Starring Klarna, EE, Puma, and Matalan: the biggest retail technology news stories of the week
It’s Friday, the weekend is almost upon us, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past five days, including Boots UK and Ireland, Retail Technology Show 2024, Co-op, Uber Direct, N Brown, Google Cloud, and REWE Group.
1. Klarna buy now pay later service goes live on Boots UK and Ireland websites along with mobile app
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.
2. German retail giant REWE Group taps Catch AI platform as it tests out digital shopping trolleys in stores
German retailer REWE Group has inked a deal with Israeli startup Catch to test Catch AI, a platform that operates across the likes of smart carts, smartphones, and self-checkout kiosks.
In the first phase of the agreement, the solution has been implemented in 110 carts at supermarket REWE Center, located in Cologne.
Each cart will be equipped with a tablet delivering a smart personal assistant to shoppers.
This allows people to scan their handwritten shopping lists or digitally transfer their shopping lists using a tablet. It does not require registration or app download, enabling anonymity throughout the shopping process.
Catch was founded in 2022 by Shlomi Dayan, CEO, and Itai Lishner, CTO, both former executives at Trax.
3. Matalan teams with Kin + Carta to launch new GenAI and Large Language Model online tool
Matalan, a fashion and homeware omnichannel value retailer, has announced the launch of a new Generative AI (GenAI) tool.
Matalan has partnered with Kin + Carta on the GenAI and Large Language Model (LLM) offering, which creates detailed product descriptions for items listed on its website.
The move is pitched as the first time a UK retailer has used AI in this way and forms an important part of Matalan’s digital transformation journey.
The tool will be implemented across all departments, including clothing and homeware. According to a press release: “As well as making shopping online with Matalan even easier, it is expected to deliver a 4x increase in productivity.”
4. Fashion shopping big hitter Nick Beighton added to keynote speakers list for Retail Technology Show 2024
Retail Technology Show has announced that Nick Beighton, CEO at Matches and Secret Sales Chairman, and former Asos CEO, will deliver a keynote session as part of its 2024 conference programme.
RTS 2024 will take place at London Olympia on 24th and 25th April, with Beighton in conversation with retail analyst and influencer Andrew Busby, on day two.
5. Convenience retailer Co-op eyes further quick commerce growth as convenience retailer teams with Uber Direct
Co-op has announced expanded access to its online shop, accessed via the retailer’s app, through a new partnership with Uber Direct, Uber’s white label delivery solution.
This will enable Co-op member-owners and customers to order groceries via Co-op’s own online shop, with rapid delivery locally through Uber Eats’ delivery network.
Co-op has been growing its e-commerce business through both its own online shop and strategic partnerships.
The trial with Uber Direct will initially enable an additional 50 Co-op stores to offer quick online home delivery as the latter aims to grow the access and reach of its own online shop to around 1,000 stores by the end of the year.
The move supports its ambition to accelerate its share of the quick commerce market to more than 30%, and sits alongside its partnerships with online home delivery platforms including Uber Eats where groceries and everyday essentials are available to order from approaching 1,100 Co-op stores.
Its online strategy is centred on quick convenience from its stores which are well placed at the heart of communities, with online orders picked fresh in local stores.
Co-op has estimated that more than 80% of the UK population now has access to its products through either its own online shop or, the delivery platforms it partners with.
6. Online retailer N Brown announces launch of new product information management system
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.
7. Puma boosts online retail experience with Google Cloud data, analytics and AI solutions
Sports company Puma is to deploy Google Cloud’s data, analytics and AI solutions as it looks to make its online retail experience more efficient, agile, and more personalised for customers worldwide.
This will pave the way for the likes of generative AI shopping assistants, virtual try-ons, and AI driven loyalty programmes.
The collaboration will see Puma shift parts of its e-commerce ecosystem, including Puma.com, to Google Cloud and build out a global e-commerce data platform.
Early results have driven significant customer experience improvements, including a 19% increase in average order value, as a result of Puma using Google Analytics and BigQuery to better understand and tailor content to customers.
In addition, using Apigee and BigQuery, Puma has been able to access real-time inventory levels up to four times faster, helping shoppers find the exact products they wish to buy at the nearest possible stores.
8. EE Retail IT Refresh project moves from pilot stage to BAU across company's physical stores
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.
In a LinkedIn post, Alan Dickson, Principal Technology Partner/Product Lead at EE, said: “For our customers, this delivers a faster, friendlier and more reliable experience meaning the guides can spend more time focusing on their needs.”
He added: “The feedback from our store guides so far has been fantastic with comments including much quicker and simpler, game changing and even life changing.”
“There are too many people to thank individually for their input and efforts to get us here, but to everyone involved, thanks for your passion, enthusiasm, and dedication to get us to this point.”
“Thanks also to our suppliers including, Aptos Retail, Barclaycard Payments, ProTech Services (UK) and Fujitsu for all your support.”
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