Including Zippin, OnBuy, and RADAR: here are last week’s most read RTIH retail technology articles
These are the RTIH articles that caught your fancy last week, including OnBuy, PayPal, Klarna, Penguin Books, Walmart, Roblox, Boots, and Tommy Hilfiger.
Focus on Nuvei, PayPal and Klarna as e-commerce firm OnBuy gears up to launch new payment services
UK-based online marketplace, OnBuy, last week went live with new payment services, Nuvei, PayPal, and Klarna.
In a LinkedIn post, Cas Paton, Founder and CEO at OnBuy, said: “So this week is a big week for OnBuy and me personally... what 12 months it's been to get here. This week we'll launch our new payment services and go live with Nuvei, PayPal and Klarna, which is going to be awesome. I can feel it!”
He added: “Since Christmas 2021 we announced we were going to do this. After planning, this project of moving OnBuy to 'Merchant of Record' (MoR) has been an all-consuming, hellish project, which has seen us park most other work, stagnate the business, and essentially completely rebuild the platform and the way we do payments, not only with customers, but with sellers as well.”
“It's the first time we've ever been this close to customers, sellers and really jumping into 'Mature Marketplace' territory. This move was inevitable, unavoidable, but a bit like going through marketplace puberty - annoying and can’t wait for it to be over. There isn't a single person at OnBuy that hasn't been affected by this in at least a big way.”
Going back to our roots: Penguin Books launches vending machine at Exeter St. David's train station
Penguin Books UK has introduced a vending machine at Exeter St. David's train station.
In a tweet, the company said: “In 1935, Sir Allen Lane was inspired to create Penguin Books when he couldn't find a good book to read at Exeter St. David's train station.”
“We've gone back to our roots to ensure modern day commuters won't face the same problem.”
It added: “If you're passing through the station, go check it out Profits will be shared between local independent Bookbag and Exeter City of Literature. Huge thank you to our partners GWR and Exeter City of Literature for bringing this to life.”
Featuring Ikea, Tesco, and Sam’s Club: last week’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance
RTIH rounds up the stand out retail systems deals, launches, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Featuring Tesco Whoosh, Amazon One, Panera, Prada Group, Sports Direct, Amazon, foodpanda, Levi’s, and Flash Coffee.
CommerceHub supports M&S digital transformation journey with Commerce Suite solution
CommerceHub is working with Marks & Spencer (M&S) on its digital transformation journey, equipping the retailer with its Commerce Suite solution.
This provides tools to help companies grow their online business.
M&S says it will be able to quickly onboard new suppliers, manage orders and handle returns more easily.
These capabilities enable it to offer more products to customers without the need for additional, owned inventory and increases the ability to respond quickly to changes in customer demand.
RADAR secures $50m in funding and gears up to deploy inventory tracking technology in American Eagle stores
American Eagle Outfitters is set to launch RADAR’s AI powered inventory tracking technology in approximately 500 American Eagle stores across the US over the next year.
RADAR uses a combination of RFID and computer vision to track and locate in-store inventory in real-time, enabling employees to know what product is in-store, and where, so they can more easily and efficiently serve customers, replenish items on the sales floor, and fulfil in-store and curbside pickup orders.
In addition to the American Eagle deal, RADAR also announced that it has secured more than $50 million in funding to date from investors that include Y Combinator, Align Ventures, Sound Ventures and Founders Fund, and the family offices behind brands such as Michael Kors.
The Tampa Bay Rays tap Zippin technology for checkout free Short Stop store launch
American baseball team Tampa Bay Rays have brought a new checkout-free concessions experience to the Budweiser Porch located in Center Field.
The concept, called Short Stop, utilises technology from Zippin.
High resolution camera tech and shelf sensors eliminate the checkout process. Fans validate a payment type upon entry into the store, grab what they want, and exit the store.
Boots UK Chief Information Officer Rich Corbridge departs for life outside of the retail technology space
Rich Corbridge has left Boots UK where he served as Chief Information Officer.
He joined the health and beauty retailer and pharmacy chain in 2019, taking on the role of Director of Innovation, and becoming CIO in 2020.
Corbridge told RTIH that he was departing the retail sector, but could not yet reveal his next destination.
Boots UK did not respond to our request for comment regarding his replacement.
Tommy Hilfiger launches cross metaverse hub, powered by Emperia retail technology
Tommy Hilfiger has unveiled a new metaverse hub, powered by Emperia, launching simultaneously on Decentraland, Roblox, Spatial, DressX and Ready Player Me, as part of the brand’s Decentraland Metaverse Fashion Week 2023 presence.
Featuring DressX powered digital fashion, Web3 artist collaboration with Vinnie Hagar, AR features, photo booth, gamification, emotes and a community focused competition to create AI fashion, the hub is set in a monolith structure made of the ‘TH’ monogram, which will appear across all platforms.
The aim is to create a unified digital brand story, while allowing for seamless movement between the retailer’s own website and the various metaverses.
Retail intelligence firm EDITED receives $15 million in funding from Delta-v Capital
AI driven merchandising experience platform provider, EDITED, has secured an investment of $15 million in a funding round led by Delta-v Capital.
There was also participation from the firm’s original backer Wavecrest Growth Partners, alongside investor groups Beringea and Hermes GPE.
Technology retailer Currys urges Brits to check air levels in air fryers amid supply chain issues
As an April Fools’ Day gag, Currys called on customers to triple-check the air levels in their air fryers and buy replacement cartridges while stocks last, with limited numbers of the retailer’s Air Spares product still available in-store.
Arf.
Continue reading…