Retail technology innovation of the week: industry firsts from Zippin, Aramark UK, LEGOLAND Windsor and Walmart

Retail Technology Innovation of the Week is a new series brought to you by RTIH and sponsored by 3D Cloud by Marxent, highlighting stand out deployments, launches, and initiatives by retailers and tech suppliers.

Every week, we will showcase forward thinking tech plays that have impressed our Editor and the Retail Technology Innovations Report judging panel, alongside the publication of the 2024 report.

So far, we’ve flagged up sterling work being done by Ocado Retail, Decathlon, Lacoste, Downtown Spirits, TalkShopLive, Huck’s, Rovertown, Wing, Nobody’s Child, IKI, Pixevia, Walmart, A.L.C., Archive, Therabody, Outform, Kingfisher, PMC, Boots UK, Ocula Technologies, Grace O'Malley Irish Whiskey, Metacask, Ikea, Carrefour Belgium, Matalan, and McDonald’s.

And this week we’re focusing on Zippin and Aramark UK who have partnered with LEGOLAND Windsor Resort to launch Europe’s first checkout-free store in a theme park. The store, which recently opened for the 2024 season, lets resort guests grab items without having to join a queue.

DUPLO Coffee Co, located in DUPLO Valley, sells a variety of sandwiches, snacks, coffee, and other drinks.

It was converted into a Zippin powered store where guests can enter with a credit card or mobile wallet, take what they want, and exit.

There are no checkout lines and no stopping to scan purchases. Guests are automatically billed for what they take as they exit.

Helen Milligan-Smith, CEO at Aramark UK, comments: "We are committed to elevating the customer experience. Partnering with Zippin to launch DUPLO Coffee Co represents an exciting milestone in entertainment hospitality.”

“The adoption of this autonomous approach helps meet the needs of guests who want to make the most of their visit to the theme park.”

“Providing flexible food and drink options with ease and efficiency means guests can do just that - focus on making memories with their loved ones across LEGOLAND Windsor Resort. We look forward to seeing how visitors respond to this new format."

Morgan Edwards, Hotel and Commercial Director, LEGOLAND Windsor, says: "We are thrilled to partner with Aramark UK and Zippin to introduce DUPLO Coffee Co at LEGOLAND Windsor Resort.”

“The cutting-edge concept aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing an exceptional guest experience."

“Zippin makes a lot of sense for theme parks that attract thousands of guests per day," says Krishna Motukuri, CEO and Co-founder at Zippin.

"High traffic retailers that convert their traditional stores to Zippin technology often see revenue increases of 78% or more. Perhaps more importantly, visitors can enjoy the park’s dining options without waiting in line, so they have more time to ride rides, see shows, and do more during their park visit.”

Honourable mention to…

Walmart Realm has gone live, pitched as a first of its kind immersive commerce marketplace featuring influencer driven virtual shops.

This leverages technology from Emperia and gamifies the shopping journey, transporting customers into fantastical realms where they can interact with products and play nostalgic online games.

In a LinkedIn post, Justin Breton, Director of Brand Experiences & Strategic Partnerships, said: “Introducing Walmart Realm, the first ever immersive commerce experience curated by creators and inspired by social trends. Trust me when I say… You’ve never experienced online shopping like this before.”

“Walmart Realm embraces the limitless possibilities of virtual technologies, creating stunning shoppable environments to inspire our customers. Said differently, it’s not just a replica of a store or structure.”

“We’re continuing to shorten the distance between inspiration and commerce, highlighting the best fashion, beauty, and home products as selected by our creator partners, in each virtual shop.”

These shops include:

So Jelly: an underwater playground with colourful accents and surprises

Y’allternative: a Western destination mixed with dark, gothic tones

Go Chromatic: a futuristic experience with shimmering, chic metallics

Walmart Realm also includes social content from the retailer’s creators, and three mini games inspired by the featured products to drive product discoverability and deeper engagement with its brand.

Breton concluded: “Walmart Realm truly is the next iteration of adaptive retail. We’re placing our bets on immersive commerce and helping define the future of online shopping for retail. And guess what… We’re just getting started.”

“A big shoutout and congratulations to Haley Carre (Brand Experiences & Strategic Partnerships at Walmart) for leading the charge and bringing this vision to life. Your hard work and dedication to making this what it is for our customers is greatly appreciated.”