The importance of immersive physical experiences: check out our biggest retail technology articles on LinkedIn this week
We’re big fans of LinkedIn and are busy building an amazing community of retail tech enthusiasts on the social media platform. As we head towards the 20,000 followers mark, these are the articles that are currently on their radars, including Walmart, e.l.f. beauty, Roblox, Rohlik Group, Tesco, dunnhumby, Aura Futures, Paul UK, Sona, Aldi Nord, Pricer, and Perfect Corp.
Aura Futures flags importance of investing in technology as many UK retailers plan to open new stores
New research by retail experiences brand, Aura Futures, has revealed that, although 49% of UK retailers view lowered consumer spending as the sector’s biggest challenge over the next 12 months, 50% plan to open new store locations during the next two years, with 68% putting their faith in consumer experiences to revive flagging footfall.
According to the 301 retail managers and c-suite executives surveyed, 58% of their retail sales are still conducted in-store, but declining footfall remains a significant problem.
The research showed that 66% of businesses view attracting Millennials and Gen Z consumers into stores with immersive, physical experiences as the best way to counter declining footfall, with areas of investment falling into five main categories:
Intelligent digital signage (45%)
Immersive experiences interactive displays (35%)
Custom LED displays (32%)
Sensory marketing (24%)
Smart content integration company wide content broadcast (24%)
Paul UK gears up to implement Sona workforce management solution to meet the needs of today’s employees
Paul UK, a bakery chain that has 37 stores in Great Britain, primarily Central London locations, is getting ready to implement Sona’s end-to-end workforce management solution.
Dawn Humphries, Head of HR & Training at Paul, says: "Our decision to choose Sona was made easy for us once we explored the features and met with the team. It was the most effective solution we found that had the answers to the challenges that we are facing with the needs of today’s workforce.”
“It is integrated with most of our other HR platforms which will reduce the amount of admin and human intervention that we have currently.”
She adds: “Based on all the help and support received during our initial discussions, I can only be excited for the journey that is to come. Our teams are enthused about the time that they will get back for all the great stuff like engagement and team development."
Tier 1 North American grocery retailer places order for Pricer Plaza store technology in 90 MSEK deal
Pricer’s partner JRTech Solutions has inked an agreement with an unnamed large Tier 1 North American grocery retailer for the cloud-based platform Pricer Plaza, which allows for in-store automation and communication, within an initial 50 of its locations.
The value of the contract is approximately 90 MSEK. The roll-out of Pricer Plaza and electronic shelf labels within the initial 50 stores is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
This installation by one of the largest grocery chains in North America with over 1,500 grocery and pharmacy stores, is pitched as the first large scale full-store deployment of four colour labels in North America.
Rohlik Group bags $170 million in fresh growth capital for European expansion plans ahead of IPO
European food retail technology and online grocery firm, Rohlik Group, has raised $170 million in fresh growth capital.
The investment was led by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), alongside existing investors Sofina, Index Ventures, Quadrille, and TCF Capital and complemented by growth capital funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) under its Scale-Up Initiative.
The cash will be used to fuel Rohlik’s expansion plans in DACH and CEE, where the company aims to establish its presence in more than ten additional cities by 2030.
Founded in 2014 in the Czech Republic, it now delivers over a million orders per month, and served over 800,000 customers in 2023. It has now reached profitability in Munich, having already done so in the Czech Republic and Hungary.
Rohlik says that this is driven by a best-in-class local assortment of goods, which ranges from fresh food from local farmers and artisans to supermarket goods, pharmacy items and private label brands, alongside competitive prices, high levels of customer service and fast, reliable delivery, powered by an innovative proprietary technology infrastructure.
It operates automated fulfilment centres, leveraging a host of AI, ML and robotics technologies, and offers 15-minute delivery windows and same-day deliveries available as soon as one hour after booking. 97% deliveries are said to be on time.
Rohlik is currently targeting revenues of over €1 billion with positive cash flow for the 2024 financial year, as it works towards an IPO.
Here’s how tech is redefining the customer experience to make food service as seamless and stress free as possible
Technology is the answer to some of the food service industry’s most frustrating problems.
So says Stephen Gunn, Operations Manager at Compass Group UK & Ireland.
Walmart, e.l.f. beauty and Roblox team up to build the future of shopping, making it immersive, 3D and social
Walmart is helping to expand real-world commerce on Roblox through a partnership with e.l.f. beauty’s e.l.f. UP! experience on the platform.
Users (13+ in the US) can now visit e.l.f. UP! and purchase three cruelty free products from Walmart.com directly on Roblox.
And similar to real-world commerce in Walmart Discovered, the purchase of a real-world item in e.l.f. UP! includes a virtual twin created by a Roblox creator, with the aim of making the experience more native to the platform.
“e.l.f. UP! has been lightning in a bottle since day one and continues to surpass all expectations, especially among our Gen Z community,” says Kory Marchisotto, Chief Marketing Officer, e.l.f. Beauty.
“Testing commerce on Roblox is the next evolution in our journey of merging beauty with immersive platforms. We are teaching the Roblox community - and communities in digital spaces everywhere - about social commerce with purpose. Our community deeply values our superpower of cruelty free products.”
“Through the e.l.f. UP! Pet Adoption Center, we’ve learned how essential this superpower is, shaping our approach in this space.”
Tesco taps new dunnhumby AI powered Assortment solution for localised ranging in retailer's stores
dunnhumby is introducing new AI powered assortment technology. This is being used by Tesco to improve customer shopping experiences through smarter product selection.
It enables retailers to:
Create localised ranges, down to store specific level
Develop space aware ranges and planograms
Implement a more efficient, end-to-end process
“In today’s dynamic retail landscape, keeping up with customer expectations while outpacing local competition is crucial,” says Jenn Dabbelt, Global Head of Product, dunnhumby.
“Our new Assortment tool, powered by advanced AI, allows retailers to build store-specific ranges centred on what the customer wants.”
“This supercharges retailers’ ability to deliver by streamlining the entire process from end to end, helping them bring to life exceptional experiences for customers.”
It’s Auf Wiedersehen Aldi Nord as store computer vision specialist Christian Bock departs for new challenge
Dr. Christian Bock is departing Aldi Nord where he held the position of Team Lead Store Computer Vision.
Bock has also worked at companies including REWE Digital and Telefónica Germany.
Kitchen retailer Magnet sits down with Meet and Potato to discuss the commercial benefit of video communication
Here’s how using video communications resulted in Magnet’s biggest winter yet.
It’s no secret: running a retail business in today’s market can be tumultuous.
With ever increasing competition, the constant evolution of customer behaviour, and an endless cost-of-living crisis impacting footfall, making sure teams stay engaged and motivated is a huge challenge.
To keep your teams focussed through the good times and bad, a strong internal communications plan is crucial. And whilst text-based messaging certainly has its place, if you want to really connect with your people and keep them engaged, you should look at incorporating video into your strategy.
After its biggest winter to date, Paul Strong, Store Operations Director at Magnet, discusses with Jon Kelly, CEO at creative content and events agency, Meet and Potato, why he believes the addition of video communication has played a key role in the brand’s success.
Perfect Corp. teams with NAO-ART to power first of kind generative AI wig virtual try-on experience in Japan
Perfect Corp. has announced a collaboration with NAO-ART, a subsidiary of the Art Nature Group and a provider of ready-to-wear wig brands for women.
This will see it provide NAO-ART with a virtual try-on tool for wigs utilising generative AI technology.
The target items include 53 wigs, including fashion wigs and medical wigs "RIS."
Customers can experience this on NAO-ART's e-commerce site. The initiative marks the first introduction of virtual wig try-on in Japan utilising Perfect Corp.’s generative AI technology.
Avon International taps Blue Yonder Cognitive Demand Planning, Enterprise Supply Planning, Control Tower solutions
Avon International has chosen Blue Yonder’s platform with Cognitive Demand Planning, Enterprise Supply Planning and Control Tower solutions as it looks to create an end-to-end next generation supply chain.
Avon International operates in over 40 countries across Europe and Asia Pacific. The brand Avon has been in operation for over 135 years and has a business model based on relationship selling.
Millions of independent representatives offer personalised beauty advice to their customers through offline and online channels. It is also accessed through wholesalers, retail stores and marketplaces.
Avon International was seeking to optimise its manufacturing and distribution processes in both Europe and Asia Pacific by establishing a "Planning Hub" for centralised demand and supply planning.
To streamline demand planning, respond more quickly to its market and enhance decision-making, it selected Blue Yonder’s SaaS supply chain solutions, based on advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities.
Including Galp, Asda, Volvic, Ikea, and Lowe’s: RTIH runs through June’s coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his stand out ‘future of retail’ tech deployments from June, including Sensei, GXO Logistics, Agility Robotics, Walmart, The O2, Amazon, Harley, Sawhorse Productions and Metavertising.
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