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 Tesco, AiFi, QuikTrip, Amazon, and Co-op.
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.
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.
Perfect Corp. has announced a partnership with Argentinian cosmetic brand, ACF (Advanced Cosmeceutical Formulations).
The latter will integrate its AI powered Skin Diagnostic technology that enables an assessment of key skin concerns, including wrinkles, moisture, and redness, and provides each customer with a regime customised to their individual needs.
ACF customers will be able to receive an instant skin evaluation directly on their mobile device.
US convenience retailer, QuikTrip, has opened a store in Tulsa powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology. This is its first venture into the checkout-free space.
Those visiting the new location (in the BOK Tower at One Williams Center) will be able to insert their credit card at the entry gate to enter, shop like normal, and then leave.
Just Walk Out technology determines what items shoppers take from or return to the shelves, and when they leave, the credit card they inserted will be charged for the items they took.
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.
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.
