January: retail technology deals and deployments at a glance
RTIH rounds up the stand out retail systems deals, deployments and pilots from January, including Marks and Spencer, Amazon, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Walmart, and Majid Al Futtaim.
M&S has launched a live shopping series on its website.
The service, facilitated by the retailer’s software partner LiSA, allows customers to join a live broadcast hosted by an M&S expert where they can hear more about the ranges they’re browsing, ask questions through a live chat function, view product demonstrations, and buy products as they watch.
Geek+, a specialist in AI robotics technology, and sporting goods retailer Decathlon have announced the deployment of hundreds of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in three of the latter’s European distribution centres.
The DCs, located in Castelnau, France, Łódź, Poland, and Campania, Italy, are leveraging Geek+’s AMR technology to enable Decathlon to increase its storage capacity, streamline its logistics processes, and better serve its expanding online customer base across those countries.
Amazon will open its first ever physical fashion store later this year, and it will be tech centric (natch).
"We wouldn't do anything in physical retail unless we felt we could significantly improve the customer experience," says Simoina Vasen, a Managing Director.
The 30,000 square feet Amazon Style store will be situated at The Americana at Brand, a shopping destination in greater Los Angeles.
Using the Amazon Shopping app, customers can send items to a fitting room, where they can use a touchscreen to browse more options, rate items, and request more sizes or styles that are delivered to the room.
Machine learning algorithms, meanwhile, produce tailored, real-time recommendations for each customer as they shop.
Flying Tiger Copenhagen is rolling out MishiPay’s mobile self-checkout solution to its UK stores.
This follows a trial across stores in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
The Scan, Pay & Go technology was deployed across 30 stores in the Nordic region, enabling customers to scan and pay for items in-store without having to queue or download an app.
By scanning a QR code with their smartphone, people could access MishiPay on their phone’s browser, scan product barcodes and pay with the tap of a button, while in-store staff could view purchase activity and analytics in real-time.
Majid Al Futtaim owned and operated Mall of the Emirates has worked with Cisco to launch the ‘Store of the Future’.
The first retailer to take over the space is THAT Concept Store.
An immersive, digitalised, and personalised shopping experience has been created through five of Cisco’s core technology features: Digital Display Canvas, Lift & Learn, Magic Mirror, Beauty Mirror, and Store Analytics.
Discount retailer Aldi UK has launched its first checkout-free location.
The Aldi Shop&Go concept store in Greenwich, London opened last month for public testing, having been tested by staff members in recent months.
The system, provided by AiFi, uses specially positioned cameras.
Those people wishing to buy alcohol, or other Challenge 25 products, will be able to use facial age estimation technology, provided by Yoti, to authorise their purchase.
Japanese retailer Aeon has taken the next step in its Ocado Group tie up with the roll-out of a customer fulfilment centre (CFC) in Hachioji.
This will bolster its capacity in the Tokyo region as the online grocery market in Japan continues to grow.
Nisa has announced a UK wide roll-out of Jisp’s augmented reality vouchering system, Scan & Save, to independent retailers.
The move follows a pilot, which delivered 82,116 scans, 40,001 taps and 32,895 redemptions on Scan & Save branded AR vouchers from September to December.
Participating retailers accumulated a combined discount redemption value of £36,211 with over 2,300 unique shoppers, 81%, becoming repeat redeemers.
Walmart has launched a new consumer shopping tool, Shop By Diet, which helps in-store or online shoppers with allergies or dietary constraints determine what to purchase via a website or QR code.
Powered by Sifter technology, this rolled out last month.
Israel-based computer vision startup Trigo has announced a partnership with Wakefern Food Corp., the largest retailer owned cooperative in the US which owns and operates 257 supermarkets under the ShopRite and PriceRite banner.
In a LinkedIn post, Trigo says: “This year we will help Wakefern convert and develop hi-tech store formats that are exclusive to their brands, accelerate their growth, and pave the way for frictionless shopping at US customers’ favourite supermarket brands across the eastern US seaboard.”
It adds: “Through this partnership, US-based independent retailers can compete with multinational retailers and global tech giants alike on cutting-edge shopping experiences.”
HomeValet has made its new Smart Box and app available for pre-order.
The contactless 24/7 delivery solution will first be offered to eligible Walmart InHome customers in select participating regions this January, with wider availability announced in early 2022.
Offering a temperature controlled and internet connected outdoor receptacle, the Smart Box enables unattended delivery of fresh groceries and packages directly to consumers’ front door steps.
Through HomeValet’s mobile app and subscription service, consumers will be able to customise, manage, monitor, and remotely control their Smart Boxes.
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com has opened two automation powered ochama stores in the Netherlands.
These involve robots preparing parcels, and home delivery service.
The first two ochama pick-up shops are in Leiden and Rotterdam, with two more set to open in Amsterdam (Diemen) and Utrecht.
Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo Supermarkten has announced a partnership with German rapid grocery delivery startup Gorillas.
This will cover the Netherlands and the Flanders region of Belgium. Jumbo will supply a large part of its range to Gorillas, including private label products and some from the La Place brand.
Gorillas also works with Tesco in the UK, and Casino Group in France.
