Including Sensei, Kingfisher, and Coach: 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 autonomous supermarkets, AI powered DIY assistants, and the shortlist for the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards.
1. Autonomous store tech firm Sensei enters Italy with new Tuday Prendi & Go store in Verona
Portuguese startup Sensei has announced its entry into Italy with the opening of the country’s first autonomous supermarket.
Located in Verona, the Tuday Prendi & Vai location was inaugurated on Wednesday 8th November, offering a shopping experience with no queues, or self-scanning or checkout processes.
Sensei, whose autonomous stores can also be found in Europe and South America, has partnered with the DAO cooperative, which has been operating in the retail sector for over 60 years and is present in the provinces of Trento, Bolzano, Vicenza, and Verona, where it manages the Conad brand.
Tuday Prendi & Go (in English, Grab & Go) in Verona allows customers to enter without any barriers, pick up the products they want, and leave without the need to go to a checkout counter and/or wait in line to pay.
It also marks the debut of technological developments made by Sensei to enhance the user experience.
In addition to eliminating barriers to entry into the store, it offers people the opportunity to review their shopping cart, updated in real-time, before leaving the store. At the payment terminal, after accessing their cart, customers can choose from different payment methods and pay by card or using the Tuday - Prendi & Vai app.
2. Kingfisher announces AI powered DIY assistant, launching initially at Castorama France
Kingfisher has launched what is pitched as the first AI powered assistant in the home improvement sector, harnessing the capability of generative AI to support customers with their DIY projects.
Launching initially at Castorama France, this answers customers’ DIY queries and provides step-by-step advice on a range of home improvement projects, as well as tailored product recommendations.
Customers can ask the assistant questions in natural language while shopping online – for example “how do I install a worktop in my kitchen” or “which saw should I choose to cut my worktop?”.
It will answer in a friendly and conversational way with relevant advice.
As well as conversing with customers via text chat, the assistant will soon be able analyse photos to perform visual searches and answer visual queries.
3. It’s here! RTIH announces shortlist for 2023 omnichannel retail technology innovation awards
We’re pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by PMC, FreedomPay, Worldpay from FIS, CADS, 3D Cloud by Marxent, Goodays, and Vista Technology Support.
We received a record number of submissions this year and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, which will take place at the Barbican Centre in central London.
The event will be held on Wednesday, 29th November, maintaining its popular evening format, with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a Christmas themed three course meal, and awards presentations in the Garden Room.
Congratulations to all those who made the shortlist.
To book your place at the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony on Wednesday, 29th November, click here.
4. Jeremy Pee joins Matalan as Non-Executive Director following departure from Marks and Spencer
Matalan has announced the appointment of Jeremy Pee as Non-Executive Director.
Most recently, Pee was Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Marks and Spencer.
He was hired in 2018 from Canadian supermarket chain Loblaw, taking on the aforementioned role earlier this year.
He was previously Chief Digital and Data Officer, and held that position for just over four years.
Pee recently moved his family back to Canada in a planned move. His responsibilities have been taken on by Co-Chief Executive officer Katie Bickerstaffe until a replacement is found.
5. Coach teams up with ZERO10 to launch immersive retail experience for the 2023 holiday season
From 15th November to 1st January, customers will be able to explore Coach’s Holiday collection digitally through ZERO10’s AR Storefront at five physical locations across North America: Boston, Atlanta, Austin, Miami and Toronto.
The aim is to inspire shoppers to unleash their personal style and explore the world of the Coach brand in a fun and immersive way that caters to Gen Z and Young Millennial audiences.
AR Storefront will feature digital recreations of the following holiday styles from Coach: Sequin Penn in Dark Magenta and Black, Metallic Star Bag in Silver, Glovetanned Leather Tabby Shoulder Bag 26 in Black, Patent Signature Leather Tabby Shoulder Bag 20 in Chalk and Silver Mirrored Pearlized Signature Round Frames.
Items will appear on the user’s body with AR special effects, including a pearlescent ribbon, multicolour holiday lights, and animated snowman. These looks will alternate on a timed sequence, allowing users and passersby to experience the entire scope of the digital collection.
6. Superdrug works with Unilever and Beiersdorf for first supplier campaigns on new retail media network
UK health and beauty retailer Superdrug has gone live with the first supplier campaigns on its new retail media network.
In a LinkedIn post, Paul Stafford, Head Of Digital Marketing, Retail Media & Online Brand at Superdrug, said: “Who would have known the journey to get the word ‘sponsored’ on our products was going to be such a complex task?!”
“Of course, retail media is much more than that, and we have more news to follow in the coming weeks as we expand our offering. If you are a supplier, please reach out to me to discuss how you can get involved.”
He added: “A huge thanks to our first suppliers Unilever (Emma Houslander and Charlotte Murphy) and Beiersdorf (Rachel Hirst & Katherine Griffiths) for their support to launch with us from day one.”
“Building an retail media network is not easy and takes a huge amount of cross-functional collaboration.”
“We would not be live today if it weren’t for the help of our teams in Legal (Sonica Beckmann (née Dua), Alison Campbell Finance (Michael Harper & Steve How), Design (Darren Donovan-Baker), IT (Jacqueline Joel, Dawn McCurdy, Nicholas Queally), Digital Marketing (Charlotte-Grace Rollinson), and many many more.”
7. Tesco tests out scan-free self-checkout at London store, using Trigo technology
Tesco is trialling new tech which enables shoppers at its Fulham Reach Express GetGo store to take items from shelves and “just walk up” to the checkout which will “magically present them with a list of the products they have picked up”.
They then check the list presented and pay in the usual way.
The process is similar to using the GetGo checkout-free feature of Tesco’s app, but there is no need for the app, and the receipt is provided immediately, rather than digitally a few minutes after leaving the store.
“We are constantly searching for the perfect formula to make the shopping trip as seamless and convenient as possible,” says Sarah Quiggin, Tesco Head of Store Customer Experience.
“This trial of scan-free checkouts will add another option for customers in Fulham Reach to save time on scanning items and will reduce queuing in store.”
The technology, developed with partner Trigo, in which Tesco announced an equity investment in 2019 has been on trial by staff at Tesco Welwyn Garden City headquarters, but this marks its first public launch.
“We will be watching closely to see how customers react to this potential new option of having a list of their shopping presented to them automatically,” Quiggin comments.
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