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 Chartwells Higher Education, Standard AI, Amazon, Uber Eats, and Co-op.

Chartwells Higher Education and Standard AI eye 100 autonomous retail stores

Standard AI and Chartwells Higher Education, a division of Compass Group, have announced an expanded partnership that will bring 100 autonomous retail experiences to higher education institutions in the US.

In 2020, Chartwells Higher Education was the first company to retrofit an existing retail environment using Standard AI’s autonomous platform, enabling university students to walk in, select their items, and go on their way without having to wait in a checkout line or scan barcodes.

Lululemon, Patagonia and REI deploy Trove recommerce operating system

Trove reports that its technology is now present in 700 bricks and mortar stores in the USA.

Arc’teryx, Eileen Fisher, Levi’s, Lululemon, Patagonia and REI are among the companies now offering their customers a convenient way to trade in items at stores.

Uber Eats and Co-op agree rapid online delivery tie up

Co-op and Uber Eats have teamed-up as part of the convenience retailer’s plans to expand its on-demand online home delivery service.

Through the partnership, shoppers will be able to order via the Uber Eats app from around 1,000 Co-op food stores by the end of the year, with groceries delivered in as little as 30 minutes.

With the phased roll-out underway from this week, customers can use the Uber Eats app to choose from over 6,000 products stocked in local Co-op stores.

With products picked fresh in local stores, the service is available for a full grocery shop as well as on-demand top-up and forgotten items, meal ideas and treats for evenings in at home.

Amazon halts Just Walk Out tech powered checkout-free stores push

Amazon has put the brakes on the expansion of its UK checkout-free convenience stores, due to sales falling short of expectations and fit out costs being multiple times higher than with a standard location.

According to a report by The Sunday Times, the US giant is understood to have walked away from talks on dozens of sites for Amazon Fresh stores, and has stopped its search for more locations.

There will still be a handful of openings this year at sites where Amazon had already committed to a lease.

Reality bites as cost of Amazon Just Walk Out technology hits home

Experiments like Just Walk Out tech powered Amazon Fresh stores will never work on a large scale for “normal” retailers.

That’s the view of Sigurður Ari Sigurjónsson, Director of Business Development at LS Retail.

Five retail technology questions for LoyaltyLion’s Charlie Casey

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 Charlie Casey, CEO at LoyaltyLion.

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

These are the RTIH articles that caught your fancy last week, including Amazon, Uber Eats, Co-op, Boots, Deliveroo, Nike, AiFi, and SPAR.

Startup Stories Q&A: Simon Iddon, Founder and CEO, be Retail Social

RTIH gets the lowdown on be Retail Social, a British startup that has developed a virtual fitting room and try on platform pitched at fashion and sportswear brands.

Revenue from in-store automation solutions to top $8.4bn by 2030

Retailers and stakeholders are increasingly turning to automation solutions such as mobile robotics for operational ease.

According to ABI Research, worldwide commercial robot revenue in retail stores will have a CAGR of over 25% from 2022 to 2030 and exceed $8.4 billion by 2030.

Baby boomers and Gen Zers most receptive to SMS communications from brands

53% of over 54 year olds find SMS from brands useful, exactly the same percentage as the number of their Gen Z counterparts (aged 18-24), according to research by Yotpo.

Overall, across age groups the survey of 1,000 UK consumers highlighted how 45% now find it to be one of the most useful channels for receiving information from brands.