‘Retailers are rethinking the shopping experience’: NRF 2023 makes a lasting impact on AiFi

Joe Jorczak, Head of Global Revenue at autonomous stores firm, AiFi, has given his key takeaways from NRF 2023, which took place in New York last month.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: “NRF 2023 has made a lasting impact on me and my team at AiFi.”

“With more than 30,000 attendees, over 900 exhibitors and three packed days of keynotes and sessions, we are excited for the future of retail tech’s focus on autonomous checkout.”

His key takeaways as follows:

Retailers are rethinking the shopping experience. “Customers crave the in-person experience, but they want it to be fundamentally different from the old, traditional shopping journey,” Jorczak wrote.

“They know they can easily find, purchase, and receive products online and they want the same frictionless experience when they visit physical stores. Retailers are looking at solutions that can help them meet expectations for a fast, accurate, wait-free experience that can be delivered 24/7.”

Omnichannel retail, meanwhile, is finally becoming a reality. “Customers know they can easily find, purchase, and receive products online and they want the same frictionless experience when they visit physical stores.

Retailers are looking to integrate systems and processes in ways that make the transition between their online and in-store experiences seamless and effortless.”

And last but not least, retail transformation is extending to new verticals.

“Leaders from airports, travel centres, sports, workplaces, campuses, and more are looking to capture learnings from traditional retail and deploy new technologies modernise the user experience in their locations.”

Computer vision bars in UK stadia

Compass Group recently opened a second checkout-free location in a UK stadium.

Situated at Premier League football club Aston Villa, this is a 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.”