Including Gophr, Visualsoft, and Klarna: 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 Lowe’s. Superdrug, EE, N Brown Group, Urban Value Corner Store, Dollar Tree, Very Ireland, Family Dollar, Primark, and Boots.
Primark
Primark is introducing self-service checkouts across more of its stores after starting the roll-out in 2022.
Initially, they were deployed at stores in Sheffield, Northampton, West Bromwich and Kingston as part of a trial. Milton Keynes and Basingstoke then followed.
And most recently, the technology went live at Stockport.
Scotmid Co-op
Scotmid Co-op, Scotland's largest independent cooperative, has extended its partnership with Retail Insight, a provider of store operations execution software, to reduce food waste and enhance operational efficiencies in-store.
Family Dollar
Family Dollar has joined the Ibotta Performance Network (IPN), an offering which delivers coordinated promotions across retailer platforms, large third-party publisher sites and Ibotta’s direct-to-consumer properties.
The collaboration aims to advance Family Dollar’s digital engagement and customer experience to drive more value and loyalty among its customers.
It is the latest step in a digital transformation journey, focused on delivering engaging and personalised customer experiences through its marketing and loyalty programmes.
Grupo Comercial Control
Grupo Comercial Control is set to deploy Blue Yonder Category Management to address a gap in its retail operations and gain the ability to create planograms that offer a better shopper experience by minimising out-of-stock products. The project will be managed by GOLDCO, a Blue Yonder partner.
Urban Value Corner Store and JUXTA
Urban Value Corner Store (UVCS) has selected JUXTA for its autonomous micro market strategy within luxury apartment communities.
The pair are partnering to join JUXTA’s newest initiative, project name ‘Nest’ – an autonomous micro market kit for indoor environments – with Urban Value's brand presence in upscale living environments.
Superdrug
Superdrug reports that Gophr will provide its pharmacy delivery service. This will allow the delivery of prescriptions across the UK to people who choose Superdrug to provide their medication.
Gophr’s strong standard operating procedures, its ability to track and trace all home deliveries digitally from store to door and how it would offer a best-in-class doorstep experience were cited as major factors in Superdrug’s decision.
The doorstep experience must replicate the security protocols that take place in the pharmacy itself and there are layers of protection in delivery to uphold standards ensuring that prescription medicines are given directly to the people they are intended for.
Marrfish
Marrfish, a supplier to restaurants and catering organisations, is using Podfather’s logistics planning, route optimisation and ePOD software to ensure its fish is delivered in premium condition.
Operating from its Essex headquarters, serving customers across London and the East of England, Marrfish is using Podfather to plan, schedule and allocate around 60,000 deliveries of fresh, deli ready and frozen fish a year.
Asendia UK and what3words
Asendia UK, a provider of cross-border mail and parcel delivery solutions, has announced a partnership with what3words, a location technology company.
The collaboration is pitched as another option to enhance delivery accuracy and efficiency with Asendia’s partner NAQEL Express for key markets in the Middle East, such as Saudia Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Retailers can integrate what3words' location technology into the checkout process, and this data will be transmitted via Asendia’s systems to ensure a precise delivery.
EE
The initiative replaces all the current devices used by the company’s guides in-store, allowing them to complete all sales, service and operational processes from one device.
It also delivers 200Mbps dedicated fibre lines in every store via EE’s BT Business SD WAN.
Along with a new cloud EPoS solution provided by Aptos, reducing infrastructure footprint. And new PED devices from Barclays, making everything wireless.
Tokmanni and Europris
Finnish discount retail chain Tokmanni and its Norwegian counterpart Europris report significant advancements in their supply chain management and sustainability initiatives through a partnership with TradeBeyond.
Tokmanni-Europris previously managed its various private brand products using manual processes, spreadsheets, and emails. Recognising the need for digitalisation to enhance tracking, tracing, and low unit costs, the companies turned to TradeBeyond.
Having benefited from its phase one implementation, Tokmanni-Europris is now taking advantage of the platform’s expanded capabilities, leveraging its real-time integrations with quality partners SGS and Bureau Veritas and amfori BSCI social sustainability database.
Nectar360
Nectar360 has announced the launch of Branded Shops, pitched as a first of its kind offering available to clients on the Nectar360 eCommerce Media Platform.
Co-developed with CitrusAd, this gives clients the ability to build custom pages on sainsburys.co.uk to help customers shop their favourite brands, with the aim of increasing brand engagement and encouraging purchases that drive incremental sales.
N Brown Group
N Brown Group, a fashion and homeware digital retail platform, has rolled out a new product information management (PIM) system.
The aim here is to improve the customer experience by providing customers with better product descriptions across product display pages, including information on sizing and fit, and fabric.
The launch is one of N Brown’s key transformational priorities, and is part of the Group’s wider strategic pillar to boost the customer experience.
The PIM system follows the recent launches of new mobile first websites for Simply Be and Jacamo, which, according to those involved, is benefitting customers with faster site speeds and a more seamless digital customer experience.
It is now live on Simply Be, and will be rolled out to JD Williams and Jacamo later this year.
Lowe’s
RELEX Solutions and Accenture are working with Lowe’s Companies to support its seasonal inventory planning.
The collaboration will bring together delivery, advisory, and industry experience from Accenture, with RELEX’s AI driven technology.
“Our selection of RELEX was driven by their proven expertise in the home improvement retail sector. We were particularly impressed by their advanced, AI driven approach and the flexibility of their inventory management systems,” says Camille Fratanduono, Senior Vice President of Inventory, Replenishment and Planning at Lowe’s.
“RELEX is well known for their automation capabilities and exceptional dashboard. Working with both RELEX and Accenture aligns with our ongoing commitment to leveraging innovative solutions to enhance our business processes.”
SportsShoes.com
UK online running shoes, running clothing and outdoor gear retailer SportsShoes.com has announced a new partnership with Visualsoft.
Established in 1982, the venture offers customers more than 17,000 products from 150 global running and outdoor brands. It is seeking to elevate its affiliate marketing with Visualsoft, being very aware of the role of influencers, content and authenticity to leverage new customers and grow loyalty.
Dan Cartner, Head of Marketing at SportsShoes.com, says: “I wanted a partnership, not just a vendor, and Visualsoft have already impressed us with their industry knowledge and customer service.”
“As a large retailer, we can’t afford a long integration period, and Visualsoft have been completely seamless, ensuring minimal impact.”
“Their approach is very much aligned with our vision and growth strategy, and we look forward to working together to develop our brand, grow our incremental customer base and improve loyalty.”
Very Ireland
Following its rebrand from Littlewoods Ireland in July 2022 (bringing the Irish business in line with the The Very Group’s lead retail brand in the UK), digital retailer Very Ireland has launched Take 3, allowing customers to pay in three and pay no interest, along with a first ever mobile app.
Enhancements to the app are expected to be rolled out over the next year to include augmented reality (providing a more immersive shopping experience), exclusive in-app discounts, recommendations based on customer preferences, animations, theming and payment reminders.
Take 3, meanwhile, will complement Very Ireland’s existing flexible payment methods, including pay now, buy now pay later, and spread the cost.
Notably, Take 3 will be made available to all credit account holders, allowing them to pay for qualifying transactions over three months and avoid paying interest on those transactions.
Boots
Boots has rolled out Klarna’s buy now pay later offering across its UK and Ireland online sites and mobile app.
In a LinkedIn post, Andrew Wood, Group Lead Solutions & Delivery UK, Ireland, BeNeFra and Southern Europe at Klarna, said: “Delighted to share that Klarna is now available on Boots.com and Boots.ie, plus the Boots app in the UK and Ireland.”
“It's been such a pleasure to work with the amazing team at Boots UK and my wonderful colleagues at Klarna on this exciting partnership.”
The retailer previously made Klarna’s BNPL service available in over 2,000 stores across the UK, and also for Boots Opticians.
Customers can spread the cost of their purchase into three interest free instalments with Pay in 3.
The first payment is made at point of purchase, with remaining instalments scheduled automatically every 30 days.
Or they can pay for their order anytime within 30 days of your purchase, interest free.
Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree has officially launched a new app, where customers can use the price check feature to explore More Choices, pitched by the US retailer as “a new world of variety and value in select stores. While the vast majority of products continue to be $1.25 or less, our expanded assortment will offer a wider range of choices and high quality brands”.
Shoppers can also see what’s new in-store, browse and add products to their favourites list, view the weekly ad, get notified on deals, and locate stores.
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