Festivals, fish and chips, and sausage rolls: RTIH runs through July’s coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his stand out ‘future of retail’ systems deployments from July, including Aldi Süd, Sam’s Club, Asos, SYKY, Walmart, Greggs, Monzo, Jellycats, Amazon, Zara, Snap, Selfridges, Olio, and Gander
Aldi Süd
Aldi Süd is testing out a smart shopping trolley from Caper, which was acquired by Instacart in 2021, at its Austrian country unit HOFER Österreich.
This has been taking place in Sattledt (HOFER’s headquarters) since 1st July.
Products are scanned via the shopping cart. Users can select a product on the screen, which will then be weighed in the shopping cart and the price calculated. They then pay at a screen at the exit.
Products can be removed, by scanning them out.
15 Caper carts are available for use, with the trial set to run until 31st December.
Sam’s Club
Walmart owned Sam’s Club reports that its Member Access Platform (MAP) is launching display ads in the retailer’s mobile app’s Scan & Go experience to help members easily find more products while they shop in-club.
This unlocks a new way to measure member shopping behaviour and ad performance in-club with MAP’s closed-loop attribution.
The capability will help advertisers reach more Sam’s Club members and deliver a more engaging experience, as part of Sam’s Club’s broader approach to digital engagement.
Sam’s Club MAP is pitched as the first and only retail media platform to integrate ads in a mobile, self-checkout app experience.
Scan & Go allows members shopping in-club to use their mobile devices to scan items as they shop, complete payment and skip the checkout line entirely.
Members who opt-in will see display ads on the cart page that dynamically refresh after each new product scan, enhancing their shopping experience and helping them discover products as they check out with Scan & Go.
Parklife Festival and Boxbar Tech
Boxbar Tech and Parklife Festival have announced the results of a recent partnership.
This followed on from a Boxbar installation at The Warehouse Project events series in the autumn and winter of 2023.
Parklife Festival is one of the UK’s leading music festivals.
Organised and promoter by The Warehouse Project and Live Nation, the Manchester festival started life in Platt Fields Park, before moving to Heaton Park in north Manchester where it has become the largest metropolitan festival in the UK.
The 2024 edition saw the likes of Doja Cat, Disclosure, Becky Hill and Kaytranada perform across the weekend of 8th and 9th June.
Boxbar's deployment at the event made Parklife the first music festival in the world to dispense a complete drinks menu utilising automated self-service technology.
Nibble and Asos
Nibble reports that it has hit one million automated negotiations through its platform.
In a LinkedIn post, Jamie Ettedgui, Co-Founder at Nibble, said: “This milestone is one of, if not the largest, human-to-computer negotiation datasets out there, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved.”
“Nibble is a long way from the original PDF it started out as. Here’s to many more milestones ahead!”
He added: “A massive thank you to our amazing customers for believing in our technology and trusting it to negotiate with their customers. Your support has made this achievement possible.”
Fast fashion giant Asos, meanwhile, has brought back its Sample Sale website, with brands including Pull & Bear, Topshop and French Association.
This previously proved to be a big hit with shoppers in October of last year and April of this year.
Everything is priced at £5 and for the first time ever it was possible to haggle over prices using Nibble.
SYKY
Luxury fashion platform SYKY, the brainchild of Alice Delahunt, former Chief Digital and Content Officer at Ralph Lauren & Global Director of Digital & Social at Burberry, has announced the launch of a fashion experience on Apple Vision Pro.
Debuting with a showcase from avant-garde Japanese label Anrealage, the SYKY app offers a way for fashion enthusiasts to enter and explore the worlds of legendary designers and fashion houses.
Pitched as a bridge between digital and physical fashion, it creates a spatial environment that immerses visitors in an interactive world.
According to SYKY, hyper-real depth, textures and storytelling components create levels of immersion that have only been possible through physical fashion experiences, like runway shows, until now.
“We believe that the fashion industry is entering a period of remarkable change as realities merge and digital fashion experiences blend with the physical world,” says Delahunt.
“We’re excited to continue leading this new frontier with the launch of our Apple Vision Pro app, where we will transport consumers to the front row of the fashion industry, offering them access to impeccable design and inspiration with the ultimate luxury fashion experience.”
Walmart
Walmart Realm, Walmart’s immersive commerce experience, is enabling college students to explore and shop five virtual dorm rooms inspired by social trends and curated by their favourite creators.
These trends, inspired by Pinterest Predicts and TikTok, include:
Sanrio curated by @jellybean.celine – a fantastical cotton candy and rainbow escape
Serene Retreat curated by @studymoofin – a cozy and comfortable soft living oasis
Royal curated by @trinityanitahh – serving smart and eclectic with a preppy, regal twist
Y2K curated by @thebeekid – a throwback to trends and products from the early 2000s
LoFi curated by @august (NPC RA) – a gamer’s paradise inspired by neon lights and arcades
Each dorm also includes a mini game, such as Byte-sized Crush in Y2K, surprises, like transporting inside a doll house in Royal, and native social content from the aforementioned creators, including @jellybelly.celine highlighting her curated products in Sanrio.
College students can also find and take advantage of a limited time Walmart+ student offer.
Jellycat
A new and globally exclusive collection features characters inspired by the British dish.
Customers can book a slot and make their order from Jellycat’s Fish & Chips van in the Selfridges Toyshop on floor four.
The pop-up has received a rave review from Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant, Top 100 RTIH Retail Technology Influencer and former Amazon executive.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “I must admit that when I first saw the video that I have posted, I thought I was watching an actual restaurant in action. However, as the video continued to play, I realised that what I was watching was stuffed toys being sold. The fish with a smile on its face gave it away.”
He added: “I believe Jellycat has the most creative store experience I’ve ever seen for any product. The stuffed animals, colours, wrapping, bags and stickers - it is truly exceptional and brilliant.”
“I’m amazed that The Walt Disney Company, Netflix, Amazon or Walmart hasn’t partnered with Jellycat. A TV series or destination shops should be explored.”
Olio and Gander
Local sharing app Olio is launching a new Deals section in partnership with reduced to clear SaaS platform Gander.
This gives food businesses a way to drive discounted food sales in-store, by showing Olio’s four million UK users cut price groceries at participating stores in their local area.
Users of Olio’s app can browse yellow sticker deals at Gander’s list of partner retail groups, including Morrisons Channel Islands, Filco Market, Pricewatch Group and Sewell on the Go, displaying branded products from Nisa, Morrisons Daily and Co-op.
App users can add their favourite deals to a watchlist on Olio to keep an eye on availability, and then head into the store to purchase them as normal.
Tessa Clarke, CEO and Co-founder at Olio, says: “We’re thrilled to be working with Gander to offer our community one more way to fight food waste - and save money while they’re at it. We’re looking forward to helping retailers stop even more food from ending up in the bin.”
Amazon
Amazon has rolled out Rufus, a generative AI powered conversational shopping assistant, to all of its US shoppers after introducing the tool earlier this year.
“While it’s still early days for both generative AI and Rufus, we’re excited to hear customers are using Rufus to help them make more informed shopping decisions,” says Rajiv Mehta, Vice President of Search and Conversational Shopping at Amazon.
“As we continue to grow and improve upon Rufus, we’re looking forward to seeing how customers continue to use it to find exactly what they need or want in our store.”
Zara
Bambuser, a provider of interactive video streaming and live shopping solutions, has announced a partnership with Zara.
Bambuser's technology allows Zara to offer an interactive shopping experience, catering to evolving consumer behaviour when online, and including the immersive nature of social commerce and real-time interactions.
“We are thrilled to be the video streaming and live shopping provider for Zara,” says Maryam Ghahremani, CEO at Bambuser.
“This partnership underscores the growing importance of interactive and real-time experiences in the e-commerce landscape. We look forward to supporting Zara enhancing their customer engagement and achieving new levels of success.”
The 02 and Amazon
The O2 recently became the first indoor arena in England to use Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, with a new store allowing people to tap their card or mobile wallet, grab their chosen drinks and snacks, and quickly get back to their seats.
And it is now working on a second location, set to open later this year.
In a LinkedIn post, Paul Samuels, Executive Vice President, AEG Global Partnerships at AEG, said: “The O2's partnership with Just Walk Out highlights our continuous investment in guest experience and dedication to innovation, ensuring every moment at the venue counts for the fans.”
“Stay tuned as we plan to introduce more Just Walk Out units at the venue, with a second location scheduled to open later this year.”
He added: “As we welcome Amazon Just Walk Out as a sponsor of the world's number one music venue, we are committed to delivering cutting-edge technology solutions for an unforgettable experience. Exciting times ahead, so watch this space for more announcements.”
“Well done Matt Lowen (Partnerships Sales Director at AEG) and Adam Pearson (Commercial Director, The O2) and everyone else involved for all your work on this partnership.”
Snap and Selfridges
Snapchat has launched a sports themed augmented reality (AR) Locker Room at Selfridges’ store on Oxford Street, London.
The pop-up will be available throughout July and August, offering AR Mirror experiences.
Shoppers will be able to virtually try on their favourite sports kits, interact with top sports brands and experiment with AR lenses. They can also see their appearance in a custom Team Selfridges Sportopia football kit.
A QR code will let them save and share their favourite looks with friends and family.
Snapchat Senior Marketing Director of EMEA, Kate Bird, says: “We are delighted to see our AR locker room come to life in an iconic shopping destination like Selfridges.’
“Sports fans are no longer just the people flooding the stadiums - there’s a much larger digital audience, and new tech like AR is continually changing the way people engage with sport.”
“To connect with the next generation of fans, sports teams, channels and brands have to meet them where they are – and our immersive Locker Room experience demonstrates how Snapchat is helping brands to connect with digital communities and getting people closer to the games they love.”
Greggs and Monzo
For one day only this month, UK challenger bank Monzo unveiled an ATMmmm pop-up in Newcastle - a cash machine that dispensed Greggs sausage rolls.
Every 100th customer to use the ATM received a special treat - a £50 Greggs High Roller gift card.
AJ Coyne, Monzo’s VP of Marketing, comments: “Monzo customers love Greggs, so much so they’ve claimed over 80k free sausage rolls since we launched Monzo perks and Monzo Max.”
“What better way to celebrate our partnership than with a world first ATMmm machine which dispenses sausage rolls, another great reminder that money really does feel different with Monzo.”
Hannah Squirrell, Greggs’ Customer Director, adds: “Our partnership rewards thousands of customers across the UK with a free Greggs treat every week.”
“That’s why we’re excited to be launching the world’s first ever sausage roll dispensing ATM in Newcastle, giving passers-by the chance to withdraw a freshly baked freebie, and yet another reason to bank on Greggs.”
REWE Group
REWE Group reports that a location in Hamburg launched Pick&Go for customers this month.
Powered by Trigo technology, the store, which clocks in at 1.200 square metres in floor space and features 20.000 items, is pitched as Europe’s largest computer vision-based supermarket.
It is also the first REWE Pick&Go store in northern Germany, and offers four ways to pay for purchases: cashless via Pick&Go via app; scanning and paying at the self-checkout terminal; shopping via computer vision support without scanning at the self-checkout terminal; standard payment process at the cash register.
A highlight is that the Pick&Go system now also covers the service counter for the first time.
Customers have the opportunity to purchase fresh meat, cheese and sausage products without having to wait at the checkout afterwards.
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