March 2022: top 10 most clicked retail technology articles
These are the RTIH retail systems articles that caught your fancy during March, including rapid grocery delivery services, retail tech influencers, hefty funding rounds, and checkout-free stores.
Analysing the demise of rapid grocery delivery startups Buyk and Fridge No More
These are erm, eventful, times for the red hot rapid grocery delivery industry, with two major players, Buyk and Fridge No More, both shutting down operations.
On the surface, the apparent reason is that both companies have Russian founders, and the events in Ukraine have resulted in them losing access to capital due to sanctions.
But there is more to the story, observes Brittain Ladd, a former Amazon exec and supply chain consultant.
Big hitters back AiFi as it announces $65m Series B funding round
Checkout-free technology startup AiFi has raised $65 million in a Series B funding round.
Qualcomm and Verizon Communications participated in the round through their venture arms.
Discounter Aldi, German supermarket chain REWE and Polish convenience giant Żabka Group also took part.
The round brings AiFi’s total funding to $80 million, with the cash primarily being used to expand its technical team.
Triple Whale raises $27.7m to develop e-commerce operating system for Shopify brands
Triple Whale, an analytics platform for Shopify brands, has raised $27.7 million in an extended Series A, the company’s first announced funding round since its foundation in May 2021.
This consists of a $24 million investment led by Elephant VC, alongside a previously undisclosed $2.7 million seed round led by NFX, and an additional $1 million raised with participation from individual investor Shaan Puri.
Selfridges launches ‘first meta department store in history of Web3’
As part of Metaverse Fashion Week, Selfridges has unveiled a virtual department store in Decentraland, joining more than 70 brands, artists and designers in creating “a new experience at the intersection of fashion and technology’.
Amazon hits Southwark, London as it opens 16th UK Amazon Fresh store
Amazon has opened an Amazon Fresh store in Southwark, London, powered by its Just Walk Out technology.
Situated at 110 Southwark Street, SE1 0TA, this is the first of these checkout-free stores to launch in the UK during 2022.
It’s also the 16th such location on these shores, lining up alongside the likes of Camden, Ealing, White City Canary Wharf and Holborn Chancery Lane.
To shop, customers scan the QR code from their Amazon app, buy what they need, and walk out.
International Women’s Day 2022: 12 female retail technology leaders
To mark IWD 2022, here are 12 women making positive impacts on the retail technology sector via their work at innovative suppliers and leading retailers.
RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List
The latest edition of the RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List has arrived! Here are the people who made a splash in 2021 and are set for a barnstorming 2022.
Amazon closes physical stores: industry observers have their say
The e-commerce giant told Reuters that physical retail remains an important way for it to reach shoppers.
It will continue to work on other concepts, such as its recently announced fashion location in greater Los Angeles and checkout-free grocery stores.
Amazon only opened the doors to the first Amazon 4-star store outside of the US during October of last year.
So somewhat understandably the move has some scratching their heads, although others have stressed that this is Amazon playing a long game.
Currys launches Cash for Trash technology recycling scheme
Omnichannel technology retailer Currys has launched what is pitched as the UK’s first ever recycling scheme that gives monetary reward for old tech, even if customers think it’s worthless.
Called Cash for Trash, this runs from 16th March to 15th April and calls on Brits to bring in any old, broken, or unused electronics to their nearest Currys store in exchange for a voucher worth at least £5.
Tech like TVs and small domestic appliances can also be traded in for new products.
Iceland brings Swift convenience stores to London with Wembley opening
Iceland is rolling out its Swift c-store format, and has decided upon London as the next location.
Launched as a single store pilot in Newcastle last year, Swift will extend to four more stores in London over the next few months, with the first one located in Wembley.
