Featuring EE, McDonald’s and Glovo: RTIH’s most read retail technology articles during February
These are the RTIH retail systems articles that caught your fancy during February, including checkout free stores, rapid delivery services, immersive marketing campaigns, and hyper-personalised customer experiences.
NTT DATA boosts L'Oréal shopping experience with AI powered virtual beauty advisor
L’Oreal and NTT DATA have partnered to create Lore, a virtual beauty advisor powered by the latter’s conversational AI platform, Eva.
"The development process of this solution was challenging and, simultaneously, very rich in learning. We trained the virtual beauty consultant for months to ensure that it would achieve its goal to provide consistent and responsive answers, even in the most complex situations," says Santiago Santa María, Director of Conversational AI at NTT DATA.
Lore makes recommendations to customers and advises on beauty products based on their needs, redirecting them to the brand's online store, or letting consumers shop within the same application.
"From the Lore development, we know that we can offer a hyper-personalised customer experience that allows us to train it on new products and enhance its knowledge and sensitivity to interacting with humans. This is only the tip of the iceberg on how artificial intelligence can empower users and improve people's lives," says Santa María.
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.
Glovo’s Daniel Alonso Moreno: Q-commerce will drive growth for local retailers in 2024
Despite fears that Q-commerce would fade with the pandemic, the sector is expected to grow stronger than ever, reaching a projected market volume of $251.50 billion by 2028.
As with any other commerce division, its survival is down to its ability to strongly match consumer needs, providing quality experiences and, above all, convenience.
This tracks with Glovo’s 39% surge in orders placed on non-food items over the course of 2023.
Aside from takeaways, consumers have become accustomed to instant delivery for other necessities, too.
Getir claims spike in London sales as Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats drivers strike over pay
Getir, a Turkish ultrafast grocery delivery firm, reports massive demand during a delivery riders strike in London and Brighton.
Deliveroo drivers went on strike recently demanding higher pay, with thousands estimated to be taking part in the walkout, and support also coming from Just Eat and Uber Eats couriers.
Getir said in a statement emailed to RTIH: “Following the decision of the drivers working on food delivery platforms to call a strike across the entire London area on the evening of Friday 2nd February, Getir, the world's first ultrafast delivery service, is reporting a spike in sales in the capital.”
The company did not give specific numbers whilst taking a swipe at its rivals.
“Unlike many of its counterparts within the delivery space, Getir offers a mix of full-time, part-time and zero hour contracts to riders, ensuring a bespoke approach that suits the personal needs of riders around the country,” it stated.
“Our riders are paid at least the real living wage, with guaranteed pay, holiday pay, tips and bonuses.”
It added: “At a time when consumers are looking for alternatives, we are continuing to operate, offering convenience for customers by delivering their groceries within 10-15 minutes.”
“Customers will continue to have access to an assortment of up to thousands of products, including known and loved brands like GAIL’s Bakery in London, Co-op, meat from HG Walter and fresh fish from the Wright Brothers.”
REWE Group launches REWE Ready ‘smart shop’ at EV charging station, powered by Reckon.ai tech
REWE Group has launched a 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.
In a LinkedIn post, 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.”
Ana Pinto, CEOat Reckon.ai. commented: “This is our first shop at an EV charging station powered by our AI smart cabinets, creating a fully autonomous shopping experience. The future is now.”
Aramark Collegiate Hospitality opens Amazon Just Walk Out tech powered store at Lesley University
An Amazon Just Walk Out technology powered store has opened at Lesley University in the US.
Lesley University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Its students can now experience a frictionless shopping experience on campus, with the likes of snacks and drinks available to buy.
In a LinkedIn post, Brisbane Vaillancourt, Regional Vice President at Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, said: “Today (Friday, 16th February) we opened our first Just Walk Out Store in the Northeast, at Lesley University. Students can now access fresh food, 24/7 and use their meal plan.”
“Technology sure is changing the game in higher ed and it’s tons of fun being a part of it!”
McDonald’s taps QR codes as it preps WcDonald’s campaign celebrating the art of manga and anime
McDonald’s has launched an immersive campaign that celebrates manga and anime.
This went live on 26th February and saw the fast food giant change its names to WcDonald’s.
In a LinkedIn post, Guillaume Huin, Sr. Marketing Director at McDonald’s, said: “On 2.26, McDonald's becomes WcDonald's, as an homage to the name used for decades in mangas and anime to refer to McD.”
“New logo, Japanese name, flipped arches, new exclusive packaging, WcNuggets and a new WcDonald's sauce with quite a spicy kick - we are officially WcDonald's now.”
UK startup Boxbar lays claim to world first in automated, self-serve drinks solutions space
Boxbar has launched what is pitched as the world’s first ever automated self-serve, full menu drinks solution.
This allows event organisers and venue operators to serve up to eight different beverage types all from the same terminal.
It has the ability to serve beers (including Guinness), ciders, wines, cocktails, spirit and mixers and soft drinks from a single terminal.
“Beverage sales are key to the success and profitability of businesses, yet bar service is still defined by a dwindling pool of trained staff, excessive queuing, long wait times, throttled sales and frustrated customers,” says Reshad Hossenally, Boxbar CEO and Co-Founder.
“With Boxbar we’re 360% faster, serving two drinks in 30 seconds. We’ve seen first hand how much this can affect queuing times, on average dropping by over 70%.”
“Simply put, fans enjoy a far better experience whilst operators increase efficiencies and sales, reduce overheads and boost profitability.”
EE opens new Gateshead Experience store in Metrocentre with Newcastle United legend Shay Given
EE has unveiled its latest Experience store alongside former Newcastle United player Shay Given in the Metrocentre, Gateshead, one of Europe’s largest indoor mall style shopping centres.
This is the fourth of EE’s Experience stores and the first of more than ten brand new EE Experience and Experience Local locations set to open in the UK over the next year.
It opened in the Metrocentre during February, with an exclusive appearance from Given. Throughout the day, exclusive-in store deals, offers and entertainment were available for shoppers.
The announcement comes as EE commits to investing £6 million in the British high street in the next 12 months.
Its belief in physical retail has seen the launch of new store formats including its flagship Studio store in London, Experience stores in Manchester, Cardiff and Kent, and most recently its Experience Local stores in Derby and Guildford.
Hooters of America picks PAR Technology as single PoS, restaurant back office and loyalty provider
ParTech reports that Hooters of America, the franchisor behind the Hooters and Hoots Wings brands, has selected PAR Brink PoS and PAR Data Central to enhance its table service operational efficiency and order accuracy in 367 Hooters restaurants across 36 states and 18 countries.
Hooters is an existing customer of PAR’s loyalty solution, PAR Punchh.
3PL provider Kammac appoints new CEO and Director of Procurement and Facilities Management
Following its acquisition by the Elanders group in November last year, third-party logistics (3PL) provider Kammac has announced appointments to its senior management team as the business focuses on building its presence in e-commerce fulfilment services and developing new sectors.
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