Check out this week's coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail systems’ deployments from the past week, including shoppable videos, checkout-free stores, NFTs, and rapid delivery services.
Wish
Mobile e-commerce platform, Wish, has announced the roll-out of Wish Clips, a new shoppable video feature.
This is currently available to Android users in nine key markets, and will be rolled out to iOS users starting in April.
“Discovery commerce is the future and we are deepening our investment into new products and user centric features to bring that element of discovery to life,” says Tarun Jain, Chief Product Officer, Wish.
“For users, Wish Clips helps them better visualise the product and enjoy a more immersive, interactive experience. For merchants, Wish Clips provides a great opportunity to showcase their brand’s personality and style, while driving product discovery within a native shopping experience.”
Merchants have the ability to create and upload 5-30 second video clips that showcase their product in action. Through Wish’s merchant dashboard, they can access performance metrics to better understand how videos are able to drive sales for their products.
The dashboard will be updated over time to include other metrics such as customer likes and watch time, in addition to a much more robust and streamlined user interface.
“We have built a one of a kind shoppable video player to capture commercial inspiration like never before. The reaction so far from our users and merchants has been great. We look forward to completing the roll out of Wish Clips across our entire user base very soon,” says Jain.
Flutter Entertainment
Ireland’s first completely frictionless store, Market x Flutter, officially opened this week at Flutter Entertainment’s newly renovated global headquarters in Clonskeagh, Dublin.
Compass Group UK & Ireland, part of foodservice business Compass Group, developed the store for Flutter, using AI powered computer vision technology from AiFi. allowing shoppers to purchase items without having to wait in line or stop to scan or pay.
It stocks fresh meals, including a selection of hot and chilled dishes to-go, as well as drinks and confectionery.
Evergreen
A2Z Smart Technologies Corp. is deploying its Cust2Mate smart carts as part of a pilot with Evergreen, a US-based supermarket chain with locations in New York and New Jersey.
The pilot has begun at Evergreen's Monsey, New York location.
A2Z's Cust2Mate solution recognises every purchased item and enables in-cart payment so that shoppers skip lines, while also allowing grocers to direct people to discounted products and in-store promotions.
WHSmith
WHSmith has opened its first ever checkout-free store at LaGuardia Airport, New York.
It’s the first WHSmith to open in the US (as opposed to the retailer’s other fascias such as InMotion and MRG) and taps Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, which was pioneered at the Amazon Go offering.
Roksanda and Clearpay
For London Fashion Week 2022, which takes place between 18th-22nd February, RTW label Roksanda has partnered with buy now pay later specialist Clearpay, LFW’s principal sponsor.
The pair have created the demi couture finale look from Roksanda’s forthcoming show in the form of an NFT.
The idea originated from Clearpay, who worked with Roksanda and the Institute of Digital Fashion to bring the project to life as a first foray into the metaverse.
The NFT is, according to a press release, “the first of its kind to give consumers access to haute fashion via Web 3.0 (purchased on roksanda.com exclusively through Clearpay)”.
Jisp
Jisp, a startup that works with independent retailers to offer customers the likes of home delivery, Click & Collect, and in-store deals, has launched an online version of its app.
Greg Deacon, CCO at Jisp, says: “We want to give our customers a great experience for them to decide which experience works for them, using the services on offer locally at their convenience.”
He adds: “Our belief is that many will prefer to use the online experience to trial or exclusively use the services from Jisp at their local store. Many customers will move over to a full app experience once they become confident using the in-store service Scan & Save and augmented reality vouchers.”
“Incrementally, delivery will benefit from those ordering at home or at work to get groceries delivered locally. This should increase shoppers, frequency of orders and value of basket for our partner stores.“
The River Café
London restaurant, The River Café, has announced a partnership with same-day courier Gophr.
This comes as it expands its delivery service, following a trial with Gophr that kicked off in November and peaked at 180 orders delivered across three days in the week before Christmas.
San Jose State University (SJSU) Ginger Market
The San Jose State University (SJSU) Ginger Market in the US has been transformed into an autonomous retail experience, enabling students, faculty, and staff to purchase items, without having to scan anything or wait in line to pay.
This store sells an assortment of items, including a variety of pan-Asian snacks and meals, made-in-house sushi, poke bowls, locally roasted coffee, popular beverages, and mochi.
The university worked with Chartwells Higher Education and Standard AI to retrofit the market without ceasing store operations or altering its layout. Standard AI was able to integrate fully with retail operations, including inventory management systems and visual merchandising.
Using AI powered computer vision systems mounted throughout the store, the system identifies the products shoppers select and automatically records the purchases on the SJSJ Boost mobile app, eliminating time spent at traditional checkout areas.
Zapp
Rapid grocery delivery startup Zapp offered a 24/7 Croe Beluga Caviar service to Londoners this Valentine’s Day.
Zapp’s Valentine’s offering also included Diptyque candles, Charbonnel et Walker Pink Marc de Champagne chocolate truffles, Ruinart champagne, as well as a selection of, erm, fruity items such as edible candy underwear from Ann Summers and sex toys from Lelo (who says romance is dead - Ed)..
VkusVill
Russian health foods brand and food tech company, VkusVill, has opened its first cashierless store in Moscow.
Located at 1 Testovskaya Street, the micro-mart has an area of 52 sqm.
It offers around 220 SKUs, including a range of prepared meals and sandwiches, groceries, pre-packed fruits and vegetables, drinks, desserts and dairy products.
The store was developed in partnership with AI-based technologies venture Neurus. It has no store assistants or cashiers – an employee only visits the store in the morning to stock the shelves with fresh products.
