Including Boots, Specsavers, and Walmart: RTIH’s biggest retail technology news stories of the week
It’s Friday, the Easter weekend is almost upon us, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past five days, including AutoStore, Ocado, Boots UK, Valtech, Specsavers, the AFL, and Amazon.
1. Boots UK Chief Information Officer Rich Corbridge departs for life outside of the retail tech 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.
In a LinkedIn post, posted yesterday, he said: “Well the day has come and I need to say goodbye to this wonderful place and this brilliant team.”
“I have had the most amazing four years getting to know how this thing we call IT at Boots works and then trying to make a difference to how we all work together to deliver for this lovely business.”
He went on to list a series of stand out moments, including his first all staff conference in Leicester, and “achieving the unachievable and being able to announce the movement of the Data Office into Boots”.
Also: the final moment of a HCL migration and IBM cloud changes; the last pharmacy system go live, the opening of Innovate; and hearing the feedback after a helpdesk improvement programme.
Corbridge concluded: “Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way, it has been a brilliant ride! #TechAtBoots will go on and on being successful because the team here is brilliant.”
2. Valtech announces partnership with Specsavers to optimise optical retailer’s customer facing technology
As a consultant for Specsavers, Valtech will work with it to optimise its approach to digitisation by not only helping to integrate the right technology for its business needs, but also refine ways of working and technology operations across its different regions.
A key part of the partnership will focus on identifying where speed and efficiency improvements can be made within its tech stack and advising how technology can be used to advance Specsavers’ goal of ensuring an exceptional customer experience.
Additionally, Specsavers will tap into Valtech’s global delivery team to ensure it has the right people with the right skillset to drive crucial aspects of its digital transformation journey.
3. AutoStore must think big and reevaluate strategy following Ocado robots feud legal showdown
AutoStore had originally asserted six patents against Ocado in October 2020.
Of these, two were invalidated by the European Patent Office before judgment was handed down, two were withdrawn by AutoStore shortly before the hearing started and the remaining two were invalidated in last week’s judgement.
AutoStore claimed that the decision had no impact on its business or operations.
Whilst that may be true, should the company take this opportunity to reevaluate its strategy?
4. AFL and Amazon chalk up a Southern Hemisphere first as they introduce Just Walk Out technology at Marvel Stadium
The AFL (Australian Football League) has announced that Marvel Stadium will become the first venue in the Southern Hemisphere to introduce Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology for checkout-free purchases.
This will be available at two outlets known as ‘The Runner’ - one food and beverage and one bar - in time for the early rounds of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
Fans will use their credit or debit card, or mobile wallet payment option at entry, collect their items, and leave the store without having to wait in line to checkout.
Just Walk Out technology is made possible by artificial intelligence like computer vision and deep learning techniques, including generative AI, to accurately determine who took what in a store.
Amazon says that it built synthetic datasets to mimic millions of realistic shopping scenarios, including variations in store format, lighting conditions, and even crowds of shoppers, to ensure accuracy in any environment.
The technology is currently in use at sports venues across the US, including TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics (NBA) and Boston Bruins (NHL), and Climate Pledge Arena, home of the Seattle Kraken (NHL).
Fans purchasing alcohol will be required to show their ID to a store attendant for age verification.
5. Building a product focused customer experience: Walmart gives digital storefront a revamp
Walmart is rolling out a redesigned website and mobile app homepage.
In an online post, Tom Ward, Executive Vice President and Chief eCommerce Officer, Walmart U.S., says: “The new homepage offers a product focused experience that better mirrors the way our customers love to shop, highlighting the items that matter most to them at any given moment – whether it’s game day or holiday.”
“The feature packed homepage has rich imagery, live video and is optimised to better bring Walmart’s massive assortment to life, including a new social inspired scroll so customers can browse our selection just as they’d scroll their favourite social media apps.”
“Hats off to the Walmart Global Tech, Product and Design teams that collaborated closely to envision and bring to life this dynamic new way to discover and shop walmart.com.”
He adds: “We put our customers first, and this new homepage is just one more way we’re improving the online shopping experience to make it more compelling to shop with us while saving our customers time and money.”
“But this new experience doesn’t just benefit our customers. It also provides our suppliers and Marketplace sellers new opportunities to showcase more relevant products and better tell their stories, within moments that are top of mind for our customers, as they grow their businesses on walmart.com.”
“And we’re giving our Walmart creators the resources, tools and products to help develop their community and inspire customers as they shop online.”
6. ‘Shaping the future of automation’: AI robotics firm Covariant secures $75 million in Series C funds
Covariant has raised an additional $75 million in Series C funds, bringing its total funding to $222 million.
Returning investors Radical Ventures and Index Ventures co-led the round, which also saw additional funding from previous backers Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Amplify Partners.
There was also participation from newbies Gates Frontier Holdings, AIX Ventures, and Northgate Capital.
“The leading companies have turned to AI robotics to automate their most manual operations in order to decrease labour costs, increase throughput, and control profitability,” says Peter Chen, Chief Executive Officer, Covariant.
“The past year for us has been incredible with 6x growth in 2022 – and we are just getting started. This infusion of new capital allows us to scale even faster, ensuring more retailers can automate more parts of their fulfilment networks to remove manual bottlenecks, handle fluctuating demand, and better prepare for ever changing business needs.”
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