Healthy habits and sustainable fashion: Presenting this week's coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail’ systems launches and deployments from the past week, including Chipotle, Walmart, American Girl, Amazon, Majid Al Futtaim, and Carrefour UAE.
Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill is kicking off 2023 with a new lineup of Lifestyle Bowls as it looks to cater to contemporary wellness habits.
The brand is also launching a wellness inspired AR Lens on Snapchat to encourage people to maintain healthy habits, plus it will reward those who participate with free guac.
“We created seven new Lifestyle Bowls that embrace Gen Z and Millennials’ modern interpretation of wellbeing,” says Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer, Chipotle.
“We’re making new year’s resolutions fun by gamifying the experience and offering balanced meals made with real ingredients that you feel good eating.”
The AR Lens will launch on Friday, 13th January, also known as Quitter’s Day, the day we’re apparently most likely to forfeit new year’s resolutions.
One hundred thousand people in the US who complete the Snapchat challenges will earn a promo code for a free small side or topping of guac.
Chipotle says that the activation marks the first time a restaurant brand will promote physical activity and wellness through an AR Lens on Snapchat.
Scurri and HIVED
UK-based Scurri, a software provider focused on the e-commerce ordering, shipping and delivery process, has announced its integration with HIVED.
This will allow retailers on the Scurri platform to deliver online orders emission free, nationwide collection and delivery across the Greater London area.
HIVED’s emission free output is achieved by use of only electric vehicles and bikes for its deliveries.
Through the integration, Scurri will offer same-day, next-day and two-day delivery services for retailers.
Shopify
NASCAR and Phoenix Raceway
AiFi has been selected by Phoenix Raceway to use its autonomous retail technology after a test launch with both AiFi and Amazon Go systems at the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship in November.
The former’s store will now be back for the next NASCAR race in the spring.
This is its second race car presence after revealing a frictionless express shop at the Miami Grand Prix in May in partnership with Verizon 5G.
Yoti
The UK Home Office reports that trials of digital age verification at supermarket self-checkouts have now ended.
Yoti, whose technology was tested out by the likes of Morrisons, Tesco, Co-op, and Asda, has shared its initial key takeaways from the initiative.
During the trials, shoppers in participating stores could try two new ways to prove their age.
Facial age estimation technology: those purchasing alcohol looked at a camera on the self-checkout and technology estimated their age.
It didn’t require any personal details or ID documents, and all images were instantly deleted once someone received their estimated age. If the system detected they looked younger than the set age threshold, customers were asked to use an alternative method.
Digital ID app: shoppers could use the free Yoti or Post Office EasyID app to scan a QR code on the checkout screen and share a verified age attribute.
Those who did not wish to use digital age verification had the option to ask a staff member to come and approve them and if required show their ID to a colleague instead.
H&M
H&M has debuted an Innovation Metaverse Design Story collection in select stores and online.
According to a press release, the physical collection is “inspired by the immersive potential of the metaverse, as well as the tactile beauty of the physical world. Self-expression and an exploration of sustainability is showcased in three formats, with sustainable materials, rental services in select countries, and a digital collection.”
"The increasingly virtual dimension of fashion creates exciting future opportunities for H&M, allowing us to create vibrant, bold and daring virtual counterparts to our physical collections,” says Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative Advisor at H&M.
“In addition to the endless creative possibilities, it also allows us to propose a more sustainable and inclusive fashion vision that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere in the world.”
Majid Al Futtaim and Carrefour UAE
FedEx Express
FedEx Express has expanded the testing of electric carts to five New York City locations as it aims to improve deliveries in major metropolitan areas.
The BrightDrop Trace e-carts are helping FedEx couriers make deliveries in the Diamond District, Theatre District, Midtown, Midtown East, and Brooklyn Heights, expanding upon an initial test site in the Diamond District during 2021.
The routes in the pilot cover more than seven walking miles.
Amazon
Amazon has started to deliver orders by drones in California and Texas.
This is currently operating in Lockeford, California and College Station, Texas.
Once onboarded, customers will see Prime Air eligible items on Amazon. They will purchase items as per normal and receive an estimated arrival time with a status tracker for their order.
“Our aim is to safely introduce our drones to the skies. We are starting in these communities and will gradually expand deliveries to more customers over time,” says Amazon Air spokesperson Natalie Banke.
American Girl
Mattel brand American Girl has unveiled its 2023 Girl of the Year, Kavi Sharma, and as part of the launch has partnered with Obsess to create a free virtual museum experience.
This allows fans to tour Kavi’s room and learn more about her Indian culture and love of performing, play games and learn more about each American Girl character.
Walmart
Walmart reports that it now operates, in partnership with its vendors, 36 drone delivery hubs across seven US states.
This marks completion of the retailer’s drone hub expansion plans that it announced last year.
Vik Gopalakrishnan, Vice President, Innovation & Automation, Walmart U.S., says: “I’m incredibly proud of our team for creating the largest drone delivery footprint of any US retailer and providing customers with an incredibly fast – and innovative – option for delivery.”
“We’re encouraged by the positive response from customers and look forward to making even more progress in 2023.”
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