An autonomous stores first in Germany: RTIH’s biggest retail technology articles on LinkedIn right now
We’re big fans of LinkedIn and are busy building an amazing community of retail tech enthusiasts on the social media platform. These are the articles that are currently on their radars, including Upp., PMC, Retail Technology Show 2024, Patchworks, Polytag, AiFi, Scandit, and Rovertown.
“The future of online sales”: Bonfire Ventures backs retail technology firm Upp. in seed funding round
Upp., a London-based firm that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help retailers market and sell their products online, has raised $10 million in a seed funding round led by Bonfire Ventures.
Upp.AI, the company’s platform, analyses data to optimise ad spend, improve product discovery, and increase e-commerce sales.
PMC announced as Champagne Bar and BIG Retail Party sponsor at Retail Technology Show 2024
Retail Technology Show returns to London’s Olympia on 24th-25th April 2024, with PMC sponsoring the Champagne Bar and BIG Retail Party next year.
Taking centre stage at the event aimed at retailers and tech innovators, the Champagne Bar is a popular congregation point for networking and ideas sharing.
At the end of day one, there will be an all drinks on the house BIG Retail Party and the announcement of the winners of the Retail Technology Show Innovation Awards.
Comment: Boosting female representation and advice for young women starting out in technology
On International Women in Engineering Day 2023, Mai Hassan, Solutions Consultant at Excellent Zephyr, discussed the key barriers for women entering the tech industry, along with creating real change via the recruitment process, and gives advice to those starting out in this space.
Polytag and Biffa team up to help Ocado Retail, Co-op and Aldi gain packaging lifecycle data
Recycling tech firm, Polytag, and sustainable waste management company, Biffa, have announced a collaboration with Ocado Retail, Co-op, and Aldi.
Through monitoring analytics via the Polytag dashboard, the UK retailers will be able to access real-time data insights, such as where, when and how much packaging has been recycled.
Moreover, Polytag will enable Biffa to start to capture real-time data on packaging composition directly through its processing operations, informing recycling strategy, investment in sorting, recovery equipment, and the onward tracking of materials.
The businesses have joined forces as part of plastics, resource, efficiency and recycling charity RECOUP’s 26-week long ‘Bottle to Bottle’ project, in conjunction with label printer Interket UK, the UK’s largest dairy co-operative Arla Foods and Müller Milk & Ingredients.
This will see Co-op’s water bottles and Aldi and Ocado’s milk marked with UV 2D tags, printed by Interket UK, with a Polytag UV tag reader retrofitted onto the plastic conveyor at Biffa’s Teesside MRF in the northeast of England.
Patchworks launches new tools for e-commerce brands: Connector Builder, Connector Marketplace and Process Flows
Patchworks has launched the latest additions to its integration platform as a service (iPaaS) – Connector Builder, Connector Marketplace and pre-built Process Flows which enable e-commerce brands to customise their own integrations.
Patchworks, a recent member of the MACH Alliance, says that, with Connector Marketplace, its library of pre-built connectors, teams with minimal tech expertise can integrate best-of-breed applications quickly and easily with the click of a button.
Connector Builder enables brands or agencies to automate, streamline, and grow their operation by building bespoke connectors for systems and Process Flows allows merchants to connect their systems together through drag and drop process workflows by connecting together ‘shapes’ in sequence.
Featuring DREST, DePoly, and Dexory: Six retail technology funding rounds you need to know about
RTIH rounds up six retail tech ventures who have recently secured significant investments in their businesses, including Cart.com, Upp., and Utu.
Deutsche Bahn opens checkout-free store at railway station in Berlin, powered by AiFi technology
AiFi has announced the opening of its newest autonomous store within Berlin's Ostbahnhof Deutsche Bahn railway station.
The 24/7 ServiceStore is run by DB Station&Service, operated by SSP Deutschland.
While US-based AiFi has increased its European presence over the past four years, this newest location in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Berlin, is the first one for public customers to launch in Germany.
"Our technology has been helping consumers avoid long queues and reclaim that critical time amid their travels, so that they can move through their days more swiftly and focus their time and attention on things that matter most," says Sander Garnier, New Business and Account Manager, Europe at AiFi.
"We are proud to partner with Deutsche Bahn to bring frictionless technology to shoppers and commuters in Berlin's Ostbahnhof railway station."
Gather AI snaps up Ware and lays claim to world’s largest autonomous inventory management platform
Gather AI, a provider of AI powered autonomous inventory management solutions for warehouses using commodity hardware, is acquiring the business of rival firm Ware.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
With the acquisition, Gather AI says that it is now the market leader in the space with 25 customers, more than any other autonomous inventory management company.
Scandit launches MatrixScan Find, offering assisted search via augmented reality for workers and consumers
Scandit has announced the launch of MatrixScan Find, an out-of-the-box solution designed to help frontline workers and consumers find items they are looking for faster, using augmented reality overlays on smart devices.
Part of the Scandit Smart Data Capture platform, this will support workers in retail, last mile delivery and logistics as well as offering consumers a product discovery experience.
US retailer MAPCO launches new mobile app experience, powered by Rovertown platform
MAPCO, a convenience store chain with over 300 locations throughout the Southeastern region of the US, has launched a new mobile app experience for its customers.
“MAPCO stores are located in markets across the Southeast, so we focused on creating a personalised mobile experience that best serves each of our stores and their surrounding communities,” says Frederic Chaveyriat, Chief Executive Officer at MAPCO.
“Not only is the new MAPCO app an easy way to earn exclusive MY Reward$ offers, but it also notifies our guests of local events, festivals, and charity efforts so they can get involved in their community.”
Too fast, too furious: The story of Gorillas exposes brutal truth of rapid grocery delivery industry
A new movie covers the rise and fall of rapid delivery firm Gorillas, which last year was acquired by fellow quick commerce player Getir.
And it exposes the brutal truth of an industry that promised much but ultimately failed to deliver the goods.
Domino’s Pizza claims QSR brand first as it launches Domino’s Pinpoint Delivery service in the US
Domino’s Pizza is introducing Domino’s Pinpoint Delivery in the US, a new technology that allows customers to receive a delivery in such places as parks, baseball fields and beaches, just in time for the start of summer.
Customers with the Domino’s app can select the service, drop a pin on the map and get pizza delivered pretty much anywhere, the retailer says.
“We’re proud to be the first quick service restaurant brand in the US to deliver food to customers with the drop of a pin,” says Christopher Thomas-Moore, Domino’s Senior Vice President – Chief Digital Officer.
“We’re always striving to make customers’ experiences even better and more convenient, and Domino’s Pinpoint Delivery does exactly that.”
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