Including Store No8 and Outlier Ventures: 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 checkout free store milestones, startups focused on building in Web3, and the ongoing digitalisation of the fashion industry.
Poundland
Poundland has launched a suite of digital accessibility tools to support job applicants and workers with disabilities online.
The Recite Me toolbar on the Poundland Careers website removes obstacles for those with disabilities, visual impairments, learning difficulties, and the population of an older age.
Carina Mardenborough, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Manager at Poundland, comments: “As a responsible employer, it is important we provide opportunities for our colleagues to throve and be the best version of themselves.”
“We aim to provide our colleagues with essential tools to aid with a useful online and mobile experience; Recite Me works across all devices, allowing everyone to use the internet in the way that suits their needs.”
Store No8 and Outlier Ventures
Store No8, Walmart’s incubation arm, and Outlier Ventures, a Web3 investor, have announced the launch of the Store No8 dCommerce Base Camp accelerator programme.
Applications open this week, and the 12-week initiative will begin in mid-August.
The aim is to help a select cohort of startups focused on building in Web3 to deliver solutions that improve the global retail and commerce experience.
The chosen teams will focus on building across areas that include decentralised infrastructure, data and growth solutions, immersive experiences and the metaverse, and the intersection of AI and blockchain technology.
The programme will provide funding to each of the selected founders, as well as access to subject matter expertise and mentorship across Outlier Ventures and Store Nº8’s team and network.
Forever 21
Amperity, an enterprise customer data platform (CDP), has announced a partnership with Forever 21.
The fast fashion retailer says that it will now be able to provide more relevant, personalised customer experiences. reach more consumers, while enriching advertising campaigns through insights on cross-channel behaviour, data science scores, and content affinities.
Evri
Evri says that it has reduced its operational carbon emissions by nearly a third in the parcel delivery firm’s financial year to February 2023, as part of a wider investment in its environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy.
This 31% reduction includes efficiency improvements, augmented use of renewable energy and other carbon emission elimination strategies, as part of a commitment to reaching net zero for direct and indirect emissions by 2035.
Evri lays claim to building the biggest green fleet of any dedicated parcel delivery company in the UK in 2022-23, introducing 30 new Bio-CNG tractor units, bringing the total to 190 – representing 52% of its core fleet.
It has also doubled the number of electric vehicles in service in London, bringing EV to 37% of its total van fleet. Evri aims to serve all ParcelShop deliveries, pitched as the most carbon efficient way to send, by EV at the earliest opportunity.
Zippin
BrandLab360 and Manchester Metropolitan University
BrandLab360 has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University’s Manchester Fashion Institute to create what is pitched as the UK’s first live event at a university supporting real-time virtual collaboration.
This has enabled the latter’s students to develop and experience immersive virtual reality (VR) applications in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer settings, ensuring they have the understanding and practical application of Web3 technologies that can support the ongoing digitalisation of the fashion industry.
Their work will be reviewed by brands including Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, Boohoo, Matalan, The Very Group and JD Sports.
BrandLab360 will be enabling visitors to walk through virtual showrooms as avatars and interact with the students and their work.
Its technology is able to render complete photorealistic, multi-user experiences and enhanced modular functionality within a standard web browser with no additional hardware, apps or software downloads required.
Tesco
Tesco’s retail media arm, Tesco Media and Insight Platform, powered by dunnhumby, has launched an offsite media partnership with social media big hitter Pinterest.
This will allow CPG brands to connect with Tesco customers who are fans of Pinterest, using Tesco Clubcard data and dunnhumby’s analytical experience to deliver personalised ads.
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