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 NFT drops, cryptocurrency payments, and a new sustainable and hyper-local approach to retail courtesy of Ikea and H&M.
Nana Direct
QVALON has added Nana | نعناع to its client list.
The Saudi Arabia-based online grocery shopping and delivery service has chosen QVALON to manage operations across its locations in 13 cities in the Kingdom.
It will use the tech to streamline communications between retail and HQ teams, transfer all daily operational checklists into a digital format and help frontline teams be more efficient by centralising dark store tasks in one place.
Tesco
Tesco and WWF have announced the five startups that have won funding and the chance to test and scale their solutions in the former’s supply chain, with the aim of cutting the environmental impact of the average shopping basket and supporting a resilient and sustainable UK food system.
Innovation Connections is a new accelerator programme created by the aforementioned pair.
In the final on 6th May, a group of finalists pitched head to head in front of a panel of experts from Tesco and WWF, with five projects each awarded funding of up to £150,000.
Ikea and H&M
Backed by Swedish retail giants Ingka Group and H&M, the first Atelier100 space has opened its doors to showcase London-based designers and creatives.
The store is located at Livat Hammersmith. It is pitched as a new sustainable and hyper-local approach to retail.
Atelier100 has been designed not only as a space in which to sell products but also to host workshops, talks and events. .
The project launched with an open call for creatives, makers and manufacturers living within 100km of central London to share their innovative product ideas.
Marks and Spencer
According to the Marks and Spencer Family Matters Index, over 40% of Brits intend to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee this weekend.
This has lead the retailer to film a special a Live Shopping episode to showcase Jubilee products on offer at M&S, including Union Jack bunting and corgi cushions.
Check it out here.
Chipotle
Mexican fast food chain Chipotle is now accepting cryptocurrency payments through Flexa at its 2,950+ USA-based restaurants.
Chipotle will offer all the 98 cryptocurrencies Flexa currently supports, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and seven US dollar pegged stablecoins.
Prada
Prada has announced its first solo NFT drop. The brand is planning more drops, following its first foray into this space in collaboration with adidas Originals.
The solo drop is linked to the Prada Timecapsule, an online event in which a different exclusive item is made available in limited quantities, in selected markets, for only 24 hours each month.
Prada Crypted also launched this week, a new community server on Discord, which is open to everyone who wants to join.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A has enlisted Refraction AI to deploy a fleet of the startup’s self-driving vehicles to two of its restaurants in downtown Austin, Texas.
The commercial pilot will begin in late June.
"Autonomous delivery using Refraction's robots creates an exciting new opportunity to extend the Chick-fil-A experience to a growing number of delivery guests," says Luke Steigmeyer of Chick-fil-A.
"The platform will allow us to provide fast, high quality, and cost-effective meal delivery within a mile radius of our restaurant all while helping to keep the community we serve environmentally clean and safe."
SpaceX
Earlier this year, EV manufacturer Tesla started accepting Dogecoin (DOGE) for merchandise purchases, and now Elon Musk has announced plans to extend this to his space exploration company, SpaceX.
Musk, CEO at SpaceX and Tesla, has been a staunch supporter of the DOGE ecosystem since 2019.
H&M Group
H&M Group is rolling out a pilot in COS stores, US, where tech enabled in-store shopping solutions provide visitors with the likes of seamless payment options, faster checkout, and upgraded delivery/return options.
The first pilot store in Beverly Hills, California includes fitting rooms equipped with smart mirrors that recognise products brought into the room (e.g. item, size, and colour) with the possibility to offer personalised product and styling recommendations.
On the store floor, other types of smart mirrors can be used for virtual try-on and styling.
Victoria’s Secret
Victoria’s Secret has launched an online marketplace, available via VictoriasSecret.com and dubbed VS&Co-Lab, which “will showcase brands that align with its values of innovation and inclusivity.”
This features 19 brands, 75% of them founded, owned or led by women.
Victoria’s Secret recently acquired minority stakes in two of the featured companies, For Love & Lemons and Frankies Bikinis.
