Joybird, Aldi, and e.l.f. Cosmetics head up February’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance
RTIH rounds up the stand out retail systems deals, deployments and pilots from February, including 3D Cloud by Marxent, InPost UK, Virtualstock, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, Blue Yonder, Shopify, RELEX Solutions, and Teamwork Commerce.
Joybird
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.
Aldi UK
Aldi is trialling the use of parcel lockers outside a selection of its UK stores, including Glasgow, Liverpool, Colchester, Portsmouth, Gravesend, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Preston, Nuneaton, and Bristol.
Customers will be able to collect and return online orders from other retailers at select Aldi stores, thanks to the retailer’s new partnership with InPost.
Throughout March, InPost lockers will be available outside 22 Aldi stores across the country, with a full list of locations available below.
The trial will conclude after a 12-week period, with the aim to roll it out to more stores if successful.
Draper James
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.
Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business
Mashgin reports deployment of its self-checkout technology at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business in Hanover, New Hampshire.
New touchless self-checkout kiosks speed up the checkout experience for Tuck students, with average transaction times at Mashgin kiosks said to be between 10 and 16 seconds.
These use AI powered computer vision to recognise and ring up objects up to 10x faster than traditional checkout with a cashier. Mashgin instantly identifies packaged goods, produce, and open plated food items (e.g., a piece of fruit, salad, combo meal plate) from any angle.
Consumers place their items on the kiosks and are ready to pay without barcodes, apps or RFIDs.
Bensons for Beds
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.
Gémo
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.
Grupo Merza
Lidl GB
Lidl GB has announced a switch from paper pricing tags to electronic shelf labels. This follows trials in over 35 stores, including Epsom and Tooting.
The move to ESL, which is set to be completed by the end of 2024, is estimated to save over 206 tonnes of carbon annually, while reducing ink use.
Isaac Ekpenyong, Director of Sales Organisation at Lidl GB, comments: “As a discounter, sustainability and efficiency run deep in our DNA.”
“Making changes to how we operate, no matter how big or small, allow us to enhance the overall experience for those shopping with us. In this particular case, we’re empowering colleagues by freeing up more of their time to dedicate to tasks that directly benefit our customers.”
“But our transition to ESLs is more than that; it is another step we are taking to reduce our impact on the environment by curbing paper and ink consumption.”
The retailer will gradually introduce ESL into specific sections of each and every one of its stores in the coming months, with the full roll-out expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Chedraui
Chedraui, a Mexican grocery retailer, is teaming with Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions to expand the adoption of the Self Checkout System 7 in its stores.
“We are honoured to continue our work with Chedraui delivering the innovative Self Checkout System 7 to help reimagine their front-end checkout offering for a more personalised and customer focused, self-service experience,” says Eugene Shvartsman, Senior Vice President Head of Sales at Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions.
“Chedraui has been a valued client for more than 20 years, and we’re excited to support them in their growing success with world class retail technology solutions for their business and customers.”
Grupo Éxito
Grupo Éxito says that it transformed its retail operations with Manhattan Active Omni.
The Colombian retailer has leveraged the solution’s Order Management System to boost its logistics operations, transitioning to a more modern, omnichannel approach.
As a result of this initiative, it has cut its delivery times in half and significantly improved customer satisfaction.
SHOP ‘n SAVE
Upside has announced a partnership with nearly 80 independently owned SHOP ‘n SAVE locations in Western Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Its platform will connect SHOP ‘n SAVE retailers with millions of Upside users, who will be incentivised with personalised promotions to spend more of their grocery dollars at SHOP ‘n SAVE.
"Our partnership with Upside is a testament to our commitment to our customers and the values we uphold: we aim for users to shop, save, and enjoy life," says Tom Charley, Vice President at Charley Family SHOP 'n SAVE.
"We look forward to using the Upside platform to introduce new prospective customers to greater value, convenience, and savings."
Jules
French menswear retailer, Jules, has selected Nextail to transform in-season merchandising processes through AI driven demand forecasting and decision automation.
Nextail will look to drive enhanced allocation and replenishment across Jules’s 550 stores in France and abroad.
e.l.f. Cosmetics
e.l.f. Cosmetics has launched one of the first beauty shopping apps for Apple Vision Pro, the new spatial computer from Apple that blends digital content with the physical space around you.
The brand says that the “your best e.l.f.” visionOS app includes first of its kind features specifically designed for Apple Vision Pro to take advantage of its three-dimensional (3D) user interface that users control with intuitive hand and eye movements.
The spatial experience encourages users to unwind and explore the best versions of themselves through playful, inspirational environments that contextualise an assortment of 3D e.l.f. products.
In addition to shopping via Apple Pay, users can participate in relaxing activities to be “your best e.l.f.” such as guided meditations, stretching exercises and an interactive “Paint by Numbers” game.
Boden
Boden is in the midst of a move to Shopify’s digital platform.
In a LinkedIn post, Simon Hamblin, Co-founder at fusefabric, said: “Heading into Boden’s offices this morning, to continue their digital transformation to Shopify.”
“We're gearing up for a couple of full on days with the awesome team at Boden, from mastering Shopify Flow to handling Returns & Refunds, sorting out Payments, and tackling Backorders – it's all on our radar.”
“We're deep into this journey with Boden, it's challenging, no doubt, but that's what makes it exciting! The Boden team is with us, ready to face the hurdles, and it's this shared drive through the tough spots that truly energises our partnership.”
“And of course, all work and no play isn't our style. We've got an evening out planned with the Boden team - a chance to unwind, connect on a personal level, and recharge our batteries for the exciting times ahead.”
Hamblin concluded: “This journey with Boden is a true partnership, a shared digital transformation towards Shopify. We're genuinely humbled and excited to be part of this collaborative path, looking forward to the fantastic experiences that lie ahead together.”
PetXL Group
PetXL Group, a Norwegian specialty retailer for pet food and accessories, is partnering with RELEX Solutions, a provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions.
It says it will tap RELEX technology to improve the overall forecasting and replenishment process and provide visibility into the performance of its retail operations.
PetXL Group operates within Scandinavia, with 15 stores and a distribution centre.
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.
Hooters
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. This engages and retains guests, supporting the aim to drive diners’ lifetime loyalty.
REISS
Teamwork Commerce has deployed its mobile Point of Sale (PoS) solution to REISS, the British fashion brand, in all of its US bricks and mortar stores.
The technology has gone live in nine locations across the country.
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