The six biggest retail technology news stories of the week
It’s Friday, the weekend is almost upon us, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past five days, including AiFi, Co-op, Spring, Amazon, Walmart, and Tesco.
1. 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.
Shopic offers an AI powered clip-on device that turns shopping carts into smart carts.
Utilising computer vision algorithms, it identifies items placed in the cart in real-time, while displaying to shoppers product promotions and discounts on related products.
The system also acts as a self-service checkout interface.
And it provides real-time inventory management and customer behavioural insights for grocers through its analytics dashboard. These reports also include aisle heatmaps, promotion monitoring and new product adoption metrics.
2. Amazon One palm print payments coming to more Whole Foods locations
Amazon One palm scanner payment technology is set to launch at over 65 Whole Foods stores in California.
This is the biggest roll-out to date, with stores in Malibu, Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Orange County, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Santa Cruz included in the initiative.
Amazon One was initially available in Amazon Go stores, with an eventual expansion to Whole Foods stores in Austin, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York City.
Customers can also try out the tech at the Amazon Style fashion store in Glendale, California, along with select Fresh and Go stores.
3. 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 rate of deployment by opening 50 computer vision powered locations with Żabka, Poland’s largest convenience store chain, in the span of a few months.
4. Co-op takes Spring tech recirculation trial beyond London
Co-op has expanded a trial with tech recirculation startup, Spring.
The pair first partnered in October 2021 with the launch of self-service pods in 20 of the retailer’s convenience stores in London.
The move is designed to make recirculating electronic devices that can be reused or recycled more accessible, while enabling consumers to turn their unwanted items into cash.
The initiative has now been rolled-out to Co-op stores in: Birmingham; Brighton; Leeds and Manchester.
Spring’s Pods accept almost 14,000 different devices and customers receive payment to their Spring account within one to three days. The money can be transferred to a bank account or to charity.
Where devices cannot be re-used, Spring will ensure all components - which include materials such as: gold; copper; aluminium and, steel - are recycled.
5. Tesco electrifies deliveries from DCs to city centre stores
Tesco says it is the first retailer to launch a zero-emission electric lorry to make deliveries from its distribution centres to stores in city centres.
The first of these vehicles, made by Renault Trucks, is now delivering to more than 400 stores in Greater London, with further electric lorries entering service in the coming months.
6. Walmart opens new automated tech powered consolidation centre
Walmart will this month open a consolidation centre in Lebanon, Pa.
The new 400,000 square foot facility is located at 1625 Heilmandale Road.
Once implemented, its automated technology can enable three times more volume to flow throughout the centre and help Walmart deliver the right product to the right store.
The consolidation centre will service all 42 regional distribution centres across the US, with plans to service fulfilment centres in the near future.
