Starring Superdrug, Shein, and FreedomPay: the 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 Superdrug’s new retail media network, digital wallets research from FreedomPay, and AI-based technology from Amazon that can spot even the smallest anomalies in delivery vans.
1. At the coal face of major industry change: Superdrug announces arrival of Optimo retail media network
Superdrug has launched its own retail media network in the UK.
In a LinkedIn post, Paul Stafford, Head Of Digital Marketing, Retail Media & Online Brand at Superdrug, said: “This week, I had the pleasure of announcing the arrival of Superdrug’s own retail media network, Optimo, at our annual supplier conference.”
He added: “This has been a huge piece of work covering A.S. Watson Group (the owner of Superdrug) BU’s across Hong Kong, Milan, Paris, Amsterdam and London. From a personal point of view, it’s been an incredible journey to work on a project that is at the coal face of major industry change.”
“I can’t wait now to start working with our suppliers to deliver on their briefs.”
“Obviously this has been a massive team effort and couldn't be done without the support of Dan Jarvis (Chief Digital Officer, Europe at A.S. Watson Group), Andrea Zoboli (eLab Technology Director (Europe) at A.S. Watson Group, Mariëlle Slenders, (Head of Media & Performance Benelux at A.S. Watson Group), Matt Walburn, (Customer and Marketing Director at Superdrug), Nicholas Queally, Marketing Manager - Promotions and Pricing at Superdrug), and many, many more.”
2. Time is running out to enter the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards: deadline for submissions Friday, 3rd November
There is now just one week left to submit your entries for the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards, which takes place on Wednesday, 29th November at the Barbican Arts Centre in central London.
The event, sponsored by PMC, FreedomPay, Worldpay from FIS, CADS, 3D Cloud by Marxent, Goodays, and Vista Technology Support, celebrates global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Spread over 19 different categories, submissions are judged on the extent of innovation and transformation demonstrated, as well as the sustainability of the results. Previous year’s winners have included B&Q, Pets at Home, Walmart, Sook, AiFi, Compass Group, Obsess, and Ribble Cycles.
Deadline for 2023 submissions is Friday, 3rd November.
The awards culminate in a fantastic ceremony, complete with a drinks reception and Christmas themed three-course meal at the Barbican Arts Centre on Wednesday 29th November.
Key dates
Friday, 3rd November: Award entry deadline
Tuesday, 7th November: 2023 shortlist revealed
7th-10th November: Judging days
Wednesday, 29th November: Winners announced at the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony
Categories, along with entry forms, can be found here.
3. 20,000 cash rewards redeemed by Ocado Retail customers in first England and Wales DDRS trial
Since 14th July, Ocado Retail customers have been able to claim monetary rewards for recycling any of its own brand two and four-pint milk bottles using Polytag’s QR codes, redeemable via recycling app Bower.
The trial saw more than 20,000 Ocado Retail milk bottles scanned by over 3,000 consumers using their smartphones before being deposited into home kerbside recycling.
The QR code integrated onto the milk bottles’ labelling is scanned via the aforementioned app, the bottle disposed of in a person’s registered at home recycling bin, and the reward withdrawn into their bank account.
Up to £4,000 worth of rewards were obtained during the nine week long trial.
4. FreedomPay research: One in five Brits don’t trust digital wallets amid £138 billion decade shift
UK digital wallet transactions across retail, leisure and hospitality are set to rise to £210 billion by 2033, while cash usage halves, according to research from FreedomPay and Retail Economics, supported by a UK consumer survey across 2,000 households.
The nearly £138 billion shift to digital wallets over the next decade comes as 46.3% of shoppers look for easier payments, 27.3% want integrated loyalty schemes and 26% seek buy now, pay later options in future digital wallets – while retailers look to unlock new levels of personalisation across channels, putting smartphones at the heart.
However, not all Brits are equipped for this shift, with one in five reporting that they don’t trust using smartphones and wearable devices to pay for goods and services.
A key barrier to widespread adoption is the sizeable knowledge gap, as 49% of UK shoppers say they understand how digital wallets work.
5. Amazon teams with UVeye on new AI powered Automated Vehicle Inspection technology
Amazon has implemented a new artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology that, it claims, can spot even the smallest anomalies in delivery vans, from tyre deformities and undercarriage wear to bent or warped body pieces, before they become on-road problems.
The Automated Vehicle Inspection (AVI) tech is launching in partnership with startup UVeye in the US, Canada, Germany, and the UK.
“The last thing I want is for something preventable to happen, like a tyre blowing out because we missed an imperceptible defect during our morning inspection,” says Bennett Hart, owner of logistics company Hart Road. “This technology improves the safety of our fleet.”
6. A2Z Cust2Mate subsidiary picked as supplier of smart carts to grocery retail giant Carrefour France
A2Z Smart Technologies Corp. has been selected to supply Cust2Mate smart carts to Carrefour's Connected Cart project for its newly merged Hypermarket and Supermarket division in France.
The first phase of the aforementioned project is the delivery of 2,000 smart carts, expected in the first half of 2024 at two Carrefour hypermarket retail locations in France.
7. Shein has California on its mind as online retailer taps QR codes for pop-up in Forever 21 store
A section of the latter’s permanent storefront was transformed into a shop for apparel, beauty products and accessories sold by Shein, complete with its own employees and checkout counter.
Shoppers needed to scan a QR code to make an appointment to enter.
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