The latest from Trigo, Obsess, and Volumental: RTIH presents January’s coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his stand out ‘future of retail’ systems deployments from January, including a checkout-free technology first in the USA, a drone deliveries milestone, and the most sophisticated and advanced grocery store in the world.
Wakefern Food Corp.
Wakefern Food Corp. has opened The Pantry, a checkout-free convenience store for the workers at its Edison, New Jersey campus that features Trigo technology.
This uses computer vision with a series of cameras and shelf sensors to identify products picked up by people.
Wakefern is the first US company to test Trigo's technology, which has been deployed by several retailers in Europe and the UK, including REWE and Tesco.
Żabka Group
Żabka Group this month joined Microsoft at NRF 2023 in New York.
Żabka Nano, an autonomous store concept that has been developed under the umbrella of Żabka Future for over a year and a half, was featured at the Microsoft booth.
“Participation in this prestigious event is not only an opportunity for us to establish new partnerships but also an opportunity to present Żabka as one of the world’s most innovative companies in the retail industry.,” said Tomasz Blicharski, EVP, Managing Director of Żabka Future.
“Warsaw, thanks to our concept, has become the world capital of autonomous stores, so I am glad that we have the opportunity to present this project to a global audience.”
“We want to show how our new technologies, created in cooperation with our partners, make life easier and free up our customers' time.”
H-E-B
Supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive, Brittain Ladd, has provided a first look at an AutoStore micro fulfilment centre (MFC) installed in a H-E-B store in Plano, Texas, USA.
In a LinkedIn post, Ladd said: “I can state with no hesitation that the installed MFC is the most incredible AutoStore MFC I've ever seen.”
“H-E-B can legitimately claim to operate the most sophisticated and advanced grocery store in the world. Carrefour, Tesco, Majid Al Futtaim, Hy-Vee., and Amazon, need to pay close attention to what HEB is doing; especially Hy-Vee and Amazon.”
Teleport
Danielle Vermeer has left her “dream job” leading resale fashion CX at Amazon for life at a fashion tech startup.
She is now Co-founder and CEO at Teleport, a social commerce app to share and shop outfit videos in a Gen Z driven community (think TikTok and Depop combined).
In a Twitter post, she said: “I believe the future of fashion is where content, community and (re)commerce collide.”
“Younger consumers want a “third space” online to express their authentic style and to shop cute clothes from trusted peers. I’m obsessed with making this vision a reality.”
Volumental and Under Armour
Volumental is launching a new self-service version of its AI powered foot scanners.
Specifically designed for an in-store experience, customers can take their own foot measurements at the click of a button and receive their best fitting footwear recommendations on their phones.
Volumental expects to launch this globally starting with select stores in the sporting goods industry, outlet malls and brand warehouses in 2023. This follows a beta test with Under Armour.
Walmart
Walmart says that it completed more than 6,000 drone deliveries in 2022, in as little as 30 minutes per pop.
The top five items delivered via drone were: Great Value Cookies and Cream Ice Cream 16 oz, 2lb Bag of Lemons, Freshness Guaranteed Hot Rotisserie Chicken, Red Bull 8.4 fl. oz, and Bounty Select-a-Size Paper Towels.
Currently 85% of items in a Walmart Neighborhood Market meet the 10 lb. weight and volume requirements for drone delivery.
The retailer now operates, in partnership with its vendors, 36 drone delivery hubs across seven US states.
This marks completion of its 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.”
Shopify
H&M
H&M has launched a H&M Loooptopia Experience on Roblox.
The result of a partnership with metaverse studio Dubit, this lets players experiment with materials and patterns creating the next virtual garment and wardrobe for their avatar.
"People who shop and wear H&M garments and accessories are increasingly spending time in virtual spaces and digital worlds. The H&M Loooptopia Experience on Roblox is now allowing us to explore new ways to engage with our current and new customers in the places they love to be, both online and offline," says Linda Li, Head of Customer Activation & Marketing, H&M Americas.
"In the coming years, we will continue to explore this fast growing expanse of virtual and augmented realities."
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.
Ottonomy.IO
This month, Ottonomy.IO exhibited the Ottobot Yeti, pitched as the first autonomous delivery robot capable of unattended deliveries, at NRF 2023 in New York.
This includes an automated sliding delivery hatch that opens to deliver items without the need for human assistance.
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