Robots, awards, and sneakerheads: check out last week’s most read RTIH retail technology articles

These are the RTIH articles that caught your fancy last week, including The Very Group, Asda, eBay UK, Aldi, Zapp, Amazon, Avery Dennison, Badger Technologies, and Stop & Shop.

The Very Group extends Kyndryl tie up as online retailer focuses on retail technology transformation

The Very Group has been working with Kyndryl to migrate applications to the public cloud. And the online retailer is now extending the agreement and moving over more applications.

Kyndryl will combine The Very Group’s core service management toolset with cloud native tooling and the implementation of Kyndryl Bridge and AIOps, enabling greater links between global teams.

It says that this process will “build an optimised, integrated service that is simple, flexible, automated, and delivered with velocity with improved service observability”.

Grocery giant Asda makes senior retail technology appointments as it moves away from Walmart days

Asda has announced the appointments of Rob Barnes and Adrian Berry to its technology team to oversee the oversee the development of its new strategy and separation from Walmart.

Barnes is currently Chief Technology Officer at Marks and Spencer and will join Asda early next year as Delivery Director.

He will be responsible for the design, build and delivery of all colleague and customer facing technology and will also act as Deputy Chief Information Officer.

Prior to joining M&S, he was MD of Accenture’s Retail Tech Advisory business, where he managed technology delivery for a range of clients including Dyson, Clarks, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Best Buy.

Berry also joins in the new year as Chief Technology Officer and will have responsibility for all core technology teams including service delivery, infrastructure, application engineering, platform teams and enterprise technology services.

He most recently served as CIO at Aston Barclay Vehicle Remarketing, and prior to that as UK CIO and Group CTO at Lowell Credit Management.

Carl Dawson, Asda’s CIO, says: “We are delighted to welcome Rob and Adrian to the Asda Technology team. With their combined experience,I am confident that we will now have the necessary expertise and experience to build best in class retail technology systems as we continue our separation journey from Walmart.” 

Retail Technology Show’s Matt Bradley joins 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel

We’re pleased to announce the addition of Matt Bradley to the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel.

Bradley is Director and Founder of Retail Technology Show, the 2024 edition of which will take place at Olympia, London on 24th-25th April.

We’re also pleased to announce Retail Technology Show as a 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards sponsor.

This is an extension of our long running media partnership.

Retail Technology Show brings together Europe’s most forward thinking retailers and leading tech innovators. Aimed at retailers both in-store and online, it helps businesses thrive in the highly disruptive retail sector. 

It is the must attend event for retail and hospitality organisations looking for the right tools, solutions and advice on how to run their business more effectively, more efficiently and more profitably resulting in seamless multi-channel operations and enhanced customer experience. 

THE 2023 JUDGING PANEL NOW LOOKS LIKE THIS:

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

Sarah Curran, Founder & Chief Menopause Officer, Just Hotter

Warren Richmond, Founder and CEO, Situ LIve

Matt Bradley, Director and Founder, Retail Technology Show

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

Pixevia works with REWE Group owned IKI to launch fifth autonomous store in Vilnius, Lithuania

Pixevia has partnered with IKI, a member of REWE Group, to launch a fifth autonomous store in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The IKI GO store is located next to the Green Bridge public transport stop. It is the seventh location overall powered by Pixevia technology.

Contained in a small format pavilion, it operates without staff for approximately 95% of its opening hours, only requiring occasional restocking.

Shoppers can choose from over 200 items – from hot coffee beverages and chilled ready-to-eat meals to ice creams, snacks, drinks, and essential non-food items.

The store features Pixevia’s proprietary real-time checkout technology, which allows customers to enter by tapping a payment card.

People take what items they want from the shelves while cameras and shelf sensors compile a virtual shopping basket. They then tap the same payment card to exit the store, and receive a real-time receipt which can be printed upon leaving.

New AI images and research released by SAP Emarsys offer up glimpse of future of UK retail

SAP Emarsys has released a series of pictures providing a glimpse into the future of UK retail. Produced via the generative AI platform Midjourney, these bring to life the results of a new study, exploring how UK shoppers will browse and buy with AI in future.

A survey of over 2,000 Brits found that:

  • 21% would be open to letting AI define their fashion choices, deciding what looks best and purchasing clothing items on their behalf

  • 22% want to use AI to shop for groceries, suggesting items that are running low in the kitchen

  • 16% would go as far as to allow AI to select their meals for them, deciding not just what to buy and eat, but when to eat it.

  • 18% would allow AI to guide their reading choices, making automated selections of new books to read

  • 25% would be willing to let AI automatically select the best beauty products for them

  • 26% would trust AI to curate and manage their morning skincare routines

eBay UK puts sneakerhead knowledge to test with The Authenticity Lab launch at King’s Cross Station

eBay UK is launching The Authenticity Lab, pitched as a first of its kind multi-sensory experience in London that puts sneakerheads' knowledge to the test.

Curated by Niko B, FD From The Future and Magdi, eBay says that it is pulling back the curtains behind its Authenticity Guarantee programme.

Through sound, touch, taste, sight and smell and the exclusive sixth “Sneaker Sense'', the pop-up will challenge people on their sneaker knowledge and give them a chance to get their hands on the most coveted pairs including Union Jordan 4s and New Balance JJJounds.  

Launching outside King’s Cross Station, people can visit The Lab on Friday 22nd and Saturday 26th, between the hours of 9am - 5pm and 10 am - 6pm, respectively. It also travels to Sneakerness London for 48 hours the following weekend, 30th September - 1st October. 

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.

Zapp agrees rapid delivery tie up with at home, self-diagnostic tests provider Newfoundland

Newfoundland, a provider of at home, self-diagnostic tests in the UK, and rapid delivery firm, Zapp, have announced a new partnership in London.

Customers can now quickly test for various illnesses and diseases, while also knowing that Zapp has them covered with various personal health and hygiene products, over-the-counter medicines, and everyday essentials.

Amazon works with Avery Dennison to combine Just Walk Out tech and RFID in checkout-free stores

Amazon has announced a new capability to its Just Walk Out technology that will enable relevant stores to start selling clothes.

This leverages RFID, supplied by Avery Dennison, and enables customers to grab clothes, hats, shoes etc, and walk out of the store through an exit gate (even while wearing their purchases) by tapping their credit or debit card, or hovering their palm over an Amazon One palm recognition device.

It is currently available at Lumen Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks.

“Delivering a great fan experience is central to everything we do here at Lumen Field, and our customers love the convenience of Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology,” says Zach Hensley, Seahawks Vice President of Operations and General Manager at Lumen Field.

“Eight of our concessions locations are already using Just Walk Out technology and seeing great results.”

“Now, we are excited to be the first NFL stadium with an RFID enabled Just Walk Out technology store so fans can grab their favourite hats, jerseys, and more, and simply walk out. We are seeing great traction for this new store, and our fans are enjoying the experience.”

Badger Technologies and Stop & Shop upgrade Marty the Robot at 300+ locations Stateside

Badger Technologies is working with Stop & Shop, an Ahold Delhaize USA company, to expand its use of Marty the Robot at more than 300 stores throughout the US Northeast.

The robot now conducts product checks to help ensure greater on-shelf availability for customers by alerting store associates when items need re-stocking. Marty also detects misplaced items while continuing the usual task of spotting potential floor hazards and spills.

Badger Technologies’ autonomous robots were rolled out at Stop & Shop stores starting in January 2019.