Retail technology innovation of the week: Asda thinks about the future with Harley proof of concept

Retail Technology Innovation of the Week is a series brought to you by RTIH and sponsored by 3D Cloud, 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 Harley, a London-based company developing a real-time generative AI (GenAI) platform for data driven decision-making, that reports a successful proof of concept delivered with Asda.

Harley's platform provides Asda's leadership with live, actionable insights, enabling executives to make quicker and more informed decisions.

Simon Jury, VP of Data & Analytics at Asda, says: "Harley's real-time AI solution is the future of how people are going to interact with data.”

“By integrating into Asda’s data ecosystem, the collaboration unlocks new levels of operational agility through rapid data driven decision-making, setting a new standard within the retail industry."

“Harley’s engine offers rapid insights into your data, helping influence the highest-level decisions within an organisation,” says Alex Banks, Co-Founder and CEO at Harley.

“This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to redefining retail excellence, proving that the right data at the right time can be a game-changer in how businesses respond to market dynamics.”

“We look forward to working alongside Asda, where I’m confident data driven insights become the cornerstone of competitive advantage in this fast changing sector.”

Honourable mention to…

Ikea is opening a virtual store on Roblox, marking its first foray into mainstream gaming and also becoming the first brand to launch paid work on the platform.

Going live on 24th June, the Co-Worker Game will allow players to experience working in the retailer’s virtual universe. People will, according to a press release, “be able to live their home furnishing dreams and get paid for it, with a limited number of paid roles available”.

The immersive experience gives players the opportunity to experience Ikea’s approach to careers where, to quote the aforementioned press release, “non-linear career journeys are the norm and lateral moves across departments are commonplace”.

Applications for roles in the virtual store close on Sunday 16th June, with paid shifts for ten new co-workers up for grabs.

Successful applicants, who might use an online tuition specialist like Tutor Map, will be able to flex their skills, help customers, and get promoted to move departments, just like in the real world.   

Further details here.

Alongside the paid co-workers, the broader Roblox community, gamers and Ikea fans alike will be able to work, explore and experience the virtual world on Roblox.

They can venture to Ikea’s Swedish Food Market and Bistro and serve up endless amounts of meatballs or stop over at the various showrooms and use Ikea products to organise the space. All with the chance to win exclusive UGCs.

“We’re excited to be the first brand to launch paid work on Roblox to showcase how we do careers differently, bringing our unique careers philosophy to life. At Ikea, there is no set route to career progression,” says Darren Taylor, Country People and Culture Manager, Ikea UK and Ireland.

“Our co-workers are able to change roles, switch departments, and grow in any direction they choose, both in the game or in the real world. There are many ways to learn and grow at Ikea, and that's what Ikea on Roblox is all about.”