‘Cause we are living in an AI world: RTIH rolls out this week's coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail’ systems launches and deployments from the past week, including Moss, Ocado Retail, Re-Up, Ikea, Coach, Amazon, M&S, Co-op, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and STRONGER.
Coach
Coach has opened its first Coachtopia store in China, located at Haitang Bay Sanya (Hainan).
Coachtopia is a sub-brand launched in 2023 and focused on circular craft and collaborative creativity.
In a LinkedIn post, Giovanni Zaccariello, SVP Global Visual Experience at Coach, said: “The installation is fully circular from all the materials used to make the structure, to the neons, to the artist furniture, to the hangers and the Bustforms. Congrats team Coach!”
Moss
Anthropics Technology has announced a trial of its AI powered virtual try-on technology Zyler with Moss, a UK retailer of men’s formalwear.
By uploading a headshot and inputting their measurements, shoppers can see themselves on the screen in various outfits.
For retailers, this personalised approach not only increases browsing time but also results in higher engagement levels, Anthropics Technology claims.
Zyler creates a lifelike representation of the user, allowing them to see how different outfits appear on their unique body shape.
Ocado Retail
Online grocery retailer Ocado reports that it is taking a local first approach to its employee reward and recognition initiatives in Sunderland.
The 200 plus employees at the Ocado Retail contact centre at the Riverside, Sunderland can earn a virtual currency called ‘Ocadough’ to either save or spend on their employee platform Mint.
This launched in 2023 and applies gamification to reward and recognition.
Opening three times a year, the Mint ‘shop’ gives employees access to a range of tangible products, including the Sunderland Gift Card from Sunderland BID which can be spent with over 190 national and independent businesses in the city.
Ocado Retail also uses the Sunderland Gift Card to stock the Mint shop with physical gifts that employees can buy with their Ocadough. The top selling item in 2023 through the Mint shop was the Sunderland Gift Card, with employees using it in a range of local businesses.
The latter is part of the Town & City Gift Card initiative from Miconex active across the UK and Ireland with over £30 million spent with local businesses to date.
Re-Up
AI powered gas stations and convenience stores specialist, Re-Up, is installing autonomous chefs at locations powered by Nala Robotics.
The Wingman is an autonomous fry station that can be added or configured to any restaurant or commercial food service operation.
Re-Up will leverage Nala Robotics' artificial intelligence technology to enhance its food service offerings, enabling customers to enjoy freshly prepared, fully customisable, fried chicken, french fries and other menu items on demand, without human intervention.
Ikea
Ikea has announced the launch of its Kreativ 3D room planner in Austria.
In a LinkedIn post, Alpaslan Deliloglu, CEO and CSO at Ikea Austria, said: “As a digital enthusiast, I’ve been eagerly anticipating this moment. I’m thrilled to announce the official launch of Kreativ, our cutting-edge 3D room planner in Austria.”
“We want to make it easier for the many people to design their homes according to their wishes. The current Ikea Life at Home Report indicates that 87% of our customers need help visualising and realising their ideas for a cozy home. This is especially true for online purchases.”
Kreativ is integrated into the Ikea app and website.
Deliloglu said: “It is more than just software - it’s a game-changer which empowers you to virtually design your rooms. Whether you’re revamping your living room, bedroom, or cozy nook, the possibilities are endless.”
The solution uses artificial intelligence and makes it possible to digitally remove old furniture or parts of it and replace it with new products with just a few clicks.
Deliloglu concluded: “We want to constantly improve our customers' shopping experience. Thanks to true to scale representations and realistic lighting, you get a very realistic impression of what the new furniture can look like in your own home.”
“Kreativ is a big step on the way to making many dream homes come true. Deciding on what suits your space is so much easier and fun now.”
e.l.f. Cosmetics
e.l.f. Beauty has announced that e.l.f. Cosmetics will be the first brand featured in a TikTok Shop Super Brand Day, running 31st March to 3rd April.
The highlight will be the debut of Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray, e.l.f.’s newest product.
e.l.f. Cosmetics has penned an original song for the debut of Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray on TikTok Shop. The lyrics – set to a hip-hop beat - break down how to use it.
“Being the first brand partner in a TikTok Shop Super Brand Day unites an unique trifecta: introducing a new product, debuting an original song, and shining a spotlight on our shop. We wanted to surprise and delight our community who have been with us since our first viral moment on TikTok,” says Kory Marchisotto, Chief Marketing Officer at e.l.f. Beauty.
“It was important for us to make a bold entrance and show up in a disruptive way to this party, and what better way than a new product and another original song for the platform.”
Co-op
Co-op has become the first UK convenience retailer to have its net zero targets validated by the globally recognised Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
SBTi - a body that assesses corporate climate targets - has given the thumbs up to its near-term and overall targets to become net zero across its own operations by 2035, and entire value chain by 2040.
Co-op, which operates 2,400 food stores across the UK, also lays claim to being one of the first companies in the UK to set science-based targets for its forest, land and agriculture (FLAG) emissions.
The ratified targets include stretching commitments to reduce the absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions from its own operations by 66% and absolute Scope 3 emissions from energy and industrial sources by 58.8% by 2030 from a 2016 baseline year.
Nickelytics and Starship Technologies
Nickelytics, a B2B AdTech startup, has announced a partnership with Starship Technologies, a provider of autonomous delivery services.
This involves an advertising campaign on two campuses where Starship operates, the University of Utah and UCLA.
Brands and advertisers will be able to connect directly with the student population, with the goal of expanding to all 50 campuses that Starship serves. The company operates at 80 global locations and has completed more than six million deliveries.
To pilot the partnership, Nickelytics and Starship are supporting the national “Love, Your Mind” campaign with a six-week deployment of autonomous delivery vehicles, beginning 25th March.
This was developed by Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council with the aim of creating a society that is more open, accepting, and proactive when it comes to mental health.
The campaign PSAs (public service advertisements) remind everyone to nurture their relationship with their mind, and direct to LoveYourMindToday.org for free mental health resources.
M&S
Amazon
An Amazon One app has gone live, enabling customers to sign up for the service by taking a photo of their palm.
Amazon One is a palm recognition service for entry, identification, and payment.
Until now, people had to visit a physical location to hover their palm over a device to sign up for the service.
Now, they can sign up from home, work, or on-the-go via the aforementioned app. As a result, first time users will no longer require additional time to get onboard up during checkout.
They can create their online profile by logging into their Amazon account, taking a photo of their palm(s), and adding a payment method, all within the app.
Once they’ve signed up, customers can begin using Amazon One for payment, entry, age verification, and loyalty rewards by hovering their palm over a relevant device at any one of the 500+ Whole Foods Market stores in the US, several Amazon stores, and over 150 third-party locations in stadiums, airports, fitness centres, convenience stores etc.
Amazon says that the solution has been used more than eight million times, and over 80% of shoppers who use it at Amazon and Whole Foods Market stores choose to do so repeatedly.
STRONGER
Sizekick, a Munich-based startup specialising in AI driven size recommendations for online fashion retail, has announced a partnership with STRONGER, an activewear brand based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Sizekick provides precise size recommendations based on individual body measurements.
“We believe STRONGER is a perfect partner for us. Their unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional user experiences and sustainability aligns seamlessly with our mission to eliminate returns based on size uncertainty," says David Oldeen, Co-founder and CEO at Sizekick.
"Together, we aim to enhance STRONGER's profitability through reduced return rates and improved conversion rates, offering customers a seamless and sustainable shopping experience."
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