured in Quinn’s SS23 show in September.
All proceeds of the NFT sales will be donated to the BFC Foundation, which supports the British fashion industry by focusing on education, grant giving and business mentoring.
Grubhub and Starship Technologies
Grubhub and Starship Technologies are teaming up to provide robot delivery services on college campuses across the United States.
The service is currently available at the University of Kentucky, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Wayne State University, Southern Methodist University and Fairfield University, and will be rolled out at multiple other college campuses later this year.
Hudson
Hudson, which has more than 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks, and tourist destinations across North America, has unveiled its combination Decanted and Hudson Nonstop concept at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
This is powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology and the Amazon One biometric payments solution.
Spanning more than 1,600 square feet in Terminal B, the space brings together Hudson’s first ever wine bar and its travel essentials store, which uses the aforementioned Amazon checkout-free tech and palm recognition service.
A.S. Watson
Health and beauty retailer, A.S. Watson, has taken the wraps off Skinfie Lab, a tool that creates personalised skincare product recommendations based on customers’ selfies.
This is making its debut at Watsons Hong Kong and will be rolled out to Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia by early 2023.
It builds on the launch of an AI powered skincare advisor at Superdrug in the UK last year.
