Is it soccer or football?: check out RTIH’s biggest retail technology articles on LinkedIn this week
We’re big fans of LinkedIn and are busy building an amazing community of retail tech enthusiasts on the social media platform. As we close on 15,000 followers, these are the articles that are currently on their radars, including ESProfiler, RELEX Solutions, Zippin, 3D Cloud by Marxent, Joybird, Ikea, Currys, Gémo, and Manhattan Associates.
Wembley Stadium and Delaware North launch Bar Tap at Carabao Cup final as Liverpool take on Chelsea
The Delaware North team oversaw the project from conception to implementation, with the aim of promising a seamless experience for shoppers.
Upon entry, customers tap their cards, grab their items, and exit without any waiting time.
In a LinkedIn post, Delaware North said: “The adaptability of this innovative retail concept allows us to seamlessly tailor offerings to suit the specific type of event, ensuring a personalised experience for all our customers.”
“These improvements, alongside other stadium wide enhancements, solidify Wembley Stadium's reputation as a globally acclaimed fan first venue.”
Paul Scannell, Head of Hospitality at Wembley Stadium, commented: "We are thrilled to introduce our first food and drink service with cutting-edge frictionless technology.”
“We are constantly seeking innovative solutions to enhance the stadium experience, and the launch of Bar Tap represents a significant step forward in our mission to elevate the fan experience."
British cybersecurity startup ESProfiler secures £2.8 million funding round led by Nauta Capital
ESProfiler, a British cybersecurity startup, has announced a £2.8 million seed round, led by Nauta Capital.
This builds on angel investments received in 2023.
The company says it is on a mission to tackle the widespread inefficiencies in enterprise cybersecurity investments.
The founding team, leveraging their first hand experience, identified critical gaps in how cybersecurity tools were being utilised. These tools often overlapped, were underutilised, and misaligned with the actual methods of adversaries and continued a frustrating cycle of inefficient security tooling churn.
Los Angeles FC boosts guest experience as it debuts Amazon Just Walk Out technology at BMO Stadium
American soccer club LAFC has added Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology to the King’s Hawaiian Grill on the main concourse at BMO Stadium.
This made its debut at LAFC’s home opener on Saturday, 24th February.
Guests use their mobile wallet or credit card at the entry gate, and the technology detects what shoppers take from or return to the shelves and creates a virtual shopping session.
When people have completed their shopping experience, they are able to leave the stand with their selected food and beverages and their choice of payment method will be charged for the items they took with them.
German organic retailer dennree Group replaces legacy supply chain system with RELEX Solutions tech
The dennree Group, a trading company for organic food in the German speaking region, is working with RELEX Solutions, provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions, for forecasting and replenishment, and space management capabilities.
It will replace its legacy system with RELEX to improve availability, reduce out of stocks, and ultimately, eliminate food waste.
Iron Mountain implements Dexory artificial intelligence and robotic solution into UK warehouses
Dexory, a provider of AI and robotics solutions, has announced a partnership with Iron Mountain, a specialist in information management, storage, datacentre infrastructure, and asset lifecycle management.
Since 2021, Iron Mountain has expanded into a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, with the aim of disrupting the warehouse and logistics industry with its solutions.
The company has chosen to adopt DexoryView as its preferred inventory and tracking solution at four warehouses across Kettering Symmetry Park, Lutterworth Magna Park North and Rugby Symmetry Park.
Metcalfe’s Market expands adoption of self-checkout technology with Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions
Metcalfe's Market is adopting Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions technology across its stores.
The journey with Toshiba expanded in 2023 by integrating more Self Checkout System 7 solutions across all locations through partnerships with North Country Business Products (NCBP) and LOC Software.
This involves leveraging the system’s ability to support data driven decision-making and loyalty programmes.
Gémo rolls out Manhattan Active Warehouse Management in digital transformation push
Gémo, a French footwear and clothing retailer, reports that it has chosen Manhattan Active Warehouse Management (WM) to support its digital transformation journey in response to increased consumer demand for omnichannel and sustainable shopping.
The move will see the solution deployed in Gémo’s three logistics centres.
Sparqle bags €1.2 million investment to expand sustainable delivery platform across Europe
Sparqle, a sustainable delivery solutions startups, has announced the completion of a €1.2 million investment round.
The funding was led by a group of business angels including the former Managing Director of Deliveroo EU, former CTO of Just Eat Takeaway, and Bloomon founder, alongside Graduate Entrepreneur Fund.
The infusion of capital will be used to accelerate the development of Sparqle's technology platform, expand its sustainable delivery network, and fast track its expansion into additional European countries.
The company’s platform offers an integration between retailers, e-commerce brands, and sustainable delivery methods.
Through its proprietary software, rider app, and fleet of e-cargo bikes and electric vehicles, Sparqle aims to optimise delivery routes for maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami CF opens Zippin powered checkout-free stores ahead of new MLS season
American soccer club Inter Miami CF (you know, the one that Lionel Messi plays for) has opened Zippin powered checkout-free stores at Chase Stadium, its home ground.
These have gone live ahead of the new MLS season.
“We’ve been working tirelessly during our short offseason to introduce technology to decrease wait times and expand the variety of our exceptional food offerings with the goal of elevating and providing a memorable match day experience to our fans at Chase Stadium,” says Laurence McMillon, Director of Food & Beverage.
‘Dig two holes with one shovel’: Ikea’s Cristina Rutgers-Astolfi praises new REWE Ready smart shop launch
Cristina Rutgers-Astolfi, Global Head of Analytics Ikea Customer Support, has taken to social media to praise REWE Group’s recently launched REWE Ready ‘smart shop’ at the EnBW Hypernetz EV Charging Hub in Lichtenau/Chemnitz, Germany.
Customers can buy Rewe and Go sandwiches, wraps, salads, get a beer, buy cigarettes, and enjoy a cappuccino while they are charging their cars.
Mehmet Tözge, Director Smart Store Development at Lekkerland SE, said: “Lekkerland SE customer preferences have changed. End consumers want to shop 24/7, fast and with as few contacts as possible.”
The store includes smart fridges from Reckon.ai.
Shoppers scan their card, open the door, take their products, close the door and leave within 30 seconds.
Tözge said: “The combination of computer vision cameras with sensor fusion enables us to offer end consumers a unique, reliable and seamless way of shopping. The time to market and the ease of implementation: smart fridges are plug and play devices. Going live is a matter of seconds.”
He added: “New products are added within a couple of minutes. All temperature zones are possible. Shopping by Tap&Go or by mobile Application and much more.”
Actress and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James picks Cart.com as omnichannel fulfilment partner
Draper James, the fashion and lifestyle brand founded by actress, producer and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon, has selected Cart.com as its US fulfilment partner.
It says that Cart.com’s logistics network and 3PL capabilities will enable it to simplify omnichannel fulfilment, improve customer experience and meet increasing consumer demand.
Joybird lays claim to furniture industry milestone with launch of 3D Cloud Room Scanner technology
Joybird, a unit of La-Z-Boy and furniture manufacturer and retailer, has announced the full integration of 3D Cloud by Marxent’s 3D Cloud Room Scanner technology into its online 3D Space Planner tool.
Joybird is the first furniture retailer to offer this integrated 3D floor plan creation experience to customers.
The 3D Cloud Room Scanner technology enables Joybird customers to create a floorplan 10x faster than traditional measuring, recreating a room in three dimensions in just minutes.
It leverages algorithms to precisely capture room dimensions, layouts, and existing furniture, allowing users to virtually design and arrange Joybird's furniture pieces within their actual living spaces.
3D Room Scanner joins 3D Space Planner and Modular Sofa Builder.
The Modular Sofa Builder tool provides real-time customisation to mix and match components to build a customised couch, loveseat, sectional sofa, or double sided lounger.
Bensons for Beds enlists Virtualstock as UK retailer aims to boost dropship online sales
Virtualstock, a dropshipping SaaS platform, has been selected as Bensons for Beds’ new technology partner.
Its tech will be used to enhance the retailer’s dropship capabilities and provide a richer shopping experience by expanding its online product range, at a time when consumer preference is increasingly turning towards internet shopping.
Migrating to the new platform will also help to streamline its operations; buying stock at the exact moment customers purchase it, reducing surplus stock and warehouse space
Smart Retail Tech 2024: Google’s Harmony Murphy says AI can cater for customers and power growth
“Retailers need to use AI more,” said Harmony Murphy, Retail Head of Advertising at Google UK&I, in an exclusive chat with RTIH after her opening Smart Retail Tech Expo keynote speech this week at London ExCel, which discussed the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in the retail industry.
“Generative AI has democratised access and made the technology more popular than ever,” said Murphy, while encouraging retailers to deploy it in all its forms on marketing, CRM, and many other applications.
Machine learning (ML) and robotic process automation (RPA) end uses of the technology are not new.
But Murphy found it shocking in her speech that still only 28% of retailers were using AI in some form or other regularly last year, according to Google’s research carried out with Bain.
This compares to 4% in 2016 when it truly was a nascent field. ”I would expect that figure to be higher by now,” said Murphy in her presentation.
“AI is everywhere,” she continued, citing your smartphone, Excel spreadsheets and so on as common usages.
‘AI isn’t magic’: Currys CIO Andy Gamble discusses the pros and cons of artificial intelligence adoption
Andy Gamble, Chief Information Officer at Currys, has taken to social media to discuss time spent reviewing progress on some of the retailer’s AI initiatives.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “As a CIO, I have already seen lots of examples of AI creating value and efficiency, but I have also seen many AI projects go nowhere.”
“The biggest trap for AI adoption was aptly described to me this week in the words of writer CEO May Habib as getting stuck in “POC Purgatory”! That is to say - AI projects stay in the proof-of-concept stage without scaling or delivering results.”
“It’s a good reminder - AI isn’t magic - it needs the same guardrails as any other initiative.”
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