Starring Slip, Adyen, Amazon, and Lowe’s: RTIH rolls out 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 Walmart’s InHome delivery service, Harley’s real-time generative AI (GenAI) platform for data driven decision-making, and the first retail store to use Amazon’s Just Walk Out offering in a Canadian airport.

1. Walmart InHome delivery service now available in more than 50 American markets covering over 45 million homes

Walmart is expanding its InHome delivery service to an additional ten million US households, including those in California.

This will also be available to customers in Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis and Philadelphia, bringing the total scale of InHome to more than 50 markets covering over 45 million homes.

“The expansion of InHome comes at the perfect time for families in San Bernardino who are embarking on the busy summer season and are looking for faster, more convenient ways to complete those everyday chores,” says Haley McShane, General Manager of InHome, Walmart U.S.

“We understand that customers are busy and want to make sure that they can have a seamless shopping experience that fits their needs.”

2. Asda hails Harley real-time AI solution as ‘future of how people are going to interact with data’

Harley, a London-based company developing a real-time generative AI (GenAI) platform for data driven decision-making, 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.”

3. Lowe's lays claim to a new era of in-store kitchen design with Apple Vision Pro as pilot kicks off this month

Lowe's says it is the first home improvement retailer to offer customers an in-store, Apple Vision Pro powered experience, with a pilot set to launch in three test markets this month.

Customers can try Lowe's Style Studio for Apple Vision Pro firsthand, allowing them to visualise and design their dream kitchens using spatial computing and the help of an associate.

"Lowe's has a history of breaking new ground in our industry, and being the first home improvement retailer to offer an Apple Vision Pro experience in select stores is an exciting step in our omnichannel journey," says Seemantini Godbole, Lowe's Executive Vice President, Chief Digital and Information Officer.

"We believe Apple Vision Pro can enhance in-store kitchen design experiences, empowering our customers to visualise their dream kitchens using advanced spatial computing technology."

4. Adyen inks in-store contactless payments partnership deal with luxury fashion giant Prada Group

Adyen has announced a new partnership with Prada Group to innovate the payment experience in-store.

The latter is leveraging Tap to Pay on iPhone in its US and Milan stores with additional markets going live in the near future.

Adyen supports Tap to Pay on iPhone which enables the Group to accept all forms of contactless payments – including contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets – with no additional hardware or payment terminal needed.

As a result, customers no longer need to queue at a register, and instead can checkout directly with their sales associate in-store.

"We are working on scaling our omnichannel solutions on the platform to connect each sale across all channels. We need to make everything seamless. We believe Adyen is the right partner to help us collect and manage all our payments data efficiently,” says Cristiano Agostini, Prada Group Chief Information Officer.

5. Immersive experiences: Ikea makes first foray into mainstream gaming with launch of virtual store on Roblox

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”.

6. Toronto Pearson makes history with first launch of Amazon Just Walk Out technology store in an airport in Canada

Paradies Lagardère’s new Amazon Just Walk Out technology powered store, The Goods Express, is now open in Toronto Pearson Terminal 1 by gate D22. 

Passengers can access the store once they have passed security.

Teaming up with ARHT Media, the location also features interactive holographic displays.

The Goods Express is the first retail store using Amazon’s Just Walk Out tech in a Canadian airport.

Customers swipe their credit card  or mobile wallet to enter, take the items they wish to purchase, and upon exit, their credit card will automatically be charged for the items purchased, free of any lineups.

7. Amazon Fresh UK launches automated returns kiosks at Liverpool Street and Moorgate London stores

Amazon Fresh UK has embarked upon an automated returns kiosks (ARK) journey, deploying the technology at its Liverpool Street and Moorgate stores.

In a LinkedIn post, Aline Morais, Program Manager at Amazon, said: “Leading this program has been an incredible experience!”

“The ARK provides a seamless, self-serve method for processing LFBF (label-free-box-free) returns, much like a self-checkout experience. This addition, alongside our self-serve pick-up lockers, allows customers to handle all their pick-up and return missions from any AUKF shop.”

She added: “Developed under the GSF CXO umbrella, the ARK device has already proven its value with over 450 units installed worldwide and 14.3 million returns processed. We're confident this innovation will greatly enhance the shopping experience at Liverpool Street and Moorgate.”

8. Slip bags £2.5m in investment from VCs and angels including Asos VP of Customer & Marketing and former John Lewis CTO

Slip, a platform which helps retailers digitise  receipts, has raised a £2.5 million seed round led by Adjuvo and joined by Haatch Ventures, Unbundled VC, the Side by Side Partnership, and a range of angels including Asos’ Executive Vice President of Customer & Marketing, Dan Elton, and former CIO at Frasers and former CTO at John Lewis, Julian Burnett. 

Launched in 2022, Slip’s software has been tapped by retailers including JD Sports and Beyond Retro. 

Its API can integrate with existing systems - thanks to partnerships with providers including Shopify, Klaviyo, Epos Now and Sitoo - with insights from customer activity fed directly into partner CRMs or marketing technology stacks.

9. C&C Group CTO Carole Kingsbury adds her expertise to 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel

We’re pleased to announce the addition of Carole Kingsbury, Chief Technology Officer, C&C Group, to our 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel.

The awards, sponsored by CADS, 3D Cloud, and Retail Technology Show 2025, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 winners will be announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, which will be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ on Thursday, 21st November.

Entry forms and FAQs can be found here. 

From publishing to fashion retail, Carole has successfully delivered technology solutions and services for FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies.

Whether working as a Technology Consultant, Business Analyst, Programme Manager, or IT Director, her approach has consistently focussed on people, process, data, and technology (in that order).

For the past 16 years of her career, Carole has been privileged to have led teams of various shapes and sizes to achieve delivery of complex business and technology change in the retail sector and has always advocated for cross-functional ways of working and thinking to encourage active collaboration and create a culture of continuous improvement, development, and innovation.

10. Checkout.com inks payments deal with Middle East, Africa and Asia, shopping mall, retail and leisure firm Majid Al Futtaim

Majid Al Futtaim, a shopping mall, communities, retail, and leisure specialist across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, has announced a new partnership with PayTech big hitter Checkout.com.

Under the agreement, more than 15 million customers who visit Majid Al Futtaim online each month, will now experience a one-click checkout experience across the company’s offerings.

The tie up will provide Majid Al Futtaim’s customers with one payment platform to access its fashion, home, specialty retail and beauty partner brands, including lululemon, LEGO, Crate and Barrel, Shiseido, with 20 digital platforms across the GCC as well as its cinema and leisure and entertainment businesses and its grocery retail stores operating under the Carrefour franchise in 14 different markets.