An autonomous stores first in Germany: RTIH presents 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 Walmart, REWE, Trigo, FamilyMart, Couger, MAPCO, and Grabango.
FamilyMart and Couger
Couger, an AI startup based in Tokyo, is to provide the virtual human agent Rachel to FamilyMart, with deployment slated for approximately 5,000 stores by the end of fiscal 2023.
Rachel operates on Couger's platform, LUDENS, and is capable of two way voice communication that is tailored to individual FamilyMart store manager's attributes and characteristics.
This allows them to have the optimal information they need on the spot, including those essential for store operations, advice on ordering, and suggestions for visual merchandising.
As Rachel operates on a tablet device installed in the store, it can be used in the back office as well as on the store floor.
The roll-out is the result of a joint development project with Couger’s strategic investor partner ITOCHU Corporation and FamilyMart.
Ikea
Starting this month, Ikea is introducing deliveries by boat via the Seine for its Parisian customers.
In an effort to reduce CO2 emissions in its operations while improving delivery times in the French capital, the retailer has partnered with Box2Home to launch a scheme that utilises boat transport on the Seine together with electric vehicles for the final delivery.
The Île-de-France region supported the project financially and logistically as part of a wider programme to further utilise navigable waterways in France.
The new solution allows for the entire Ikea range to be delivered by river in the French capital, emitting up to five times less CO2 than road delivery and saving around 300.000 kilometres on Parisian roads annually.
Boots and Clearpay
Boots and buy now pay later firm Clearpay have teamed up to launch a festive experiential beauty pop-up at Westfield London.
Beauty Unwrapped will run from 16th - 23rd December.
Designed to look like a giant gift box and located in the central atrium, it will have three zones.
These include: a concierge where guests will be welcomed and have the chance to ‘Spin to Win’ for a beauty prize from Boots, a Festive Nail Art station and Festive Glam station.
In addition, shoppers can scan a special QR at the pop-up that will give them £5 off at Boots Westfield on £10 spend or more when paying with Clearpay.
Ahead of its launch, the activation will be promoted across 93 digital screens at both Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City.
REWE
The latest Trigo powered REWE store is now live in central Munich.
The REWE Pick&Go location is in the Maxvorstadt neighbourhood, which is also known as the cultural heart of Munich.
This high traffic area is only a few minutes’ walk from the city’s central train station, museums, and galleries, and some of Germany’s top universities, making it a good location for both REWE and Germany’s first ever 100% autonomous store.
In an online post, Michael Gabay, CEO at Trigo, said: “This store is a product of the close and long standing partnership between REWE and Trigo, who, together, created effective and efficient processes over time that serve as a model for additional store expansion.”
He added: “Opening the first fully autonomous store in Germany makes a bold statement in the retail industry. REWE’s ambitious innovation goals and unwavering commitment to creating the best possible customer experience have made them true partners in building the future of retail.”
“These strong partnerships and extensive expertise in successful autonomous store deployment will drive Trigo forward as we continue to expand our StoreOS suite of solutions and accelerate multiple global initiatives.”
New Look
Digital payments firm, Primer, has announced a partnership with New Look.
The UK startup was founded by alums of Braintree and PayPal and provides a drag and drop framework for merchants to build online payment stacks.
It says that the tie up will provide the fashion retailer with “an expansive, no-code payment infrastructure that will invigorate its online shopping experience and ensure it keeps pace with the sector’s demand”.
With Primer, New Look will be able to onboard, maintain and automate dozens of new solutions ranging from payment service providers and fraud tools to express checkout modules, wallets, buy now pay later offerings with just a few clicks in a dashboard.
Yochananof
A2Z Smart Technologies Corp. has received an increased purchased order of 30% (300 smart carts) from Israeli grocery chain Yochananof.
This now brings the total order to 1,300 smart carts and total aggregate revenues to approximately $12 million.
Delivery of the initial purchase order is underway with 11 Yochananof stores now utilising the Cust2Mate solution.
Walmart
Walmart’s drone delivery service is now available for select customers in the Arizona, Texas and Florida markets.
In Phoenix, Arizona, the option will be fulfilled from four stores.
In the Dallas area of Texas, it will be fulfilled from 11 stores.
And from seven stores in Tampa and Orlando, Florida.
This follows Walmart’s announcement of plans to expand its DroneUp network to reach four million additional households across six US states.
Best Buy and TalkShopLive
Live commerce platform TalkShopLive is offering customers an in-store pickup option for the first time in partnership with Best Buy.
The tie up launched via a live show hosted by TikTok star Noah Schnacky who highlighted some of his favourite products.
According to those involved, this is the first time in-store pickup is offered on a live shopping platform that is embeddable anywhere on the web.
TalkShopLive says that it chose to launch its in-store pickup feature with Best Buy due to its longstanding relationship with the retailer. Best Buy was the first major retailer to onboard to TalkShopLive.
Starbucks
Starbucks Odyssey, an extension of Starbucks Rewards powered by Web3 technology, has launched in beta to a small group of waitlist members, including customers and employees in the US.
The retailer brought in Adam Brotman, the architect of its Mobile Order & Pay system and the Starbucks app, to serve as a special advisor.
Participants will be able to engage in Starbucks Odyssey ‘Journeys’ which are a series of activities to earn collectible ‘Journey Stamps’ (NFTs) and Odyssey Points that will unlock access to new benefits and experiences.
“Starbucks has a history of harnessing emerging technology to innovate on behalf of our customers and making it easily accessible and approachable for the mainstream,” says Brady Brewer, Starbucks Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.
“Our innovative spirit and the desire to continuously exceed the expectations of our customers has led to the launch of Starbucks Odyssey.”
MAPCO
MAPCO has opened its first Grabango powered checkout-free store, situated in Brentwood, Tennessee, USA.
Shoppers use the Grabango app for Apple or Android instead of checking out. They select the items they want and are billed through the app. Payment is contactless and automatic; there's no need for barcode scanning.
JYSK
Home furnishing retailer, JYSK, is partnering with RELEX Solutions to strengthen demand forecasting for its global distribution centres.
JYSK operates more than 3,200 stores in 48 countries and supplies goods from 10 DCs across Europe. The ambition is to grow to at least 5,000 stores.
It sources goods from a widespread network of suppliers, each of which operates with a great deal of variation in lead times.
As an added challenge, most of its sales are campaign driven and seasonal.
The RELEX solution, powered by AI and machine learning, will support JYSK in managing and improving the outcomes of its increasingly complex short- and long-term demand forecasts.
T-Mobile Center and Amazon
T-Mobile Center, a Kansas City sports and live entertainment venue, has launched an Amazon Just Walk Out technology shopping experience.
Located at Section 105 on the main concourse, 816 Market enables people to enter the store to select snacks and beverages without waiting in line to checkout.
They also have the option to enter and pay with a hover of their palm using Amazon One.
“816 Market is the first frictionless store location in both a Missouri and Kansas sports and live entertainment venue to employ Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology and Amazon One,” says Jay Cooper, General Manager at T-Mobile Center.
“Collaborating with Amazon and Levy to debut a faster concession experience through innovation is an incredible opportunity.”
