Including Walmart, Sainsbury’s and Costa Coffee: these are our biggest retail technology articles on LinkedIn right now

We’re big fans of LinkedIn and are busy building an amazing community of retail tech enthusiasts on the social media platform. As we head towards the 20,000 followers mark, these are the articles that are currently on their radars, including Marks and Spencer, Sagard NewGen, FuturMaster, Sawhorse Productions, Zepeto, 3D Cloud, Simbe, Sensei, and the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards.

2024 RTIH Innovation Awards: shortlisted entries announced including Ikea, Currys, Lowe’s, and Tesco

We’re pleased to announce the shortlists for the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards.

We received a record number of entries this year and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.

Congratulations to all those who made it through the initial submission process!

It’s now over to our judging panel who will decide the winners to be announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, taking place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.

The event will be held on Thursday, 21st November and consist of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

To book your place at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony on Thursday, 21st November, click here.

The awards, sponsored by Scala, CADS, 3D Cloud, Brightpearl by Sage’s Lightning 50, Business France, and Retail Technology Show 2025, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Sagard NewGen buys supply chain planning and revenue growth management solutions firm FuturMaster

Sagard NewGen has announced the acquisition of FuturMaster, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider of supply chain planning and revenue growth management solutions, from its founder and Cathay Capital.

Sagard NewGen becomes the group's majority shareholder alongside the management team and Cathay Capital, who have reinvested in the new transaction.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

FuturMaster's platform is used by the likes of Heineken, L'Oréal, TotalEnergies and SNCF.

ICA Gruppen’s Oskar Jakobsson gives thumbs up to smart fitting rooms at H&M flagship store in Stockholm

Oskar Jakobsson, Director Customer Solutions at ICA Gruppen, has taken to social media to praise the smart fitting rooms at H&M’s flagship store in Stockholm that opened last week.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: “I sometimes get asked what I recommend or think about digital solutions for retail. For me this is often the wrong question, tech for the sake of technology is always a bad decision. Tech should improve the customer experience, self service should reduce friction, staff tools should improve efficiency and staff experience also.”

He added: “That’s why I was happy to see the smart fitting rooms at H&M Stockholm. I have been a supporter of this solution since I was head of innovation at H&M, we then did the first initial POC and tests so I was extra proud to see it live today.”

“What we found in the initial tests was that in a good implementation they increase customer experience, increase sales, help staff to be more efficient and reduce friction in the entire explore, fit to buy journey.

The solution detects what shoppers bring in through RFID. They can see availability in-store of colours and sizes, send a request to staff to bring new sizes etc. They can also see what matches well and availability online.

Smart Charge powered by Sainsbury’s hits new milestone with recent launch of Tamworth charging hub

Sainsbury’s reports a milestone with the launch of its latest ultra-rapid EV charging service. The unveiling of a new Smart Charge hub at its Tamworth store, Staffordshire means the grocery giant now has over 500 charging bays available up and down the country.

Smart Charge is pitched as the only ultra-rapid EV charging network that is owned and operated by a UK supermarket.

Like the rest of Sainsbury’s estate, it is powered by 100% renewable electricity, and it aims to make access to EV charging on-the-go more accessible while supporting the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

On average a new hub is opened every week and in just over a year, Smart Charge has launched over 500 charging bays across 62 sites so far.  

Focus on innovative retail technology as Excel London and Costa Coffee complete overhaul of in-venue stores

Excel London and Costa Coffee have unveiled their refreshed in-venue stores, including touchscreen ordering systems.

With thousands of visitors attending Excel London every month, the venue prioritises efficiency and speed.

The upgrades to both Costa Coffee stores focus on innovative technologies to streamline the ordering process, ensuring more customers can place their order seamlessly to receive their coffee quicker than ever.

In addition to new touchscreen ordering systems, additional coffee machines have been installed to expedite service during peak hours. Both stores are also using staff headsets, making them the first non-drive thru Costa Coffee stores to implement this communication technology.

Walmart enlists Sawhorse Productions as it steps into Zepeto metaverse with No Boundaries launch

Walmart’s young adult clothing brand, No Boundaries, has officially launched on Zepeto, an Asian avatar centric social universe.

In a LInkedIn post, Sawhorse Productions said: “Our team is thrilled to build on our work with Walmart to engage younger audiences by activating this rapidly growing UGC platform.”

“The NoBo drop includes ten virtual versions of pieces from the line’s fall collection. And we brought the community in by collaborating with Zepeto creator, Xexi, to design limited edition items. We also created a twisted prep photobooth backdrop, knowing that Zepeto users love the in-game photo booth function.”

It added: “Sawhorse is passionate about helping brands navigate the immersive/gaming space. Is Zepeto new to you? It’s a platform to watch - ultra fast growth, truly global user base and a highly engaged community.”

Marks and Spencer kicks off roll-out of self-checkouts in changing rooms despite shoplifting concerns

Marks and Spencer is bringing self-checkouts to its store changing rooms so that shoppers won’t have to join two queues when trying on and buying clothes.

The retailer is planning to roll-out self-service tills in 180 of its clothing stores by early 2028.

Operations Director Sacha Berendji told The Telegraph: “We’d like customers to be able to walk straight into the fitting room with no queue, try on what they’ve chosen, then pay there and just walk out.”

“Shoplifting is a major problem in this country, but there are things that we’re all doing to mitigate some of those losses.”

The new tills have thus far been introduced in 28 recently revamped stores.

Including Auger, Wayvee, and 3D Cloud: 15 retail technology funding rounds you need to know about

RTIH rounds up 15 retail tech ventures who have recently secured significant investments in their businesses, including visual commerce platforms, game-changing 3D technology, autonomous stores, emotion AI, and robotics and data intelligence solutions.