Resale programmes and AI-based store intelligence: RTIH runs 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 carbon neutral pizza deliveries, digital product passports, checkout system focused gamified learning, and
Vivobarefoot
Footwear manufacturer Vivobarefoot has partnered with textiles recycling company Circ to design and develop footwear uppers made entirely of a single material (polyester) that can be chemically recycled and reused in the production of new footwear without the need to add any virgin materials.
Lapeyre
Lapeyre, a home improvement retailer, has announced the deployment of SES-imagotag’s VUSION IoT Cloud platform and electronic shelf labels (ESLs) across its 132 stores in France.
Alongside pricing automation, the ESLs will provide access to a multitude of services.
By way of example, QR codes that can be flashed will enable customers to access the store’s catalogue, interactive product descriptions (technical specifications, videos, etc.) with a link to Lapeyre’s e-commerce site, and the ability to confirm product availability in-store or online.
Packfleet and Pizza Pilgrims
Packfleet and Pizza Pilgrims have teamed up to provide food lovers with carbon neutral deliveries.
The collaboration will see Pizza Pilgrims’ DIY Pizza-in-the-Post kits delivered straight to customers' doorsteps through the courier’s routing technology.
Aided by Packfleet’s live map tracking, customers can track their pizza kit at every step of the journey.
The company says that it boasts a delivery failure rate of only 0.07%, 10x less than leading traditional couriers – reducing both waste and the volume of resource-intensive redeliveries.
On delivery day, customers will have the option to change everything about the order – including the time their parcel arrives, the address it arrives at, and whether drivers ring the doorbell – all at any point on the drivers’ journey.
All of Pizza Pilgrims’ Neapolitan pizza meal kit orders, both one off orders and subscriptions, within the M25 will be delivered by Packfleet.
Books-A-Million
It’s National Read a Book Day, and Books-A-Million is marking the occasion with the introduction of same and next day online delivery for customers across its 231 Stateside locations, starting with its Southeast and Midwest markets.
The retailer is teaming up with Walmart GoLocal, Walmart’s white label, delivery as a service platform, to make this happen.
“There’s nothing better than curling up with your favourite book or exploring a new world for the first time. We’re excited to introduce this new delivery offering with Walmart GoLocal, which will make it easier for customers to order their favourite books and have their favourite stories at their fingertips,” says Olivia McDaniel, Vice President of Marketing at Books-A-Million.
“As retail and consumer preferences continue to evolve, we’re thrilled to be bringing our customers this added convenience and serve them in new ways.”
Amazon
Nobody's Child
Fashion brand Nobody’s Child has announced the launch of digital product passports (DPPs), enabling shoppers to make more conscious and informed choices when buying products.
The initial roll-out will be across the Happy Place Fearne Cotton collection which will be available online and at Nobody’s Child stores, as well as key retail partner, M&S.
Plans are afoot to have the DPPs across all garments by the end of 2024.
Scanned by a smartphone, each QR code takes the customer on a journey of that product’s creation.
The DPP has been designed with upcoming EU product transparency legislation in mind, ensuring that all key product information is captured and catalogued using Xelacore technology.
Powered by Fabacus, Nobody’s Child has harnessed its Xelacore technology to track and translate the gathering of numerous data points, mapping key stages of the supply chain from processing of the raw materials, through to the yarn and fabric mills, and finally to the garment factories where the final products are sewn together.
On scanning the DPP via a QR code in the care label, consumers will be taken to a landing page which includes the product's lifecycle carbon footprint, taking account for raw materials, finished good manufacturing, logistics, packaging, product care and end-use.
The page will also provide product care advice to help customers make their item last longer, as well as links to circular service partners – repair/alterations, rental and pre-loved.
People will be encouraged to trace their garments and visiting the Nobody’s Child DPP will be incentivised with gifts and the ability to download a unique non-fungible token (NFT) by way of a digital receipt, via a collaboration with Coinbase.
PANGAIA
Lifestyle brand, PANGAIA, and technology supplier, Archive, have partnered to launch PANGAIA ReWear, a peer-to-peer resale programme that enables sellers to list their preloved PANGAIA items using digital IDs powered by EON.
The digital IDs also give buyers a way to authenticate the preowned items they are purchasing through ReWear.
“PANGAIA ReWear is more than just a resale platform. It is the first step towards our ultimate goal - the creation of a future where we are able to close the loop by creating a truly circular ecosystem for our apparel, powered by the industry’s leading technology companies - Archive and EON. We are excited to make our ambitions a reality with our partners by our side,” says a spokesperson for PANGAIA.
Crunch Fitness and Amazon
Crunch Fitness has become the first fitness brand to introduce the Amazon One palm recognition service as an entry option for its members. This is now available at select locations in the US.
Members who choose this option no longer need their Crunch membership tags or mobile app to enter. They can instead hover their palm over an Amazon One device to enter a facility.
Amazon One is currently being piloted at nine Crunch clubs across the US, including five in San Francisco, three in the New York City, and one in the Los Angeles area, with more locations rolling out the technology in the coming months.
Crunch has been piloting the solution for the last four months. It says that at participating gyms, 80% of members are already using Amazon One for entry.
M&S
SymphonyAI Retail CPG has been selected by Marks & Spencer for computer vision and AI-based intelligence capabilities across more than 500 stores.
The UK retailer will deploy AI-based technology on handheld devices that compares images captured of products in stores to store specific planograms, providing an instant view of compliance on shelves.
Rob Barnes, Chief Technology Officer, M&S says: “As we reshape M&S for growth, we’re investing in technology that will create greater efficiencies and a more connected in-store experience for our customers.”
“Through our partnership with SymphonyAI Retail CPG, our colleagues will be able to leverage AI-based technology to help them deliver an exceptional service to our customers.”
Asda
Asda is testing out gamified learning for those employees getting to grips with its new checkout system.
This has been taking place at the grocery giant’s Goldthorpe store in Rotherham, in partnership with Attensi.
In a LinkedIn post, Bruce Gibb, Learning Design Manager at Asda, said: “Gamified learning in Asda is live! Delighted to have landed new checkout training in line with our new checkout system in the pilot store this weekend.”
He added: “This has been a project I have been lead on since taking my Learning Design role on and it’s fantastic to see it come to life.”
“The reaction from the Goldthorpe store leadership and colleagues has been fantastic, they transitioned from the games to the live environment effortlessly and the competitive nature of the solution engaged a desire to practice and repeat, driving confidence and capability.”
“A massive thank you to Owen Smith (Senior Manager Learning - Transformation at Asda) for his leadership, support and guidance while I’ve worked on this.”
ADDICTION
Japanese personal care company KOSÉ is using Bambuser’s Social Video Commerce platform for one of its cosmetic brands, ADDICTION.
The plug and play solution can be embedded into any e-commerce site and includes features that enable retailers to launch shoppable video.
ADDICTION says that it selected Bambuser due to “its high quality live streaming technologies, personalised support, and consultation services, as well as its proven success, backed up by accumulated data”.
Pocket Planet
Miniature world specialist, Pocket Planet, has announced details of a new immersive experiential attraction for London’s Oxford Street.
A 30,000 square foot space, located at 500 Oxford Street, this will tap the latest audio visual technologies and feature large scale model landscapes of UK landmarks.
The development will also open a retail and cafe offering in spring next year, in addition to an exhibit the year after.
“Our plan for Pocket Planet is for it to become the UK’s largest indoor miniature world and London’s favourite attraction,” says Mark Vlassopulos, CEO at Pocket Planet.
“Our ambition is to create the best and most attractive million-plus visitation tourist attraction in the UK. The site we have is incredible: we have 30,000 square feet with 50 metres of frontage at 500 Oxford Street right between Marble Arch and Bond Street tube station.”
“It is the tourism hotspot of the UK and Pocket Planet will be a special space - an attraction on the scale of something that London hasn’t seen before. It will be a visual delight, both for the models and the groundbreaking audio visual elements.”
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