Top 10: last week’s most essential retail technology articles

These are the RTIH articles that caught your fancy last week, including Pricer, AiFi, Amazon, Getir, Zapp, Co-op, and Rent the Runway.

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.

QuikTrip taps Amazon Just Walk Out tech for checkout-free store first

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.

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.

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.

Rent the Runway makes the move to Google Cloud

Rent the Runway, an online platform that allows users to rent, subscribe, or buy designer apparel and accessories, has migrated its entire IT infrastructure and e-commerce platform to Google Cloud.

Five retail technology funding rounds you need to know about

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

Zapp notches up rapid delivery first with Self-Love Store launch

Rapid delivery firm, Zapp, has launched a Self-Love Store, to coincide with International Female Orgasm Day, 8th August.

Pitched as a quick commerce first, this sells the likes of premium vibrators, water-based lube, along with other self-love treats such as candles, champagne, chocolate, and skincare, all of which can be delivered to Londoners in minutes, 24/7.  

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.

Getir rolls back prices to the 90s as cost of living crisis bites

Rapid delivery firm, Getir, says that it is rolling back several grocery prices to the 90s in response to the cost of living crisis and the highest inflation rates in 27 years. 

Customers can bag the likes of a Cadbury Dairy Milk bar for 45p, a pack of spaghetti for £1.09, Salad Cream for £1.29p, and a 800g white medium Kingsmill loaf for £65p. 

The price promotion is running throughout the whole of August on the Getir app.

Products will be available to deliver in minutes across London, Birmingham, Manchester, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, Southampton, Portsmouth, Leeds, Cambridge, and Leicester.