Flowers in a jiffy: 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 Marks and Spencer, Albertsons Companies, Coca-Cola, Pinterest, Amazon Fresh, FLOWERBX, Paradies Lagardère, and S Group.
FLOWERBX
Luxury flower brand, FLOWERBX, has announced a new exclusive rapid delivery partnership with Zapp. As a result, Londoners can now get delivery in minutes, 24/7.
FLOWERBX’s range of products are available for same-day and next-day delivery through its website.
Founder and CEO, Whitney Bromberg Hawkings, says: “We’re thrilled to be making it easier and faster to bring you the highest quality, sustainable flowers in stylish, aesthetic arrangements by partnering with Zapp.”
“Whether you’re dressing up your home for a last minute get together or left a birthday gift to the last moment, this collaboration makes it easier and faster than ever to get your floral fix.”
Marks and Spencer
Bodi.Me, a specialist in sustainable fashion fit technology, has collaborated with uniform and work wear supplier, Incorporatewear, to develop a bespoke fittings solution for Marks and Spencer’s new gender neutral staff uniforms.
M&S’ staff uniform supplier, Incorporatewear, presented Bodi.Me with a significant challenge: how to seamlessly incorporate M&S’ new collection and support the retailer’s approximately 14,000 members of staff with the transition.
Starting with its existing Size-Me platform, Bodi.Me developed Size-Me 3.0 for the task. The bespoke version of the UK based SaaS company’s garment sizing solution has been specifically tailored to mitigate the uncertainties associated with size selection for gender neutral collections.
It uses data from more than 350,000 3D body models, incorporating AI, the latest machine learning integrated with its proprietary algorithms to extrapolate a complete size and fit recommendation from a few simple questions.
To support M&S’s team, the Size-Me 3.0 also introduced a set of questions for each wearer to address. It uses touch free body measurements and requires no intrusive wearer photos or body scans and all data is entirely confidential.
Amazon
Albertsons Companies
Albertsons Companies has launched a Flash grocery service, allowing customers to receive their DriveUp & Go and delivery orders in as little as 30 minutes.
This is available at more than 2,000 locations, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, ACME and Tom Thumb banner stores.
“Shoppers today want fast pickup and delivery, and Albertsons is meeting this expectation with our new Flash service,” says Stephen Menaquale, SVP, eCommerce and Fulfillment at Albertsons Cos.
"Whether you’re missing a key ingredient for tonight’s dinner, or need a healthy snack for your kid’s lunchbox, families can turn to us to quickly replenish their food and household staples.”
SES-imagotag and HowGood
SES-imagotag and HowGood have announced a partnership to provide consumers with transparent product information, delivered in stores, at the shelf-edge.
This will give shoppers access to data on over two million products directly on smart digital displays in stores, thanks to SES-imagotag’s VUSION IoT Cloud platform, which connects retailers, brands and consumers.
The data comes from HowGood and ranges from greenhouse gas emissions to water usage to labour risk. The digital displays will be available globally this autumn
Through HowGood, consumers can select products that use less water than average in their production (Water Smart), have lower greenhouse gas emissions than average (Climate Friendly), have a simple formula with seven or fewer ingredients (Clean Label), made with ingredients that are not dependent on commercial or industrial processing (Minimally Processed), contain ingredients that minimise the use of petroleum-based herbicides, fertilisers and other chemicals (Low Synthetic Inputs), or respect workers’ rights and dignity (Fair Labour).
These labels, among others, will be displayed in stores on electronic shelf labels, TVs, shelf-edge video displays, etc. along with product price and other key information.
Coca‑Cola
Coca‑Cola has launched a limited edition drink, Coca‑Cola Y3000 Zero Sugar, and new AI powered experience.
“We hope that Coca‑Cola will still be as relevant and refreshing in the year 3000 as it is today, so we challenged ourselves to explore the concept of what a Coke from the future might taste like, and what kind of experiences would a Coke from the future unlock?” says Oana Vlad, Senior Director, Global Strategy, The Coca‑Cola Company.
“The ‘Real Magic’ brand platform celebrates unexpected connections that make the ordinary extraordinary, so we intentionally brought human intelligence and AI together for an uplifting expression of what Coca‑Cola believes tomorrow will bring.”
Consumers can scan an on-pack QR code to access the Coca-Cola Creations Hub, where they can filter photos through the custom Y3000 AI Cam to envision what their current reality could look like in the future.
“The role of every drop is to leverage the latest, most advanced technologies and cultural trends to create novel experiences,” Vlad says.
“After leaning into augmented reality last year, we’re embracing the power of AI and continuing to build our company’s capabilities in this exciting space. Coca‑Cola Creations has created new pathways to deepen our engagement with existing fans and those who may not have considered the brand before.”
Amazon Fresh
Amazon has opened a Just Walk Out technology powered Amazon Fresh store at London’s Liverpool Street.
To enter the store, customers walk through a non-gated entrance and shop for what they need.
At the end of their trip, they can either scan their in-store code (via the Amazon app) at the exit gate, or pay by tapping their credit or debit card at a chip and PIN machine.
It’s also possible to pick up and return items purchased on Amazon.co.uk from in-store lockers, with a QR code.
There are now 19 of these locations in the UK - 18 of which are in London, and the other at Sevenoaks in Kent.
The Liverpool Street store can be found at Unit 4B-5, 31-35 Blomfield Street, London, EC2M 7BD.
It is open from 7:00 am – 11:00 pm, seven days a week.
In a LinkedIn post, Louise Bagshaw, Central Operations, Amazon Fresh Stores International, said: “Exciting times at Amazon Fresh! Today (12th September) we have launched another new store in a fantastic location at Liverpool Street station. Very proud of the whole AUKF team and partner teams - great new look and feel, store flow, range and CX.”
S Group
S Group has chosen Pricer as its electronic shelf labels (ESL) supplier and signed a framework agreement for five years.
S Group is a customer owned network of companies in the retail and service sectors, with more than 1,000 retail outlets in Finland.
The biggest business area is supermarket trade, which is covered by five chains. The largest chains are the supermarket chain S-market (440+ stores) and hypermarket Prisma (70+ outlets).
Although there are no minimum commitments for volumes or values under the agreement that cover all brands, S Group will make pilot installations in 17 stores (nine Prisma and eight S-market) during 2023, with the intention of doing installations in 300 stores during the coming years.
The solution is based on the platform Pricer Plaza, which provides a cloud-based software offering that enables the chains to centrally manage and control pricing, product information, and promotions across all ESLs in all connected stores.
Metacask and BitPay
Metacask, an online marketplace which allows users to buy, sell and collect spirits via the blockchain, has teamed up with crypto payment processor BitPay.
The aim here is to make it simple and secure to use cryptocurrencies on the former’s marketplace when buying any of the rare spirits that are available via auction or exclusive listing.
Every Metacask sale comes with a digital deed that proves ownership of an asset, as well as important provenance statistics such as when and where a cask or bottle was created and even when it was last tested by distilleries or experts.
This is stored permanently on the blockchain, creating a trail of ownership that is audited and timestamped.
With the BitPay partnership, Metacask says that it is making the premium spirits market even more accessible to those using cryptocurrencies. It will also soon support credit card payments and currently enables customers to create an account using social logins from Facebook and Google.
Paradies Lagardère
Airport retailer and restaurateur Paradies Lagardère has opened its latest retail concept, The Goods@DCA, in Concourse D of Reagan National Airport.
“We are extremely excited to deliver this revolutionary concept to our great partners at Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the travellers in Reagan National Airport,” says Gregg Paradies, President and CEO at Paradies Lagardère.
“Our well balanced blend of intriguing innovation, exciting local representation, and recognised customer service truly embraces our proven ‘High Tech, High Touch’ approach to delivering an award winning retail experience.”
Pinterest is introducing a new technology to its suite of AI offerings, pitched as a first of its kind solution that uses shape, size, and form to identify various body types in over five billion images on the platform.
This builds on the launch of skin tone technology, with the aim of shaping how its algorithms increase representation across related feeds and search results for women’s fashion and wedding related content.
“We believe that inspiration begins with inclusion. That’s why we continue to develop inclusive product experiences that make it easier to find the best ideas that feel made for you,” says Sabrina Ellis, Pinterest’s Chief Product Officer.
“With the powerful addition of our new body type technology to our suite of inclusive AI efforts, we have improved representation of different body types on the platform by 5x across women’s fashion related searches in the US.”
Continue reading…