First forays into the world of Web3: check out last week’s most read RTIH retail technology articles
These are the RTIH articles that caught your fancy last week, including Aldi UK, Lowe’s, 3D Cloud by Marxent, Coach, Farm Girl, TalkShopLive, Paramount Pictures, and Walmart.
Aldi UK checkout-free store at centre of cash row as Piers Corbyn pays for strawberries with coins
In early 2022, discount retailer Aldi UK launched its first autonomous store.
Situated on Greenwich High Street in London, it enables customers to complete their shop without scanning a single product, or having to go through a checkout.
They can download the Aldi Shop&Go app, which will allow them to enter the store, pick up their items, and then walk out when they have completed their shop.
Once a customer leaves, they will then be automatically charged via their selected payment method and a receipt will appear in the app.
The system, provided by AiFi, uses specially positioned cameras.
Those people wishing to buy alcohol, or other Challenge 25 products, are able to use facial age estimation technology, provided by Yoti, to authorise their purchase.
Giles Hurley, CEO at Aldi UK and Ireland, said at the time of the opening: “Today is the culmination of months of work, not least from the team here in Greenwich and I’m looking forward to seeing how customers react to our trial.”
“This store utilises the very latest in retail technology offering Aldi’s award winning products and unbeatable prices to customers in a new and innovative way. The team are really excited about seeing customers come in and experience Aldi Shop&Go.”
Fast forward to the present day and the store has been targeted by Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, and also a climate change denier, anti-vaccine activist, and conspiracy theorist.
In a video posted on social media, Corbyn can be seen holding a box of strawberries and putting down cash on a help table.
Payments choice campaigner Ron Delnevo wades into Piers Corbyn vs Aldi Greenwich, London cashless store debate
Ron Delnevo, Chair of the UK Payment Choice Alliance and a high profile proponent of cash usage, has his say on the Aldi UK autonomous store.
Lowe’s taps 3D Cloud by Marxent technology as it updates Kitchen Planner Suite for summer season
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!”
Retail technology influencer and industry analyst Christine Russo joins 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel
We’re pleased to announce the addition of Christine Russo to the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel.
Russo is a well known industry analyst and a member of the RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List.
Check out our 2022 interview with her here.
The 2023 judging panel now looks like this:
Mike Cadden, Mike Cadden, IT Director and CIO with 25 years’ experience running tech teams and strategic delivery for many leading UK and international retailers
Peter Waugh, Director, International Digital (EMEA, LAC & AP), Starbucks
Carole Kingsbury, Former Director of IT, Ted Baker
Christine Russo, Industry Analyst and Retail Influencer
Paula Bobbett, Chief Digital Officer, Boots
Warren Richmond, Founder and CEO, Situ LIve
Scott Thompson, Editor and Founder, Retail Technology Innovation Hub
Toby Pickard, Global Insight Leader, IGD
Matt Taylor, Technology Transformation Leader at EY, Retail and Consumer Products
Amodini Chhabra, Investor, Compass Digital Ventures
Gary Newbury, Supply Chain Advisor and Delivery Executive
Nadine Neatrour, Marketing Director, Selfridges
David Polinchock, Co-Founder/President, Unified Brand Experience Lab
Robotics firm Sereact raises $5 million to ‘overcome labour shortages, fix supply chains and boost productivity’
German startup Sereact has announced a $5 million seed funding round led by Point Nine and Air Street Capital.
Founded in 2021, the company is building AI powered software that fully automates the pick and pack process in warehouses and manufacturing.
Its latest offering, PickGPT, combines its patented work in computer vision with large language models, the technology underpinning ChatGPT.
PickGPT is pitched as the first commercially available robotics transformer that enables robots to understand natural language and perceive their environment with an unprecedented level of intelligence and accuracy.
The aim is to democratise access to robotics by allowing users with no technical expertise to instruct and debug the system in a simple chatbot interface.
A new form of loyalty programme: Farm Girl announces first foray into Web3 with launch of NFT collection
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 teams with Paramount Pictures and Walmart to plug Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy collection
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.”
Coach Play concept store in Singapore plays host to Coachtopia immersive, circular economy takeover
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.”
E-commerce firm Castlery enlists Kinaxis and mSE Solutions for supply chain technology deployment
Singapore-based online furniture retailer, Castlery, has selected Kinaxis, along with mSE Solutions, to deliver an end-to-end supply chain solution.
This will combine Kinaxis’ concurrent planning solution with mSE Solution’s consultative vision, analysis, and delivery capabilities.
The aim is to eliminate disparate systems, mitigate business risks, and create a supply chain focused on better serving its client base.
Metaverse partnerships and social selling platforms: RTIH presents last week’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance
RTIH rounds up the stand out retail tech deals, launches, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Including Currys, WeShop, Emma, Chelsea Peers, Footasylum, Amazon, Vinted, and Walmart.
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