Including ASICS, Asda and LGCF: RTIH presents last week’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance
RTIH rounds up the stand out retail systems deals, launches, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Including Asda, Marks & Spencer, Fossil Group, New Look, Amazon Fresh, BERSHKA, and True Classic.
ASICS
ASICS has selected pureplay customer data platform (CDP) BlueConic as it looks to reimagine the way it engages with customers.
The move will empower its team to support a growing number of personalisation projects while remaining compliant with consumer data privacy regulations around the globe.
With operations across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania, ASICS is best known for its sports apparel, shoes, equipment, and accessories for men, women, and children.
The company acquired fitness app RunKeeper in 2016 for its potential as a one-on-one marketing channel.
With a focus on increasing engagement and loyalty both within the app and across brands, channels, and regions, ASICS will use BlueConic to unify its first-party data for a deeper, real-time understanding of individual interests, behaviours, consent preferences, and more.
Marks and Spencer
Runa reports that its platform has brought a 245% year-on-year increase in gift card revenue volume to its partner M&S.
The retailer sought to grow its sales in this area and increase its share of wallet by distributing gift cards across Runa’s customer base.
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
The world’s first checkout-free store using Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology in a healthcare location, has launched in The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust – in partnership with One Retail and noviniti.
Part of the new two-storey Main Entrance and Admin Hub under construction at the Princess Royal Hospital, the Market Express store will be accessible to Telford patients, visitors and staff.
Mastercard
Mastercard has announced Shopping Muse, a generative AI tool that aims to revolutionise how consumers search for and discover products in a retailer’s digital catalogue.
Amazon Fresh
Amazon has opened an Amazon Fresh store in Notting Hill, London.
This is its 20th in the UK market and 19th in London, with the non-London location situated in Sevenoaks, Kent.
To enter the store, customers walk through a non-gated entrance and shop for what they need.
When done, they can either scan their in-store code (via the Amazon app) at the exit gate or tap their credit card. Customers can also use one of three self-checkout tills for an extra option.
And they can pick up and return items purchased online from the in-store Amazon Hub counter, with QR code.
New Look
TrusTrace has announced a partnership with New Look, a fashion retailer in the UK and Republic of Ireland, to help the company gain greater visibility across its supply chain through suppliers and assist in identifying responsible sourcing and business continuity risks.
“New Look is the first major UK retailer to join forces with TrusTrace, marking a major milestone in our pursuit to make global supply chains traceable, circular and fair,” says TrusTrace CEO and Co-Founder Shameek Ghosh.
“TrusTrace facilitates data collection from Tier 1 through to Tier 4, enabling New Look to access granular, validated product data to support its sustainability goals. This partnership will contribute to New Look’s ‘Kind to our Core’ mission by helping them make informed decisions to enhance responsible sourcing.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with TrusTrace to gain deeper visibility through to our Tier 4 suppliers, helping us to further mitigate any supply chain risks,” says Sue Fairley, Head of Sustainability at New Look.
“We’ve already made incredible progress through our ‘Kind to Our Core’ sustainability programme – as evidenced in our recently released 2023 Sustainability Report – and it’s just the beginning.”
BERSHKA
3DLOOK, a specialist in AI powered mobile body scanning and virtual try-on solutions, has announced a partnership with BERSHKA, a fashion brand under the Inditex (ITX) umbrella.
The tie up aims to reduce return rates for the brand, boost conversions and sales by eliminating the sizing guesswork online shoppers face, and simultaneously provide interactive shopping experiences to young tech savvy consumers.
BERSHKA will leverage 3DLOOK's virtual fitting room YourFit, to provide accurate size and fit recommendations, as well as an engaging virtual try-on experience, directly on its website.
Customers can now choose an item and click on a “See how it fits me” widget to be voice guided in real-time through a quick and easy camera-based flow.
Using a front and side photo of the customer, the solution’s precise 3D mapping technology and size recommendation engine then offer instant feedback on what size would fit best and provide an accurate and photorealistic virtual try-on experience.
Walmart
Walmart is this holiday season bringing together shopping and watching romcoms.
The retailer is launching “Add to Heart”, enabling customers to find holiday gifting inspiration while tuning in to the 23-part shoppable series, pitched as a RomCommerce of sorts.
The series will be released on TikTok, Roku and YouTube starting on 2nd December, with the remainder dropping on 5th and 8th December.
“The holidays are such a special season. We know gifting and curling up to watch a favourite Christmas movie are part of so many families’ traditions. So, what better time to launch an innovative, first of its kind shoppable series,” said William White, Chief Marketing Officer, Walmart U.S.
“‘Add to Heart’ is a fun, unique way for our customers to be entertained while shopping for the great deals on top brands that they expect from Walmart. We hope they enjoy it and the amazing gifts they order throughout.”
True Classic
True Classic, a US-based DTC fashion brand, has selected parcelLab to upgrade its post-purchase and returns management experience.
“We are always looking for partners in business that we can build a long-term relationship with,” says Breanna Moreno, VP of Customer Experience at True Classic.
“parcelLab is not just a vendor, but a partner. The team has been hugely beneficial in helping us uplevel our post-purchase and returns management processes to grow with us as we continue our international expansion.”
“We are constantly striving to put our customers first at True Classic – and centralised, real-time customer analytics provided by parcelLab has been invaluable in driving future business strategy and creating a fully personalised experience for our growing customer base.”
Square
Square has launched Tap to Pay on iPhone across the UK, making it the third market globally where the company will offer the technology to its sellers.
Fossil Group
Fossil Group is using NewStore’s technology globally across its Fossil, Fossil Outlet, and Watch Station stores.
The lifestyle accessories company has replaced its legacy store solution with the NewStore mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) solution, which will be live in hundreds of locations across 19 countries once the project is complete.
Fossil Group is putting an app powered, digitally connected retail experience in the hands of its associates, allowing them to assist and check out customers anywhere on the store floor with a mobile device.
Bigcrafters
Bigcrafters, a new Spanish digital delivery platform for artisan products powered by Estrella Galicia, has selected Mangopay as its payment partner.
Mangopay will support payments between consumers and Bigcrafters sellers, and enable the onboarding of new local businesses to the platform.
LGCF
LGCF, a French wine exporting company, is tapping Körber technology to boost performance at its logistics sites.
Active in 178 countries for a turnover of 1.3 billion euros in 2022, LGCF is modernising its supply chain processes through the implementation of a Warehouse Management System (WMS) for all of its 14 sites and a Warehouse Contol System (WCS) for the automated sites at Petersbach (Alsace) and Landiras (Bordeaux).
Adding to that, the company is also planning to introduce voice and gamification.
Asda
Asda has selected NCR Atleos as its ATM network partner.
Its customers will soon be able to transact with over 1,200 Cashzone branded Atleos owned and operated ATMs in more than 600 stores.
According to a press release: “By selecting the proven experts at Atleos to provide an end-to-end ATM solution, Asda will reduce complexity and boost efficiency, while providing optimum availability and access for customers”.
The grocery giant will also leverage Atleos’ onscreen marketing at the ATM to promote its brand, offers and services.
Bela
Bartels-Langness, aka Bela, an owner managed German grocery retailer and wholesaler, has chosen to work with RELEX Solutions, a provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions.
Bela, who operates largely across northern Germany, will use the RELEX forecasting and replenishment capabilities to manage supply chain planning across all categories for its approximately 130 retail stores under the famila and Markant brands, their wholesale business, and its three distribution centres.
ByNoGame
iDenfy has announced a new partnership with ByNoGame, a Turkey-based online marketplace business.
The RegTech firm says that its ID verification solution will eliminate fraud in real-time through a quick onboarding process.
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