Top 10: last week’s most read RTIH retail technology articles

These are the RTIH retail tech articles that caught your fancy last week, including Amazon, Instacart, REWE, Trigo, Asda, Coach, and RELEX Solutions.

2022 RTIH Innovation Awards: shortlists announced

This past week we have mostly been announcing the shortlists for the 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards, including Bricks and Mortar, Supply Chain, Omnichannel Retail, and Payments.

It’s now over to our judging panel to decide the winners.

These will be revealed at an exclusive event in central London on Tuesday, 6th December.

RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, says: “Innovation and technology play a critical role in the success of the retail sector, so it is great to recognise standout examples through our awards.”

“Thanks to all those who have entered the 2022 event. We received a record number of submissions and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.”

“I’m now looking forward to deciding the winners with our judging panel and announcing them at our central London event in December.”

Unilever teams with Exarta as it steps into the metaverse

Unilever Pakistan has teamed up with British company Exarta to explore ways it can use Web3 technology to transform marketing strategies and other business areas. 

Specifically, it will tap Exarta’s proprietary AI and machine learning engine. This starts with an upcoming TRESEmmé Pakistan metaverse campaign.

Last week’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance

RTIH rounds up the stand out retail tech deals, deployments and pilots from the past seven days.

Featuring ASICS, Coles Group, Muffato, Coach, NASCAR, Amazon, Tesco, Trigo, Ocado Solutions, and Lotte Shopping.

Amazon is gunning for Instacart’s grocery delivery business. Here’s why

The Save Mart Companies has launched two-hour grocery delivery in California’s Central Valley in partnership with Amazon.

It is initially offering the service at stores under its Save Mart banner in Lathrop and Ceres, California, and has plans to make it available at additional locations in the region.

This is one of those small stories that have big implications, according to Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon exec.

eBay UK - British shoppers to ditch buying new products this Black Friday

On Christmas morning, many Brits will wake up to pre-loved and refurbished presents, as shoppers turn away from new products this Black Friday in a bid to save money, according to eBay UK.

Dark stores: the future of retail in the post-pandemic world

Digitalisation has continuously disrupted traditional business models across multiple industries around the world.

The retail sector isn’t invincible to this global change. In fact, Tesco opened its first customer-free supermarket back in 2009, fulfilling more than 475,000 online orders weekly.

This unorthodox method of grocery shopping opened doors to multiple opportunities for companies to boost revenue while optimising the customer shopping experience – hence, the birth of dark stores.

Asda chooses Veeam as it takes control of protecting large, virtualised infrastructure

Asda has selected Veeam Software’s Availability Suite to provide backup and restore for mission critical systems.

Following its divestiture from Walmart in early 2021, the supermarket chain has taken responsibility for protecting the large, virtualised infrastructure that underpins its business.

It says that Veeam has enabled it to do this without sending IT headcount soaring.

Coach taps Ocean Outdoor DeepScreen 3D tech for Lil Nas X campaign

Coach has gone live with a 3D technology powered extension of its Courage to Be Real campaign on the world famous Piccadilly Lights in Piccadilly Circus, London.

Piccadilly Lights, the largest advertising display in Europe, is running this for 24 hours a day, from 7th - 13th November, with an hourly 3D full screen takeover featuring Coach brand ambassador, Lil Nas X.

This sees the rapper move through doors that represent the struggles he has faced in life, from fear, self-doubt, to judgment from others. The sequence concludes with Lil Nas X looking over Piccadilly Circus whilst performing.

REWE taps Trigo tech as it opens second hybrid autonomous store

A new REWE store powered by Trigo technology has gone live in the central Berlin neighbourhood, Prenzlauer Berg.

Following REWE’s first hybrid autonomous store in Cologne, the Berlin location is nearly double the size at around 400 square metres.

Top five grocery retail trends to watch out for heading into 2023

As retailers head into 2023, the industry must face many challenges, such as keeping stores and warehouses staffed in what many fear is a foundational readjustment in the labour market.

With the food industry constantly evolving, the future of grocery retail is at the mercy of global trends such as inflation and labour shortages, according to Mikko Kärkkäinen, CEO and co-founder, RELEX Solutions.

“The future of the food and grocery sector is uncertain with external forces set to rock the boat,” says Karkkainen.

“Increased inflation, supply chain issues and labour shortages, to name are few, have shifted the power dynamics across the industry. After attending Grocery Shop 2022, our team at RELEX has identified the top trends grocery retailers should be aware of heading into 2023”.