Starring Amazon, Zippin, Coach, and NewStore: RTIH’s 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 Amazon One, Amazon Just Walk Out tech, Blue Yonder, One Network Enterprises, Re-Up, Nala Robotics, Coach, and River Island.
1. It just got easier to sign up for the Amazon One palm recognition service for entry, identification, payments
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.
2. Supply chain technology big hitter Blue Yonder thinks about the future with One Network Enterprises acquisition
Blue Yonder has announced the signing of an agreement to acquire One Network Enterprises for approximately $839 million.
The latter is known for its autonomous and resilience services and is a provider of intelligent control towers.
“Supply chains have become more complex, and as more and more companies reduce risk by diversifying sourcing of products globally, there is an increased demand for the sharing of information and resources across the whole value chain,” says Duncan Angove, CEO, Blue Yonder.
“This, along with increased disruptions and geopolitical risks, have put the pressure on organisations to build more resilient and robust supply chains.”
“Combined with One Network’s capabilities, Blue Yonder will establish itself as a leading supply chain solutions company that can offer a unified, end-to-end supply chain ecosystem that is resilient enough to withstand today’s challenges, and synthesised with innovative, future focused technologies.”
3. AI powered convenience store chain Re-Up teams with Nala Robotics to deploy autonomous kitchens
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.
The announcement comes on the heels of Re-Up’s opening of its inaugural location in Melbourne, Florida.
Nala Robotics' virtual kitchens are equipped with advanced sensors, precision cooking mechanisms, and machine learning algorithms, allowing its robotic chefs to autonomously prepare a wide range of menu items.
In addition to on-premises ordering via multi-modal kiosk, restaurants can create virtual storefronts for remote transactions through a website or online food ordering and delivery platform.
4. Amazon bins Just Walk Out technology at Fresh grocery stores as US giant ramps up focus on smart carts
Amazon is removing Just Walk Out frictionless shopping technology from its Amazon Fresh stores.
This will be replaced by smart carts that allow customers to skip the checkout line but also see their spending in real-time.
Just Walk Out will continue to be offered in Amazon Go stores and some smaller Amazon Fresh stores in the UK. Amazon will also continue to offer the technology to third-party retailers.
“We’ve invested a lot of time redesigning a number of our Amazon Fresh stores over the last year, offering a better overall shopping experience with more value, convenience, and selection, and so far we’ve seen positive results, with higher customer shopping satisfaction scores and increased purchasing," says spokesperson Jessica Martin.
“We’ve also heard from customers that while they enjoyed the benefit of skipping the checkout line with Just Walk Out, they also wanted the ability to easily find nearby products and deals, view their receipt as they shop, and know how much money they saved while shopping throughout the store.”
5. New era of fan experiences: Zippin launches checkout-free stores at Southern Hemisphere's largest stadium
The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), manager of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and hospitality provider, Delaware North, have partnered with Zippin to introduce frictionless shopping in the Southern Hemisphere’s largest stadium for the first time.
The first two MCG Express outlets have opened in the Ponsford Stand of the stadium, at the city end of the ground.
A food outlet is located on Level 2 just behind section 36 and s bar outlet is on Level 1 behind section 33. The Ponsford Stand’s main entry point is Gate 1.
Melbourne Cricket Club Chief Executive Officer Stuart Fox says: “The MCG has always been a place of innovation having been home to the first ever Test and One Day International cricket matches and where modern Australian Football took formation.”
“As custodians of the people’s ground, we are continuously looking for ways to improve experiences for patrons and through our partnership with Delaware North and Zippin we will deliver a quicker food and beverage service through the opening of MCG Express.”
“All patrons need to do is tap, shop and go – if you pick up an item and change your mind, just put it back and you won’t be charged. It’s a really cool concept we know patrons will enjoy using because it gets them back to their seat in no time to enjoy their favourite game or concert.”
6. Australian brands Universal Store and Perfect Stranger select NewStore omnichannel retail technology
Universal Store Holdings is to deploy NewStore’s Omnichannel PoS solution across the company’s retail banners in Australia.
The roll-out will span two brands, Universal Store and Perfect Stranger, and 89 stores, replacing each organisation’s legacy PoS systems.
The NewStore platform will allow each retailer to provide a more personalised level of service by consolidating customer, order, and inventory data into an iOS app.
As a result, each brand’s store teams will be able to assist and check out customers from anywhere on the store floor, using only an iPhone.
7. Simon Pakenham-Walsh joins River Island as CIO following three-year run as CTO at Sweaty Betty
River Island has appointed Simon Pakenham-Walsh as CIO.
He joins from Sweaty Betty where he served as Chief Technology Officer.
He also held the role of VP of Consumer Technology at Wolverine Worldwide. His CV also includes stints at Arcadia Group as Digital and Retail Technology Director, and CIO for Sainsbury’s Food.
In a LinkedIn post, Pakenham-Walsh said: “Thank you Sweaty Betty and Wolverine Worldwide for the last three years. I have met some brilliant people, been a part of delivering some great technology for brands that I love, learnt loads and had a lot of fun along the way. What more can I ask for?”
He added: “I am sorry to leave. But I am equally very excited and privileged to have been given the opportunity to take on my next challenge as CIO for another amazing, iconic retail brand - River Island.”
8. Luxury fashion brand Coach focuses on circular economy as it launches its first Coachtopia store in China
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!”
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