ChatGBT, 3D, and NFTs: 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 Newegg, Coach, Farm Girl, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Paramount Pictures.
Newegg
Newegg, an online retailer for PC hardware, consumer electronics, gaming peripherals, home appliances, automotive and lifestyle tech, is tapping artificial intelligence (AI) for customer reviews.
Using ChatGPT, it says that it now offers concise summaries of said reviews on product pages to enable shoppers to make more informed decisions quickly and easily.
Previously, shoppers relied on average product ratings to gauge customer sentiment. After analysing all reviews, the AI extracts key terms and phrases to generate concise synopses, called Review Bytes.
These highlight product owners’ opinions of their likes and dislikes of each product, helping shoppers understand key aspects without having to read reviews. By clicking on each Review Byte, customers can access the full reviews from which the information originated.
Additionally, a paragraph summary, called SummaryAI, provides further insights into multiple customers’ opinions with sentences to elaborate on key points.
For example, if a customer is shopping for a graphics card, they can find Review Bytes covering pros like installation ease, fan noise and average temperature benefits and, as a con, coil whine. The SummaryAI complements these insights with more in-depth information.
John Lewis Partnership
John Lewis Partnership has announced a partnership with Google Cloud, worth £100 million over the next five years. This is an expansion of the relationship it has had with Google since 2012.
The collaboration is pitched as a significant step forward in John Lewis Partnership's digital transformation of its John Lewis and Waitrose brands, and its ambitions to provide customers with more tailored and personalised experiences.
Under the expanded agreement, more of the organisation's technology will migrate to Google Cloud, harnessing the cloud provider's latest offerings, including advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
The hope is that these tools will enable the John Lewis Partnership workforce, known as Partners, to be more efficient, spend more time focusing on customers, and better use data insights to help curate great products and services.
The partnership will also support a pan-Partnership loyalty programme in 2024.
Seattle Seahawks and Lumen Field
The Seattle Seahawks and Lumen Field are set expand the venue’s use of Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology and Amazon One with deployments at both retail and concession locations, including at the new Seahawks Pro Shop Outlet for fan merchandise.
The latter will open starting with the Seahawks home preseason game on 10th August and is located in the northwest corner of the stadium’s main concourse near section 140.
Fans will find a variety of team gear offered at reduced prices including hats, shirts, jerseys, and souvenirs.
Coach
This lines up alongside launches in Tokyo's Harajuku and Salt Lake City’s City Creek, with more to come.
And it has now been taken over by Coachtopia, Coach’s new sub-brand which focuses on circular products and collaborations with creatives.
In a LinkedIn post, Giovanni Zaccariello, SVP Global Visual Experience at Coach, said: “Our Coach Play Singapore transforms into a fully immersive Coachtopia takeover.”
“The installation includes a new digital “cloud” installation and new cafe treats ☁️☁️☁️. The production is fully circular including inocra fixtures, neons, vm props and more. Congrats team on this launch.”
Netto
German retailer Netto Marken-Discount reports that its private labeled food and beverage products are now digitised using Digimarc technology, including incorporating covert Digimarc digital watermarks into the packaging.
“It is exciting to partner with retailers like Netto that are setting the example for the rest of the industry and leading the way for a circular economy,” says Digimarc CEO Riley McCormack.
“More sustainable packaging is becoming a business imperative, and ourdigital watermarks are transforming recycling as a validated way to improve circularity dramatically.”
“We initially cooperated with Digimarc to optimise our checkout by digitising our private label food and beverage products with Digimarc’s technology,” says Christina Stylianou, Netto Corporate Spokesperson.
“Netto is now also well positioned to adopt Digimarc Recycle by leveraging the same Digimarc digital watermarking technology that makes the checkout easier and more efficient. We are ready and excited for Digimarc Recycle to come to Germany in the near future.”
Farm Girl
14th August will see Farm Girl, an Aussie inspired chain of cafes and restaurants in London, launch its debut collection of NFTs.
Comprising 70 unique NFTs, this promises a new form of loyalty programme, offering buyers a variety of perks dependent on which level is purchased.
These include free coffee every day, free brunch with queue jump and a years supply of rice paper rolls, courtesy of Roll Baby, Farm Girl's sister brand.
According to a press release: “Each NFT mirrors the vibrant branding of Farm Girl and Roll Baby, showcasing a playful reflection of the brand’s customer profiles, including a fashionista, sassy influencer and yogi.”
TalkShopLive, Paramount Pictures and Walmart
TalkShopLive, a live streaming, social selling network, has worked with Paramount Pictures and Walmart on an event involving the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.
In a LinkedIn post, Bryan Moore, CEO and Co-Founder at TalkShopLive, said: “Building connections between content and commerce is at the heart of what we do, and today is not any different.”
“So thrilled to welcome the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles presenting our first ever show with Paramount Pictures featuring a new toy collection exclusively available at Walmart.”
He added: “Hosted by the Ballinger family, the live unboxing event connects the retail ecosystem bringing talent, brands, media networks and retailers together to bring products to life. Make sure you tune and get a glimpse behind the movie magic right at Paramount Studios.”
Carrefour Belgium
Carrefour Belgium reports a rise in customer satisfaction across its retail network thanks to its collaboration with Goodays.
As a result of deploying the company’s platform, the retailer says it can establish even closer contact with its customers and respond to their requests more quickly, as both parties take stock after two years of cooperation.
After a pilot in late 2020, said platform was deployed in Carrefour Belgium integrated stores in early 2021, and in franchise partner stores later that year.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s has launched a new Kitchen Visualiser tool online as part of a summer update to its Kitchen Planner Suite.
This is powered by 3D Cloud by Marxent technology.
In a LinkedIn post, Timothy Looney, Sr. Manager of Product at Lowe's Companes, said: “The visualiser complements the Style Quiz and Estimator, allowing customers to see what a kitchen of a similar size and layout of their own will look like with different cabinet styles, hardware, countertops, paint, backsplash, and flooring. Check it out!”
Continue reading…