Featuring Mattel, Nike, and Klarna: RTIH runs you through 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 anti food waste apps, self-driving trucks, autonomous stores, and virtual collectibles platforms.
Filco Market
Anti food waste app, Gander has embarked on a partnership with South Wales-based Filco Market.
The retailer has rolled out its technology in all nine of its stores, in Llantwit Major, North Cornelly, Sarn, Cowbridge, Taibach, Talbot Green, Caerau, Bryntirion and Maesteg.
The Gander app will integrate with Filco Market’s EDGEPoS system, which is powered by Henderson Technology.
Nike
Cognizant has announced a new agreement with Nike to manage its technology operations in 40 countries.
This builds on a 14-year history of collaboration between the two companies and will consolidate several of Nike’s existing IT support functions.
Cognizant will use hyper-automation, AI, and process re-engineering in three key areas of technology operations: Multilingual IT Customer Service; Deskside and Dispatch Depot, and Application and Infrastructure Support.
home24
Home and living e-commerce company home24 is tapping Constructor AI-based technology to improve product search on its website and mobile app.
Using clickstream behavioral data, AI and machine learning algorithms, Constructor’s platform surfaces search results that are personalised to each shopper and their journey across channels, as well as optimised to home24’s key performance indicators (KPIs).
It also uses natural language processing (NLP) to instantly infer intent, even from more complicated search queries, and makes it easy for home24 shoppers to filter results to find the right products faster.
Klarna
Holland & Barrett
Trustly’s Open Banking-based payment method is now available on health and wellness retailer Holland & Barrett’s online store in the UK.
This allows consumers to pay directly from their bank account in the checkout.
Holland & Barrett is one of the largest UK retailers to embrace this type of account-to-account payment technology and is Trustly’s first major e-commerce partnership on these shores since its acquisition of UK-based Open Banking platform provider Ecospend.
By implementing the technology, Holland & Barrett says it will solve several payment challenges including refunds, reconciliation, and rising costs relating to payments.
It integrated Trustly’s services into its current infrastructure thanks to the latter’s long-term relationship with Adyen.
John Lewis Partnership
Eagle Eye has secured a five-year contract with The John Lewis Partnership for its new pan-partnership loyalty project launching in 2024 alongside dunnhumby.
This brings together Eagle Eye’s existing relationships with John Lewis, as first announced in 2017 to improve the retailer’s digital marketing capabilities, and with Waitrose, as subsequently announced in 2019.
The project aims to integrate the group’s high street business, online and app touchpoints, building on the My John Lewis and My Waitrose loyalty programmes.
The Eagle Eye AIR platform will provide The John Lewis Partnership with loyalty management capabilities, enabling dunnhumby’s data science to be executed at scale to deliver more personalised rewards, offers and experiences to customers.
Kodiak Robotics and C.R. England
Self-driving truck company, Kodiak Robotics, has announced a partnership with truckload carrier C.R. England.
To kick things off, the pair have launched a pilot to autonomously ship Tyson Foods protein products between Dallas and San Antonio, Texas.
The deliveries will launch in April using Kodiak self-driving trucks and C.R. England refrigerated trailers. Safety drivers will be in the trucks in the initial stages of the pilot.
Meyer
Autonomo, a German provider of computer vision technology for retailers, has announced a new (undisclosed) investment from Brookstreet Equity Partners and its inaugural customer in Meyer, part of the EDEKA group.
This will lead to the opening of several new autonomous stores in northern Germany, equipped with technology such as artificial intelligence, computer vision and machine learning.
"We are thrilled to partner with Autonomo to deliver the future of retail to our customers," says Jörg Meyer, Owner and CEO at Meyer's Frischecenter.
"We looked at several providers and Autonomo's cutting-edge technology is best designed to simplify the shopping process for retailers and customers."
"Our first autonomous store will offer a wide range of products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, meats, wines, beers, and bakery. Customers can use their credit/debit cards or smartphones to access the store and make purchases without any human intervention, simplifying the shopping process."
Mattel
Mattel has announced an update to the Mattel Creations Virtual Collectibles Platform.
On 27th April, the platform will introduce its own peer-to-peer marketplace, allowing owners of Mattel virtual collectibles to display, trade, and sell their assets.
To coincide with the update, Series 5 of the Hot Wheels NFT Garage will launch at the same time.
The marketplace is powered by Rarible.
In addition to Rarible, Mattel has partnered with several technology providers to bring this to life including Magic, a wallet-as-a-service provider.
It was developed in collaboration with long-term blockchain partner Flow.
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