The latest from Amazon, Co-op, and Kingfisher: last week’s most read RTIH retail technology articles
These are the RTIH articles that caught your fancy last week, including A.P. Moller – Maersk, Dexory, Co-op, PayPal, Standard AI, Kingfisher, Compass Group, and AiFi.
Amazon becomes the home of new look Comic Relief Red Nose created by Sir Jony Ive
Amazon has announced a partnership with Comic Relief that will see the brand new Red Nose, created by iPhone designer Sir Jony Ive, available to buy on the e-commerce giant’s site for the first time.
This will be available for free delivery for all Amazon customers and next-day for Prime members.
2022 RTIH Innovation Awards winners and highly commended entries announced
Now into their fourth year, the awards celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
We received a record number of submissions this year across 14 categories.
Our winners and highly commended companies were announced during a sold out event that took place in central London last week and was attended by retailers, tech suppliers, members of our judging panel, and sponsors.
So, without further ado, here is the 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards hall of fame.
Congratulations to our latest entrants!
Fashion retail technology startup Rosetta AI bags $2.4 million in funding and looks to expand
Taiwanese startup, Rosetta AI, which specialises in fashion and beauty e-commerce personalisation, has announced the closing of its pre-A plus round for $2.4 million from the 500 Global Flagship Fund, for a total of $4.6 million raised to date.
Kingfisher Chief Digital and Technology Officer JJ Van Oosten departs to focus on personal interests
JJ Van Oosten has stepped down from the role of Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Kingfisher, the retail group whose brand portfolio includes B&Q, Castorama, Screwfix, Brico Dépôt and Koçtaş.
He comments: “It is now time for me to pass the baton over to the wonderful team and to focus on my personal interests.”
“Over the last there years, together, we have doubled our e-commerce participation from 8% to 16% of group sales. We put stores at the centre of our fulfilment strategy. We also offered more choice and speed to our customers.”
He adds: “We successfully launched marketplaces in the UK for B&Q, in Iberia for Brico Dépôt and have clear roll-out plans. In the UK, our Screwfix customers can get their products under 60 minutes using 'Sprint' on the app.”
“Above all, we have developed and attracted world class talent across e-commerce, digital marketing, data (science), product management and technology. We have clear plans. Thank you. I wish you all the very best.”
Co-op connects with PayPal to offer additional digital payment choice for grocery shoppers
UK convenience retailer Co-op has teamed with PayPal.
The latter is now available for shoppers as a payment option for purchases of online home delivery orders and Click and Collect via Co-op’s online shop.
Co-op launched its online shop in 2019 and now offers its service through more than 2,000 stores in communities across the UK. Groceries are picked fresh in the local store, and orders are available often in a matter of minutes.
Self-checkout and autonomous retail combined as Standard AI set to acquire Skip
Autonomous retail firm Standard AI has inked a definitive agreement to acquire self-checkout solutions provider, Skip.
Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Standard AI says that it will become the only company to connect self-checkout with AI powered autonomous checkout into one integrated experience.
It will integrate Skip’s cloud-based point of sale (PoS) with the back office ecosystem to streamline operations and give greater control over price, discounts, promotions, and more.
Compass Group opens doors to AiFi technology powered bar at Aston Villa football club
Compass Group has 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.”
AiFi powered Żabka Nano pop-up store added to Microsoft Industry Experience Center
Żabka Group’s Żabka Nano pop-up autonomous store is now a part of the Microsoft Industry Experience Center in Washington, USA.
Patryk Powierża, Head of Growth at Żabka Polska, says: “Microsoft IEC is a unique place.”
“It is the physical manifestation of the company’s vision for the future and its belief that all successful companies will effectively be tech companies, creating their own innovations. We are glad to be part of it as a pioneer in autonomous retail.”
A.P. Moller – Maersk signs up for autonomous robots proof of concept with Dexory
A.P. Moller – Maersk has embarked upon a trial with Dexory, and now has its autonomous robots operating in a warehouse facility in Kettering, UK.
The proof of concept has been launched in continuation of Maersk Growth’s, the venture arm of A.P. Moller-Maersk, investment in Dexory in its most recent funding round.
Andrei Danescu, Dexory’s CEO, says “It’s reassuring to see such trust placed in Dexory from globally recognised logistics leaders like Maersk. We’re looking forward to bringing it valuable data insights and expanding into other Maersk facilities.”
Tony Hoggett sings praises of new Amazon Fresh checkout-free stores in Croydon and Monument
Tony Hoggett, SVP Worldwide Physical Stores & Speciality Fulfilment at Amazon, has taken to social media to plug two new Just Walk Out technology powered Amazon Fresh UK stores.
These are located in Croydon and Monument.
In a LinkedIn post, Hoggett, who previously worked at Tesco, said: “Excited for our team in the UK who opened not one, but two brand new Amazon Fresh stores this week.”
“It’s great that London customers in Croydon and Monument now have access to our great prices, selection and, of course, no queues.”
Continue reading…