Check out RTIH’s most popular retail technology articles on LinkedIn

Here at RTIH, we’re big fans of LinkedIn and are busy building an amazing community of retail tech enthusiasts on the social media platform. These are the articles that are currently on their radars, including AiFi, Pricer, Shopic, and The Edit LDN.

Shopic bags $35m investment to bring smart carts to US grocery chains

Smart grocery shopping cart startup, Shopic, has announced a $35 million Series B investment round led by Qualcomm Ventures, bringing its total funding raised to $56 million.

Other participating investors include Vintage Investment Partners and Clal Insurance, together with Shopic’s existing backers IBI Tech Fund, Tal Ventures and Shufersal.

AiFi opens 80 computer vision powered autonomous stores

AiFi has reached the milestone of 80 autonomous retail stores open worldwide.

By working with technology providers and retailers such as Verizon, Microsoft, Carrefour, Aldi, Compass Group, Sodexo, Choice Market and Żabka Group, AiFi says that it has deployed the largest number of camera only, computer vision powered stores across North America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia.

This year, it increased its speed of deployment to two stores per week.

AiFi showcased this by opening 50 computer vision powered locations with Żabka, Poland’s largest convenience store chain, in the span of a few months.

Five retail technology questions for Pricer’s Duncan Potter

RTIH asks major players in the retail technology space for their thoughts on the sector, and throws in a random question to keep them on their toes. This time around, our five questions go to Duncan Potter, Chief Marketing Officer at Pricer.

Last week’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance

RTIH rounds up the stand out retail systems deals, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Featuring The Very Group, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Instacart, Levy UK+ Ireland, and AiFi.

Five retail technology funding rounds you need to know about

RTIH rounds up the retail tech ventures whose funding rounds have been making headlines, including Shopic, KatKin, CleverTap, and Ottonomy.IO.

Sneaker platform The Edit LDN enters the metaverse with Bloktopia

The Edit LDN, a marketplace for sneakers, is venturing into the metaverse by creating a store in partnership with Bloktopia.

Ottonomy.IO announces seed round and Ottobot 2.0 launch

Autonomous robotics delivery startup Ottonomy.IO has closed a seed funding round of $3.3 million, bringing its total funding to date to $4.9 million.

The round was led by Pi Ventures. Connetic Ventures and Branded Hospitality Ventures and the Founder and CEO of Addverb Technologies, Sangeet Kumar, also participated.

McDonald’s on Xanax: Boxpark boss Roger Wade blasts self-service kiosks

Roger Wade, CEO and Founder at UK-based retail and food park firm Boxpark, has taken to LinkedIn to criticise McDonald’s and its roll-out of in-store self-service kiosks.

“Does anyone else dislike the kiosks at McDonald’s?” he asked.

“Companies need to prioritise customer service over technology. Technology for technology’s sake!”

He added: “I miss the buzz of face to face customer service, shouting orders and flipping burgers. It’s now replaced by a sterile technological world. McDonald’s on Xanax. The founders would turn in their graves!”

Amen to that!

Oxford City Football Club teams with CoinCorner for Bitcoin payments first

Oxford City FC has become the first English National League club to accept match day payments in Bitcoin after entering a multi-year partnership with CoinCorner.

Supporters will be able to purchase tickets, food and drink inside the RAW Charging Stadium with Bitcoin and Lightning, as an alternative to traditional cash and card methods.

The move means payments can also be made using CoinCorner's Bolt Card - pitched as the world's first contactless Bitcoin Lightning card.

To mark the tie up, CoinCorner have produced a limited edition run of Oxford City FC branded Bolt Cards which are available to buy in the club shop.

Dafydd Moore takes on Group Director IT Strategy and Architecture role at Halfords

Halfords has appointed Dafydd Moore as Group Director IT Strategy and Architecture.

He joins from Dyson where he held the role of Global Head of IT Strategy Architecture and Innovation.

In a LinkedIn post, Moore said: “After five truly fantastic years at Dyson, I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Group Director IT Strategy and Architecture at Halfords.”

“I am very grateful to all the people I have worked with at Dyson that have helped me develop to the point where I am ready to take on this new and exciting role.”