For one last time in 2023, RTIH runs you through the 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 The Fabricant, Trigo, Sodexo Live!, AiFi, Carrefour UAE, Frasers Group, Boots, Gatik AI, and The Kroger Co.
The Fabricant
The Fabricant, which operates in the digital fashion space, is presenting a reinterpretation on its platform of its first AI designed collection from 2017, DEEP, on 20th December.
Back in 2017, The Fabricant delved into the realm of AI, collaborating with The Asimov Institute, a non-profit AI research institute exploring the intersection of deep learning and creativity.
The algorithm was fed with 1,500 images from Paris Fashion Week 2017 shows, and by employing trial and error, it generated 2D pixelated images that served as inspiration for the collection.
Trigo
Trigo, a provider of autonomous retail technology, including frictionless checkout, to the likes of REWE, Auchan, Tesco, Aldi and Netto, will be exhibiting at NRF 2024 next month, on booth 3112.
The company will announce an expansion of its partnership with REWE, which will see the opening of three new large format autonomous supermarkets in early 2024.
It will also announce details of new partnerships that will launch the company into new geographies and a new retail sector outside of grocery for the first time in 2024.
NRF 2024 will also serve as the launchpad for two major upgrades to Trigo’s technology platform.
HMV
Worldpay from FIS is expanding its relationship with music and entertainment retailer HMV to support its omnichannel focused European expansion.
Worldpay Omnichannel aims to give HMV greater flexibility and choice when it comes to improving its omnichannel strategy, across 34 geographic markets.
The solution brings together Worldpay’s e-commerce capabilities with FreedomPay’s commerce platform.
Through a single integration, Worldpay Omnichannel allows merchants to operate across borders and Point of Sale (PoS) providers, supporting both major and local card schemes, alongside local payment methods.
It will allow for synchronisation and tokenisation across multiple channels. It also enables access to multiple PoS providers, allowing merchants to maintain their preferred relationships with partner ecosystems.
Worldpay Omnichannel is now live in HMV’s Dublin and Antwerp stores and will be rolled out across Europe in the coming months.
Sodexo Live!
Sodexo Live!, the venue partner of Brighton & Hove Albion since 2013, says that it has made a significant investment at the American Express Stadium, to enhance the experience for fans and guests alike.
Last week saw the launch of a new retail store, the West Stand Tap, which is fully automated and allows guests to walk up, scan their payment device (card or phone), grab what they want and then walk out to complete their purchase.
The aim is to provide fans with a quick service retail solution that offers key items on matchday. Items available include a selection of beer, lager, cider, soft drinks and pies and sausage rolls from local favourite Piglet’s Pantry.
Samsung
Samsung Gaming Hub has turned the Piccadilly Lights in London into an interactive 3D livestream featuring two gaming influencers going head to head in a Rocket League challenge.
Created in partnership with Cheil, Samsung’s Gaming Hub Challenge feat. Rocket League uses Ocean Outdoor’s DeepScreen Alive technology for the first time to accommodate live reactions from OOH spectators within the livestream experience.
Produced by CYLNDR, the 15 minute game unfolded on the Piccadilly Lights as influencers @ApparentlyJxck and @Vatira5 battled it out for the title Samsung Gaming Hub Champion.
Volt and ekko
The aim here is to help consumers and retailers to support the removal of plastic bottles from the ocean at checkout, which are then tracked in real-time to measure the environmental impact of payments.
When choosing a payment method at the checkout, consumers can remove a plastic bottle from the ocean when paying with Volt, before seeing a real-time counter for how many bottles have been removed so far. The counter increases once a payment is completed.
The collaboration means ekko will join Volt’s network, plugging into payments being initiated across the UK, Europe, Brazil and Australia.
Boots
Boots is working on the launch of a ChatGPT personal shopper for its website which would be able to give customers recommendations on lipsticks and beauty gifts.
It is currently testing the chatbot with work on the tool set to be ramped up after Christmas.
Walgreens Boots Alliance owned Boots, which earlier this year announced plans to close 300 stores around the UK amidst a rise in online sales, has a partnership with Microsoft - the biggest investor of ChatGPT’s owners OpenAI - and already implements the chatbot in other areas of its business.
Worldpay from FIS and Pennies
Worldpay from FIS has enabled UK merchants to raise £10 million for charities through its integration at the PoS with digital charity box Pennies.
The pair have been collaborating since 2011, providing a way for consumers to donate to charity when making a purchase by card and digital wallet.
The Pennies integration is in use with 14 of Worldpay’s largest merchants across the UK.
Gatik AI and The Kroger Co.
Gatik AI and The Kroger Co. have announced the launch of the companies’ multi-year commercial collaboration, which sees the former’s medium-duty autonomous box trucks transporting fresh, customer favourite products from the latter’s customer fulfilment centre (CFC) in Dallas, Texas, to multiple retail locations.
To celebrate the progress made since beginning local operations earlier this year, the companies came together for a ribbon cutting ceremony with City of Dallas and Texas state officials including Tennell Atkins, Mayor Pro Tem and Council Member, and representatives from Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Department of Public Safety.
“You are changing the world,” said Tennell Atkins, City of Dallas Mayor Pro Tem and Council Member in his remarks addressed to Gatik and Kroger.
“We are looking at the 21st century. Gatik and Kroger’s cutting-edge partnership is making an impact in Dallas and throughout the state of Texas. I thank you for your collaboration.”
Frasers Group
Frasers Group is working on a new MACH e-commerce platform and consumer apps, with go live set for 2024.
In a LinkedIn post, David Clark, Group Digital Director at Frasers Group, whose brands include Sports Direct, Flannels, and Jack Wills, said: “Short hop to Utrecht today to meet our partners at Lab Digital, Valtech and AND Digital.”
“Very excited with the progress on our new MACH e-commerce platform and consumer apps. Coming to Frasers Group in 2024.”
“Building strong relationships and bringing together strengths of different partners can generate incredible results. Thanks for hosting us in your great office space Michiel Tielemans (Managing Director at Lab Digital).”
Carrefour UAE
Decathlon
Be.EV has partnered with sporting goods provider Decathlon to provide it with ultra-rapid EV charging at a number of stores across the UK.
The deal is Decathlon UK’s first partnership with a public charging network.
Sites are already in the pipeline across various stores in the UK, with Decathlon’s Stockport site being first across the line to receive a charging hub in April 2024. The store is one of the largest in the UK - spanning over 52,000 sq ft - and 16 ultra-rapid charging bays will be installed.
Decathlon Stockport receives up to 20,000 visitors per week, and is located minutes from the M60 - which sees an average of over 83,000 vehicles a day. Stockport has close to 2.700 registered electric vehicles.
