RTIH lays 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 digital and data solutions centric hackathons, mind ordering app experiences, and autonomous delivery pilots.
Domino’s and Netflix
Domino’s is teaming with Netflix to launch an immersive mind ordering app experience which places “test subjects” inside Hawkins National Lab in Hawkins, Indiana – transporting them to the centre of the hit show Stranger Things in 1986.
The app uses facial recognition and eye tracking technology to allow test subjects to use their “powers” to order pizza by making certain facial expressions and head movements.
FairPrice
A2Z Smart Technologies Corp. has announced a pilot programme for its Cust2Mate smart carts with NTUC FairPrice Co-Operative, the largest supermarket chain in Singapore.
The first carts will arrive at a new FairPrice located in a shopping mall in the centre of Singapore on 15th July.
They will be available on a limited basis beginning 1st August and then for all shoppers beginning 1st September.
Uber Eats
Uber Eats is launching two autonomous delivery pilots in Los Angeles with Serve Robotics and Motional.
Both of the pilots will initially deliver food from only a few merchants.
Serve’s part of the initiative will focus on shorter trips in West Hollywood. Motional’s will handle longer distance deliveries in Santa Monica.
Customers who place food orders via the Uber Eats app can opt to have their order delivered by a robot.
They will see a confirmation screen, receive app notifications and be able to track the robot’s location as their order approaches. Once it arrives, they can use the Uber Eats app to open the robot and retrieve their order.
Clarks
British shoe brand Clarks has partnered with Roblox on the release of CICAVERSE, a sports tournament style experience created by MELON.
When stepping inside the Clarks Stadium, fans can put the Clarks CICA shoe through its paces as they battle it out with their friends to see who can grab the highest scores – from showing off their slickest BMX tricks and breakdance skills, to racing to the Parkour finish line with a little help from the real life young athletes who have helped Clarks create the newly designed CICA collection.
In addition to sports, users will be able to visit a virtual Clarks store where they can purchase all the accessories needed to make their avatars stand out from the crowd and be crowned champion of the CICAVERSE.
Marks and Spencer
Across two days last week, M&S hosted its fifth 24 hour hackathon, where 18 teams of over 200 colleagues developed digital and data solutions to opportunities on offer to the retailer.
The event takes place every six months and was powered by the BEAM Academy, the home of all things digital and data learning at M&S.
Perfect Corp.
Perfect Corp. has launched a Top Gun: Maverick interactive augmented reality movie experience in its YouCam Makeup app and photo editing app YouCam Perfect.
This features exclusive Top Gun themed looks and animated effects that bring elements from the film to life, like stepping on to the flight deck at dawn, and a chance to get into pilot mode with Tom Cruise’s classic Maverick aviators, powered by Perfect Corp.’s AI virtual eyewear try-on technology.
The interactive AR filters and effects are available now, leading up to the launch of Top Gun: Maverick, coming to cinema’s across the globe from 27th May.
boohoo
Fast fashion big hitter boohoo has partnered with four female artists from the NFT community (Amy Kilner, Reem El, Aoife O’Dwyer and Shar.eth) to create an “affordable and inclusive avatar collection”.
The artists created 230 unique traits and features, with a range of these consisting of statement fashion pieces from boohoo’s product range.
Using these traits, the pureplay came up with a collection of 30,000 avatars which aim to represent the diversity of its community.
Cleveron Mobility and DPD Eesti
Cleveron Mobility and DPD Eesti say they’re the first in Europe to deliver a package to a customer via a driverless autonomous vehicle.
Said vehicle is manufactured by Cleveron Mobility, with delivery taking place under the DPD banner.
Lucky Beach
Lucky Beach cafe in Brighton says that it is the first hospitality business in the UK to introduce buy now pay later technology.
The initiative has seen Klarna working in partnership with storekit to deliver BNPL to the restaurants, cafes, and hotels which comprise the latter’s customer base.
Lucky Beach was the beta client for the integration.
Co-op
Food delivery robots are taking to the streets of Cambourne, UK, as part of a pilot organise
