Including Retail247, Confer With, and BigCommerce: last week’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance
RTIH rounds up the stand out retail systems deals, launches, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Including Amazon, Crew Clothing Company, Specsavers, Colruyt Group, Piglet in Bed, Deliveroo, Kingfisher, Ann Summers, Mytheresa, and Dollar General.
Mytheresa
Mytheresa, an e-commerce platform, is amongst the first luxury brands to have created an exclusive visionOS app for Apple Vision Pro, in collaboration with Obsess.
Users will be taken to an immersive digital luxury shopping experience to Capri (Italy) and Paris (France), whereby they can explore the perfect wardrobe from Mytheresa's curated selection through animated hyper-realistic environments, featuring brands such as Loewe, Valentino and Saint Laurent.
Using the capabilities of Apple Vision Pro, Mytheresa taps intuitive eye and hand movements to navigate the experience.
The plan is to continuously provide new edited collection launches and exclusive capsule collections.
Collections will be showcased in immersive carousels, amidst contextual environments with the aim of “transforming the traditional e-commerce product grid into an all-encompassing, emotional shopping experience”.
Amazon
Priced from £2, the Red Nose 2024 collection is now available on Amazon, with free one-day delivery, and in Amazon Fresh stores and Whole Foods Market from 15th February.
Money raised this Red Nose Day could help tackle poverty, provide food, essential healthcare or safe shelter for people in the UK and around the world.
This year’s collection of noses are made from plant-based materials and are fully recyclable at home.
Each one comes with a QR code that takes you to the Red Nose Day Joke Generator, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Leisure Lake Bikes
Leisure Lake Bikes has partnered with Confer With, a specialist in the live video shopping space.
In a LinkedIn post, the latter said: “We're thrilled to welcome Leisure Lakes Bikes into our live video shopping family.”
“Get ready for an enhanced online bike shopping experience with expert advice from their specialists, all through live video. Together, we're redefining the way you shop for bikes and gear.”
Crew Clothing Company
Crew Clothing Company has gone live with Givex gift card solutions both in-store and online.
In a LinkedIn post, Richard Surman, Head of IT at Crew Clothing, said: “Big year for Crew IT, lots of projects to get over the line.”
“Delighted to announce the first big project is now complete and we are live with Givex Gift Card solutions both in-store and online.”
He added: “Huge shout out to Satabdi Dash (Business Analyst at Crew Clothing), Matthew Taylor (Project Manager), Cora Mcdonnell (Projects Manager/Business Analyst) and all of the team who helped to make this project such a success. Onto the next one, watch this space for further updates of our 2024 journey.”
Specsavers
In a bid to overcome bottlenecks at the till-point, Specsavers, an eyecare provider in Australia serving over four million customers annually, has implemented a payment process, earning accolades for process innovation.
Lidl Ireland
Lidl Ireland reports significant progress in the installation of in-store solutions enabling customers to return cans and bottles.
In a LinkedIn post, Alan Barry, Chief Development Officer (CDO) at Lidl Ireland & Lidl Northern Ireland, says:
“In less than 12 months Lidl Ireland has installed 358 Re-turn machines in 179 stores, constructed 88 Deposit Return Rooms and invested tens of millions of euros.”
“Our solution puts the customer first with two Re-turn machines in every store ensuring no customer has to queue to return cans or bottles.”
He added: “Every year an estimated 1.9 billion cans and plastic bottles are consumed and by 2029 as part of the Single Use Plastics Directive, Ireland must recycle 90%.”
“With the launch of Re-turn today, we are happy to play our part in creating A Better Tomorrow. All this would not have been possible without a phenomenal effort from a hugely dedicated team.”
Snappy Shopper
Harley-Davidson
Tymit has announced the launch of a new credit card programme in partnership with Harley-Davidson.
This will be available to customers across Europe, starting with the UK.
It is launching with two bespoke credit card options, the H-D Ultra Card (a Visa Platinum credit card) and the H-D Classic Card (a standard Visa credit card).
Its standout feature is a three-month interest free offer on all purchases made at authorised Harley-Davidson dealers and on the company’s website.
This merchant linked instalment feature on a credit card is pitched as a market first that offers a more cost-effective and fully regulated alternative to buy now, pay later solutions.
Cardholders will be able to build up loyalty points on their purchases which will be redeemable against Harley-Davidson products and services both in-dealership and online.
Tymit’s technology platform enables merchants to create bespoke instalment credit programmes for their customers under their own brand.
Musgrave
Infosys has signed a seven-year deal with Musgrave, an Irish food retail, wholesale and foodservice company.
As part of this collaboration, Infosys will help automate Musgrave's IT operations by leveraging its AI and cloud offerings, Topaz and Cobalt.
Through its Cognitive First framework, Infosys will aim to enable digital experiences and boost operational efficiencies by integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, knowledge management, and cognitive automation capabilities to amplify enterprise intelligence across the value chain for Musgrave.
White Stuff
BigCommerce has announced the launch of White Stuff, a British fashion and lifestyle brand, on its platform.
“We now have more flexibility to do everything we want in the short-term, and we are ready to adapt to whatever the future holds,” says Steve Borg, Technology and Transformation Director at White Stuff.
Established in 1985 and with over 110 physical stores, White Stuff, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, had prioritised its bricks and mortar stores, but realised it needed to invest in its e-commerce operations and improve agility to keep pace with customer expectations and evolving shopping habits.
DPD UK
Parcel delivery firm DPD UK has chosen Blue Yonder’s SaaS-based Returns Management solution to provide a digital portal that will be made available to all of its retail customers.
DPD UK is a member of Geopost, a European specialist in parcel delivery and solutions for e-commerce and part of the La Poste Groupe.
The company operates more than 10,000 vehicles in the UK from 85 locations and delivers over 400 million parcels a year.
With a focus on customer service and sustainability, DPD UK was looking for a solution that would work alongside its existing capabilities and that could give it a strong competitive advantage in helping its retail customers manage returns efficiently.
Stuart and Deliverect
Stuart has announced a new partnership with Deliverect.
The aim here is to help restaurants increase and improve their delivery offering through an integrated platform by connecting Stuart’s last mile delivery platform with Deliverect’s order and operational management technology.
Piglet in Bed
Retail247 reports the selection and deployment of Origin as the product information management (PIM) solution for Piglet in Bed, a bedding and homeware brand.
Recognising the critical role of comprehensive product data management when it comes to saving employee time, as well as enhancing customer experiences, Piglet in Bed chose Origin to streamline and optimise its product data journey.
The first phase of deployment includes product creation with product code and EAN generation, customised logic for mapping commodity codes and setting of the initial price for all price zones.
Future phases will see Origin extending its capabilities to full price change management and digital asset management, as well as integration into Piglet in Bed’s ERP and web platforms.
Colruyt Group
RELEX Solutions has announced a long-term partnership with Belgium-based retailer Colruyt Group.
This is aimed at enhancing Colruyt Group’s inventory management capabilities in order to manage product flow, in line with end customer demand.
The project includes all distribution sites of Colruyt Group that deliver products to the company’s retail banners.
Rokt and Deliveroo
Rokt, an e-commerce technology company that uses machine learning and AI to serve relevant offers to shoppers, has announced a partnership with delivery giant Deliveroo on the order tracker page.
Deliveroo has been building its retail media network since launching its advertising platform in 2021.
As part of its newly developed advertising platform, it will now integrate with Rokt, which allows brands to capture the attention of customers directly on e-commerce confirmation pages.
This means that advertisers in the Rokt Ads network can now access Deliveroo's audiences, and Deliveroo can provide the most relevant third-party offers to customers on their order confirmation page.
DOUGLAS
Zeotap, a customer data solutions provider, reports that DOUGLAS, an omnichannel premium beauty destination, has selected Zeotap CDP in a bid to elevate its customer engagement and orchestrate touchpoints efficiently through various channels.
This partnership is part of DOUGLAS’ strategy of putting customers at the heart of its activities and enhancing the omnichannel customer journey across stores and e-commerce.
By aggregating data from various sources and dismantling data silos, the company says it can efficiently identify and re-engage shoppers.
Amazon Mexico
Kueski, a buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider in Latin America, is available as a payment option on Amazon Mexico.
Kueski Pay is now available to select Amazon customers and will roll-out to all eligible customers in Mexico over the coming months.
People will be able to select plans of up to 12 bi-weekly instalments.
A key feature of this product is that it does not require a credit card, which is pitched as being beneficial given that more than 60% of adults in Mexico are still unbanked and over 70% of the population does not have a credit card.
Dixon Technologies
Kingfisher
Home improvement retailer, Kingfisher, is leveraging Cornerstone OnDemand’s employee learning and performance management solutions.
With over 2,000 stores and 80,000+ employees, Kingfisher operates in eight countries across Europe under retail banners including B&Q, Screwfix, Castorama, Brico Dépôt, TradePoint and Koçtaş.
It says that Cornerstone’s AI powered learning and talent solutions will enable it to deliver modern learning at scale, ensure compliance, adhere to local legislation and optimise continuous talent development.
A key benefit for Kingfisher is that both Cornerstone Learning and Performance are incorporated into the same organic solution without the need for bolt-on technologies or workarounds.
Ann Summers
Ann Summers, a lingerie and sex toys retailer, has awarded Evri a multi-million-pound delivery contract.
It has been selected as the sole partner to handle all of Ann Summers’ business-to-customer parcels including delivery pick-up, drop-off (PUDO) and returns.
Evri has a network of more than 13,000 PUDO locations including ParcelShops and lockers.
According to the company, delivery to ParcelShops, which are often located in Tesco Express stores, Post Office branches or independent convenience stores, and usually within a ten-minute walk, typically reduces carbon by 45% compared to a traditional home delivery.
Delivery to ParcelShops can also be a more discreet way to receive a parcel, if you, ahem, catch our drift.
Dollar General
Dollar General is teaming with Shelf Engine for a US roll-out of its automated AI ordering technology for produce.
By the end of fiscal year 2023, this collaboration will see Shelf Engine's AI tech implemented in approximately 3,000 stores.
This follows a two phased pilot that began in December 2022 of Shelf Engine’s offering in more than 400 Dollar General stores.
Its platform is designed to generate orders, with a goal of optimising in-stock levels that directly contribute to providing Dollar General customers with the freshest food possible.
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