Top 10: last week’s most popular retail technology articles

These are the RTIH articles that caught your fancy last week, including Bolt’s Ryan Breslow, Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, and eBay UK Imperfects.

Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund invests in robotics company BionicHIVE

BionicHIVE, an Israeli firm which specialises in supply chain workplace-based robotics technology, has received an undisclosed amount of funding from the newly announced Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund.

BionicHIVE has developed SqUID, a solution which can be deployed in a range of supply chain facilities utilising existing shelving racks and boxes and is capable of pick and put-away from floor to ceiling.

New eBay UK Imperfects offering aims to reduce fashion waste

eBay UK has launched Imperfects, pitched as the fashion equivalent to supermarkets' wonky veg initiative.

The product range offers clothes, shoes and accessories which are considered new, but with defects, from over 100 high street and high-end designers including North Face, Off White, Puma, Fila, and Timberland at up to 60% off.

Imperfect items may include defects such as a small scuff or mark, a button missing or a loose thread that may have been from the factory or are ex-display which means they can’t be sold at full price as they did not meet the manufacturer’s quality standards.

Last week’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance

RTIH rounds up the stand out retail tech deals, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Featuring Instacart, Grocery Outlet, Cruise, Walmart, and Amazon Just Walk Out technology.

Simon Peck departs Currys for Sofology digital role

Simon Peck has taken on the newly created role at Sofology of Digital & Business Development Director.

He joins from Currys where he served as Head of Omnichannel Development.

Reporting to the COO, Peck was responsible for the development of the retailer’s omnichannel strategy, including business ownership of ShopLive, a 24/7 online assisted shopping service, and an order online, collect in-store fulfilment offer.

boohoo group deploys Aiimi Insight Engine platform

Fast fashion giant boohoo group has adopted the Aiimi Insight Engine platform, with an initial focus on data subject access requests (DSAR) and deletion of data for customers and employees.

The Body Shop nabs top spot in e-commerce website rankings

The Body Shop is leading the way in customer web experience, according to the latest UK Digital Retail Index from Remarkable Commerce.

The cosmetics retailer achieved the highest score for its website in an analysis of 500 of the largest online players, which used four key metrics such as accessibility, search engine optimisation (SEO), user experience (UX) and site speed.

Bolt boss Ryan Breslow blames ‘irresponsible’ Stripe for Fast failure

Ryan Breslow, founder of online checkout technology startup, Bolt, has given his (erm, colourful) take on why rival firm Fast failed.

Gophr goes live on Metapack global delivery management platform

Quick commerce firm Gophr has announced its integration with e-commerce delivery technology specialist Metapack.

The aim is to make it simple for online and omnichannel retailers to offer same-day delivery alongside their existing delivery options.

Retailers will, according to a press release, be able to offer “quick, precise and trackable deliveries for customers in towns and cities across the UK”.

Amazon Buy with Prime service goes live, pitched at DTC brands

In its latest move to compete with FedEx and UPS, Amazon has announced Buy with Prime, which extends Prime shopping to online stores beyond Amazon.com.

Buy with Prime will initially be available by invitation only for merchants using Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) and will roll-out through 2022 as merchants are allowed to take part, including those not selling on Amazon or using FBA.