Rapid Valentine’s Day deliveries, anyone?: Presenting 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 self-driving delivery vehicles, immersive digital shopping experiences, and customer videos made with ChatGPT and generative AI.
Migros
Swiss supermarket Migros, Swiss startup LOXO, and Schindler are testing a delivery service called Migronomous.
A self-driving vehicle, powered by an electric motor, was developed in Switzerland and will bring groceries from a Migros store to the Schindler Campus in Ebikon. This is the first such delivery service to run on Swiss roads.
Migros and Schindler are testing the vehicle, called LOXO Alpha and built by LOXO, as part of a pilot project.
Schindler employees in Ebikon can place a Migros order online. Migros employees load the delivery vehicle with the ordered products before it automatically drives, at a maximum speed of 30 km/h, to the Schindler company premises 500 metres away.
Upon its arrival, Schindler employees can use a code to open the compartment with their order and remove their purchases. In the initial test phase, the vehicle will travel between the Migros store and the Schindler company premises once a day from Monday to Friday.
Shopify
Mall of America
Mall of America and Coniq have teamed up to launch MOA Insiders.
Shoppers will now be rewarded every time they shop, play, and dine at Mall of America.
MOA Insiders makes it the first combined retail and attraction venue in North America that provides a membership programme for guests.
The University of Notre Dame, Grubhub and Starship Technologies
The University of Notre Dame, Grubhub and Starship Technologies have introduced robot delivery via the latter’s fleet on campus.
During the initial launch, up to 30 on-demand robots will deliver from six campus eateries: Au Bon Pain, Garbanzo, The Gilded Bean, Hagerty Family Cafe, Modern Market and Taco Bell.
The University’s more than 17,000 students, faculty and staff can now use the Grubhub app (iOS and Android) to order food and drinks from on-campus retailers to be delivered nearly anywhere on campus, within minutes.
The service also works in conjunction with students’ meal plans. By spring, the robot fleet will reach 50 and will service additional Campus Dining eateries.
Budweiser
Ahead of this week’s Brit Awards, Budweiser is turning its traditional advertising billboard into a pop-up stage in a bid to place a spotlight on up and coming artists and engage the public.
Hosted in Shoreditch, London from 6pm on 10th February, a selection of artists will be performing a free concert.
People will be able to enjoy a free Budweiser whilst checking out the music.
The performances will be live streamed via projectors across London, culminating in a broadcast on screens outside and inside the O2 Arena on the night of the Brits.
These broadcasts will be accompanied with a QR code leading to a specially curated playlist with songs performed by the breakthrough talent.
HappyOrNot
Instant customer feedback insights company HappyOrNot has announced the launch of an updated version of its Smiley Touch terminal.
Accumulating over a billion feedback responses since its launch, HappyOrNot’s range of smiley faced terminals serve over 4,000 brands in 135 countries including Amazon, Google, Aramark, and Miami Airport.
The new version uses a built in camera system and AI software to unlock and connect in-moment anonymous feedback data with respondent(s) demographic information.
The demographic analysis works by converting and mapping facial features into numerous data points to form a vector. The anonymised vector is then analysed by the AI to estimate the feedback provider’s age and gender - with up to a 95% accuracy rate.
Unlike facial recognition tools, HappyOrNot’s updated terminal does not identify the individual, instead its only purpose is to analyse a silhouetted vector, which is specifically designed to hide the respondent’s identity.
The upgraded terminals have already been adopted by European retail chain XXL Sport & Villmark and Canadian pharmacy chain MacQuarries.
Alo Yoga
Alo Yoga, an activewear and lifestyle brand, has launched an immersive digital shopping experience complete with virtual reality integration, digital styling capabilities, streaming beauty and wellness tutorials, workout classes, and checkout.
It has partnered on this with 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards winner, Obsess, with users able to experience it via desktop, mobile, or the Meta Quest 2 VR headset.
Zapp
London-based rapid delivery firm, Zapp, has announced an exclusive Valentine’s Day collection with TikTok star Olivia Neill.
Launching on Thursday, 9th February, and running until the end of Tuesday, 14th February, this will focus on self-love and wellness products from brands such as Dr. Barbara Sturm, Bamford, Coucou, OnlyRoses, Trudon, as well as an exclusive Reemie’s x Zapp Valentine’s cake.
Customers will be able to order the likes of champagne, chocolates, caviar, sex toys, candles, and condoms, for delivery in minutes, 24/7.
Instacart and Foodcellar Market
Instacart has announced the launch of Scan & Pay in partnership with Long Island City grocer, Foodcellar Market.
The retailer is the first to fully debut this technology for in-store shopping.
Foodcellar can now allow customers to scan the barcodes of their items – including produce – while shopping and pay directly through their phones. This means no more waiting in line.
Scan & Pay links items bought in-store to customers’ online Instacart account, making it easier to shop their preferred items from Foodcellar.
Carrefour
Carrefour has produced its first ever video made with ChatGPT and generative AI.
The retailer’s avatar answers a common question from its customers: “how to eat better and cheaper via its website”.
In a LInkedIn post, Elodie Perthuisot, Chief E Commerce, Digital Transformation and Data Officer & EXCOM member at Carrefour, said: “For us, artificial intelligence is very concrete: personalisation of purchases, optimisation of assortments, reduction of waste...we are exploring the different uses, at the service of our customers.”
“So, of course, our data and innovation teams are currently working on the use cases of ChatGPT, and generative AI in general. We explore them always keeping our customers as a compass and how to better serve them. To be continued…”
Check out the video here.
Compass Group
Compass Group has opened a second checkout-free location in a UK stadium.
Situated at Premier League football club Aston Villa, this is a self-service bar powered by AiFi technology.
The first bar can be found at Leicester City F.C.
In a LinkedIn post, dated 4th February, Peter Waugh, Digital & Data Director, UK/I, at Compass Group said: “I hate Q’ing, I don’t want to queue behind someone buying food and drink if I just want a drink, I want to maximise the time with my mates, just make it easy, half time is only 15 mins…”.
He added: “OK, no problem…Compass’ second computer vision bar in UK stadia, this time Aston Villa, launched today.”
“Tap your card, enter, pick your drink or food, and walk out. Plus if you want to order your beers and food for half time time, you can, with self-serve kiosks…no waiting. And if you fancy pouring your own - the Holte stand offers that as well.”
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