Starring Slip, Wolt, Bambuser, and NCR: RTIH rustles up the biggest retail technology articles in June
These are the RTIH retail systems articles that caught your fancy during June, including Asda, Superdry, TikTok, Currys, Volvic, Frasers Group, Takeoff Technologies, and the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards.
2024 RTIH Innovation Awards FAQs
The sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards is now open for entries.
The awards, sponsored by CADS, 3D Cloud, and Retail Technology Show 2025, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
This year, we’re bringing you three new categories: AI Innovation, Sustainable Retail Innovation, and Inclusive Technology Innovation.
Key 2024 dates
Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline
Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed
30th October-6th November: Judging days
Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.
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.
‘Time to bid farewell’: Richard Staite departs Frasers Group and Missguided after ‘exhilarating’ five year journey
Richard Staite has left Frasers Group where over the past five years he held the roles of IT Change Consultant and Information Technology Service Desk Manager at Missguided.
Frasers Group is a British retail, sport and intellectual property group, named after its ownership of the department store chain House of Fraser.
It is best known for trading predominantly under the Sports Direct brand which operates both physical outlets and online.
It bought Missguided out of administration for £20 million in June 2022.
In October of last year, Chinese fast fashion giant Shein announced it was buying the brand name from Frasers Group, with the latter retaining the real estate as well as Missguided's employees, both of which were integrated into its fashion division.
‘A unique and enjoyable experience’: Two thumbs up as RTIH’s secret shopper ventures into TikTok’s e-commerce realm
As an avid TikTok user, RTIH’s secret shopper has spent countless hours scrolling through their feed, entertained by the endless stream of creative content.
Yet, despite their regular use of the app, they had never ventured into its online shopping realm. They were a bit sceptical, to be honest. However, a recent irresistible deal changed their mind and, dear readers, they’re now a true convert to TikTok shopping.
Dafydd Moore departs Halfords to join troubled clothing retailer Superdry as Director Global Technology
Dafydd Moore has been appointed Director Global Technology at Superdry.
He joins from Halfords where he served as Group Director IT Strategy and Architecture (CTO).
Moore has also worked at Dyson (holding the role of Global Head of IT Strategy, Architecture and Innovation) and Waitrose (IT Communications and Engagement Manager).
Wolt Capital financing service goes live for merchants in Sweden, Poland, Finland and Denmark following pilot
Finnish delivery company, Wolt, has announced the launch of Wolt Capital, a new service promising fast and simple access to additional financing for merchants.
It is partnering with finmid to offer this.
Edward Daka, Product Lead, Banking & Payouts at Wolt, says: “We are always listening to our partners and adapting our services and offerings to meet their needs. Fast and simple access to capital has regularly come up in our talks with merchants.”
“That’s why today, we’re excited to introduce Wolt Capital. This initiative is designed to support the success and growth of merchants, giving them the opportunity to access transparent financing.”
Asda wraps roll-out of new NCR Point of Sale software across UK grocery giant's store estate
Asda has completed the roll-out of new NCR Point of Sale (PoS) software across its store estate.
In a LinkedIn post, Kevin Besford, Senior Director - Retail Future at Asda, said: “A huge thank you to everyone involved in this extremely ambitious project.”
He added: “This commitment is driving us forward as we continue to build our brand new Asda digital landscape. An even bigger thank you to all our store colleagues who’ve continued to work extremely hard in serving our customers through this time of change.”
“A massive well done to everyone involved in the Asda front end programme, a massive cross functional effort to mobilise across 612 stores.”
The project included 16,674 checkouts, 6,211 physical installs, 27,888 scan and go devices updated, with deployment peaking at 42 stores per week, and over 30,000 colleagues newly trained.
Besford concluded: “An amazing collaboration across the Retail, Tech and NCR teams to get this done.”
Currys taps Bambuser technology as British retailer leverages capabilities of shoppable video calls
Bambuser, a video commerce provider, has announced a partnership with home electronics retailer Currys.
"We are excited to embark on this journey with Bambuser," says Andy Gamble, Group CIO at Currys.
"Video commerce presents a unique opportunity for us to engage with our customers in a more meaningful way and showcase our products to buyers one-on-one in a personalised and interactive way.”
“We believe that this partnership will enable us to create enhanced shopping experiences that drive customer loyalty."
By teaming up with Bambuser to implement its virtual consultation solution, Currys says that it aims to leverage the capabilities of shoppable video calls, allowing shoppers to interact with product experts, ask questions, and make informed purchasing decisions during virtual consultations – wherever they are.
Mineral water brand Volvic launches 3D programmatic digital out-of-home campaign at London Underground stations
Wavemaker UK, Global and DOOH.com have collaborated on a 3D programmatic digital out-of-home (DOOH) ad campaign for the launch of a new Touch of Fruit Sparkling range from Volvic.
For the next seven weeks, commuters and passers-by at Kings Cross and Waterloo London Underground stations will see Touch of Fruit Sparkling 3D cans popping out from digital screens.
The experience includes digital outdoor ads situated in close proximity to stockists, encouraging consumers to discover the new sparkling fruity flavoured drinks at their earliest convenience.
The campaign marks the first time a 3D DOOH campaign has been programmatically bought and activated and it has been made possible thanks to the offering from Global via its Digital Ad Exchange (DAX).
Retail technology influencer Brittain Ladd weighs in on Takeoff Technologies Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
Takeoff Technologies, a provider of e-grocery fulfillent solutions, filed for Chapter 11 during June with a plan to seek buyers for some or all of its assets.
“We are taking this necessary next step after careful consideration and in consultation with management, advisors, and the board. The interest demonstrated by our customers in continuing to do business with us demonstrates the strong need for Takeoff’s products and services in the marketplace,” said John DiDonato, Managing Director at Huron Consulting Group and Chief Restructuring Officer at Takeoff, which was founded in 2016.
“Through this process, our priority is minimising disruption for our valued customers and employees, and the communities they serve, as we continue to engage in discussions with potential buyers to maximise value for our stakeholders.”
“The e-grocery fulfilment solution is an essential service in the food retail industry and our customers are reliant upon our lower-cost-to-serve technology. We extend our deepest gratitude to our employees, customers, partners, and the communities we serve.”
Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive, has weighed in on the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing after breaking the story a few weeks ago.
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