Influencers, awards, and hoverboards: RTIH’s most read retail technology articles in 2022
Check out the top ten RTIH retail systems articles that caught your fancy during 2022, including Aldi UK, AiFi, Thought, Shopify, Clekt, Currys, Bolt, Amazon, and Nike.
Thought goes live with Shopify integration thanks to Clekt tie up
Sustainable fashion brand Thought has gone live on Shopify as part of its digital transformation programme in partnership with data optimisation specialist Clekt.
Thought invested into the Enterprise Data Hub from Clekt to integrate to multiple systems, centralise business data and put data driven processes at the heart of their business transformation agenda.
2022 RTIH Innovation Awards winners and highly commended entries announced
Sook, Walmart, Ribble Cycles, Obsess, Jisp, B&Q, Cart.com, Compass Group, AiFi, Pets at Home, and TPP Retail were among the companies who emerged victorious at RTIH’s 2022 retail technology awards.
Now into their fourth year, the awards celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
We received a record number of submissions this year across 14 categories (you can find a full rundown of the 2022 shortlists here).
Our winners and highly commended companies were announced during a sold out event that took place in central London during December and was attended by retailers, tech suppliers, members of our judging panel, and sponsors.
So, without further ado, here is the 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards hall of fame.
Congratulations to our latest entrants!
Currys launches range of hoverboards for hassle free commuting
As an April fools’ prank, Currys said it was now selling hoverboards that fly up to 4ft in height.
A press release noted that: “Thanks to groundbreaking new HovAir technology, our new hoverboards are designed to get people from A to B without having to battle traffic on the daily commute.”
It added: “Coming in a range of multiple colours, the hoverboards are looking like being one of this summer’s hottest trends, and are already flying off the shelves.”
Arf!
Amazon halts Just Walk Out tech powered checkout-free stores push
Amazon put the brakes on the expansion of its UK checkout-free convenience stores, due to sales falling short of expectations and fit out costs being multiple times higher than with a standard location.
In a LinkedIn post, Martin Heubel, an Amazon strategy consultant, said: “Not a major surprise amid the current economic climate. It’s expensive to get into retail and even more expensive to remain.”
“With inflation at all time highs, customers are prioritising to save money. Even the most advanced self-checkout technology won’t revert this trend in the short-term. It seems, Amazon has come to realise this, too.”
Nike launches Nikeland, Roblox experience in New York store
After venturing in to the virtual world of Roblox in November 2021, Nike brought its Nikeland experience to the brand’s New York City store on Fifth Avenue.
Throughout January, the Kids space - 1F floor of Nike NYC, House of Innovation - had visual elements decked out in the theme, while augmented reality featured through Snapchat Lenses offered avatars and games.
Nike created Nikeland as part of its goal “to turn sport and play in to a lifestyle”.
Bolt founder Ryan Breslow blasts ‘vicious’ Instacart backer Sequoia Capital
Ryan Breslow, founder of online checkout technology startup, Bolt, launched an extraordinary attack on Instacart investor Sequoia Capital.
In a series of Twitter posts, Breslow claimed that “Sequoia murdered Instacart’s founder Apoorva Mehta in cold blood”.
Last year, Instacart appointed Fidji Simo as its new CEO, just seven months after she joined the grocery delivery company’s board of directors.
Simo, formerly the VP and Head of the Facebook app, replaced Mehta, with Mehta transitioning to executive chairman of the board.
Breslow said on Twitter: “As far as the mob goes, Sequoia is the Don. As vicious as they come. Their violence is done in silence. Experts at pressure & power.”
Analysing the demise of rapid grocery delivery startups Buyk and Fridge No More
March was an, erm, eventful, month for the rapid grocery delivery industry, with two major players, Buyk and Fridge No More, both shutting down operations.
On the surface, the apparent reason was that both companies had Russian founders, and the events in Ukraine had resulted in them losing access to capital due to sanctions.
But there was more to the story, observed Brittain Ladd, a former Amazon exec and supply chain consultant.
Carrefour makes metaverse move as it buys land in The Sandbox
Carrefour bought land in The Sandbox, a virtual gaming world where players can build, own, and monetise their experiences.
Elodie Perthuisot, Chief E-Commerce, Digital Transformation and Data Officer and EXCOM member at Carrefour, said in a LinkedIn post: “This is our first move in the metaverse on The Sandbox. A virtual field and above all a field of innovation for Carrefour, in line with our digital transformation strategy.”
“The field will be at the heart of our metaverse activities, as we experiment, to understand the evolutions of retail and consumption that will come. Concrete projects will follow soon.”
RTIH’s Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List of 2023
We’re now accepting nominations for our Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List of 2023.
This annual offering, which is presented in no particular order, covers retailers, technology suppliers, startups, consultants, analysts, and thought leaders who are making an impact in the retail technology space.
Does that sound like you or one of your colleagues?
If so, make sure you submit your nomination, via the form at the end of this article, before Friday, 27th January.
And don’t forget to check out the 2022 list here.
AiFi tech powers new Aldi UK checkout-free concept store
Discount retailer Aldi UK launched its first checkout-free store this year.
The Aldi Shop&Go concept store in Greenwich, London opened in January for public testing, having been tested by staff members.
Situated on Greenwich High Street, it enables customers to complete their shop without scanning a single product, or having to go through a checkout.
They can download the Aldi Shop&Go app, which will allow them to enter the store, pick up their items, and then walk out when they have completed their shop.
Once a customer leaves the store they will then be automatically charged via their selected payment method and a receipt will appear in the app.
The system, provided by AiFi, uses specially positioned cameras.
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