Including Metapack, Mirakl, and Gophr: the retail technology news you might have missed last week
Failed to keep up with the breaking retail technology news last week? Then have no fear as RTIH has you covered. Here are the major stories that you need to know about. Includes big name appointments, checkout-free store controversies, and brand-creator-consumer relationship innovations.
Former FDA Food Safety Chief Frank Yiannas joins ambient IoT specialist Wiliot as strategic advisor
Ambient IoT data platform specialist Wiliot reports that Frank Yiannas, the former Deputy Commissioner of Food Policy & Response of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), has joined the company as a strategic advisor.
Yiannas will help advise the food and retail markets on the ways in which the ambient IoT, and the real-time, item level visibility it delivers, can help meet the FSMA Rule 204 obligation that requires the safe tracking of food products and the sharing of traceability data with the FDA and consumers.
“The FDA's New Food Traceability Rule has become a catalyst for retailers to modernise their supply chains,” says Wiliot CEO Tal Tamir.
“Frank’s leadership in food safety and response will be pivotal in helping us educate the market on how this moment and the adoption of ambient IoT by some of the world’s largest retailers can enable the food business to meet their societal and regulatory traceability requirements.”
“Our Visibility Platform provides food retailers with a real-time view into each product throughout its journey from farm to store. Frank has a unique understanding of how that will transform the food industry – reducing waste, extending shelf life, improving quality, and optimising labour – while helping retailers maintain FSMA 204 compliance and its mandate for accuracy.”
Mochara and influencer Billie Shepherd announce new partnership, powered by Stored payment tech
Equestrian and leisure brand Mochara and influencer Billie Shepherd have announced a partnership, leveraging technology provided by Stored.
The pair say that, unlike traditional brand-influencer collaborations that often rely on affiliate link interruptions and third-party cookies for tracking and measuring performance, Stored’s payments solution ensures a smoother, uninterrupted shopping experience.
Tapping the firm’s platform, Shepherd can curate her favourite Mochara products behind a single link, which leads her 2.6 million followers directly to a two-tap checkout.
Mattress specialist Emma selects Metapack technology to power shipping services in Europe
D2C sleep brand, Emma, is implementing Metapack’s Delivery Manager solution across DACH, UK and Italy, as it looks to automate its selection of delivery services and increase carrier coverage across key markets.
This provides Emma with access to Metapack’s carrier network, providing more delivery choice while removing the need for costly and complicated onboarding processes.
Delivery Manager gives it the ability to quickly generate the right labels and custom documents for shipping.
This not only speeds up warehouse operations but allows Emma to offer customers the best possible experience.
Victoria’s Secret set to stream The Tour fashion show and documentary special on Prime Video
Victoria’s Secret & Co. reports that The Victoria’s Secret World Tour will be available to stream on Prime Video on 26th September.
Part fashion event, part documentary, this celebrates the mission of Victoria’s Secret – to uplift and champion women around the world.
It will take Prime Video viewers on a journey through the creation of The Tour, with behind the scenes footage and intimate stories of the VS20 – a group of 20 creatives who will conceive four fashion curations from the cities of Bogota, Lagos, London and Tokyo, alongside custom Victoria's Secret designs.
"We are delighted to continue to expand our relationship with Amazon," says Greg Unis, Brand President at Victoria’s Secret and PINK.
"This collaboration creates an unparalleled viewing experience, bringing the magic of The Tour directly to audiences far and wide. Through this collaboration, we are reinforcing our commitment to delivering captivating content that celebrates our heritage and resonates with our customers."
Footasylum taps NewStore and Talon.One solutions as it focuses on seamless omnichannel experiences
Footasylum has selected NewStore to power the omnichannel experience across its 60 stores in the UK.
The partnership builds on Footasylum’s technology architecture, which also includes Talon.One, a promotion and loyalty automation solution.
“In order to keep up with the pace of innovation and grow our business, we need a technology architecture that is open, flexible, and scalable. But we cannot build it ourselves. We need commerce partners that align with our vision,” says Mike Wallwork, E-commerce Director, Footasylum.
“That is why we are working with MACH certified companies like NewStore and Talon.One. These innovative platforms and tools will help us achieve our goals and continue to provide the exceptional level of service our customers expect."
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 before launching into a bizarre rant about dystopian stores.
Amazon taps CLARA Analytics AI platform as it looks to improve workers’ compensation claims
Amazon has selected CLARA Analytics as its technology partner for a new programme aimed at improving health and claim outcomes for its corporate workers’ compensation claims.
The US e-commerce giant will implement CLARA’s platform, including the Triage, Litigation and Treatment modules, which use generative AI and machine learning technologies to provide insights that detect claims at risk of escalation and identify the best path toward resolving claims involving injuries.
InPost expands Vinted partnership with launch of over the counter parcel collection service
InPost has announced an expansion of its Vinted partnership, with the launch of InPost Shop, a new parcel pick-up service in the UK.
The C2C online second-hand fashion marketplace led an initial trial earlier this year.
The service gives its members the option to collect parcels from participating stores, providing an additional OOH collection option alongside InPost's 5,000 strong locker network.
Mirakl announces €100 million revolving credit facility as it eyes growth and acquisitions
E-commerce technology firm Mirakl has announced the signing of a €100 million revolving credit facility (RCF).
Granted by BNP Paribas, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Natixis and Société Générale, this builds on Series D and E funding rounds.
The cash will be used to finance Mirakl's growth, in particular by investing in its technology and completing acquisitions.
Following the Series E round of $555 million in 2021, the company was valued at over $3.5 billion. Previous acquisitions include Target2Sell.
Need It For Tonight teams with Gophr for London-based rapid fashion delivery initiative
Need It For Tonight, which is pitched as London’s first on-demand fashion delivery app, has announced a partnership with Gophr to offer customers a 90 minute delivery service.
Fashion brands in the capital that have signed up with. Need It For Tonight include Wild Swans Boutique, Rejina Pyo, Cult Mia and Blue Nude.
Gophr’s real-time delivery tracking is embedded within the venture’s app.
Its network of couriers also allows users flexibility to select delivery options without rigid time limitations.
While Need It For Tonight caters for those who want items on-demand, the partnership also has sustainability in mind, with deliveries available via push and cargo bikes.
Wayfair Decorify solution taps generative AI technologies to power shoppers’ home personalisation journeys
Wayfair has launched Decorify, a new way for shoppers to reimagine their spaces and hone in on their style preferences.
In a pilot application, this uses a generative AI model that creates shoppable, photorealistic images to enable consumers to envision their own homes in new styles by uploading a picture of their space.
"Anything we develop or deploy for our customers, including GenAI, must support our mission to help everyone, anywhere create their feeling of home," says Wayfair Chief Technology Officer Fiona Tan.
"Viewing generative AI through this pragmatic lens enables us to prioritise where and when we deploy development resources and ensure applications like Decorify delight our customers."
Continue reading…