REWE opens Europe’s largest computer vision-based supermarket: this week's coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail’ systems launches and deployments from the past week, including Co-op, Walmart Commerce Technologies, Trigo, Roblox, Tesco, dunnhumby, HyperFinity, EE, Amazon Fresh, Matalan, and GXO Logistics.
Co-op and Walmart Commerce Technologies
Co-op is gearing up to work with Walmart Commerce Technologies, implementing its online fulfilment technology, Store Assist, to enhance the convenience retailer’s colleague and customer experience and support quick commerce growth ambitions.
The Store Assist app allows retailers to manage pickup, third-party marketplace, ship-from-store, and last mile delivery orders all in one place.
According to those involved, a streamlined omnichannel fulfilment workflow will enhance in-store processes and operations, remove the need for colleagues to switch between quick commerce apps or different devices, and allows for faster delivery times.
Store Assist technology will have a focus on: ease of use; scalability; specialised and tailored use to meet the diverse demands of grocery fulfilment and, a unified platform to simplify systems as online orders are picked fresh in the local Co-op store, and delivered quickly and conveniently in the community.
ZERO10
ZERO10 has launched a new virtual try-on category covering footwear.
ZERO10’s proprietary technology captures an image of the user’s feet using a camera integrated into an AR Mirror.
Algorithms detect key points on the feet, such as the toes and the heels, to assess the position, rotation, and size of the customer’s shoes. Using this information, virtual 3D shoes are overlaid precisely onto the feet in the image.
To ensure stability and realism, smoothing algorithms eliminate shaking, and an inpainting technique covers the customer’s real shoes so they do not stick out or appear from under the virtual overlay. This process involves addressing technical challenges such as lighting and footwear shape variations to provide a seamless, realistic try-on experience.
REWE Group
REWE Group reports that a location in Hamburg launched Pick&Go for customers this week.
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.
HyperFinity
HyperFinity, a decision intelligence platform for retailers, has announced the launch of its new AI powered pricing product.
"Manual pricing spreadsheets are cumbersome and outdated," says Thomas Hill, Chief Customer Officer at HyperFinity.
"Our AI powered solution provides retailers with the insights they need to make informed pricing decisions and maximise profitability. We’ve seen great results so far, including more than 5% increase in profit margins."
MGI Caribe and Zippin
MGI Caribe and Zippin have announced a new checkout-free store coming soon to Luis Munoz Marin International Airport SJU Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
With Zippin's technology, guests can enter with a credit card, pick their items, and be on their way, without the need to scan anything or wait in a queue.
The Quick Bites store will be situated in Terminal A, with another checkout-free location opening in the next few months.
These will be the first checkout-free stores to open in Puerto Rico.
Walmart and Roblox
Voting for the Roblox Innovation Awards 2024 is now live, and Walmart is amongst the nominees.
The awards celebrates the best of the Roblox community. This year, the company is introducing Quickfire rounds for some of the categories, where a new one will launch each day for 24 hours of voting.
People will also get to earn points to collect items by predicting who they think will win some of the biggest awards on the platform.
Walmart is shortlisted in the Best Branded Experience category for Walmart Discovered.
Starbucks
Starbucks reports that two of its large New York cafes with Amazon's Just Walk Out technology have been upgraded to a more intuitive system, making it easier for its Green Apron partners to offer exclusive merchandise and food, and for customers to enjoy a seamless smartphone experience.
Customers can now tap into the lounge area, order with the Starbucks app, and walk out with their snacks and coffee without waiting in line.
In a LinkedIn post, Jessica Mills, Senior Director, Global Growth and Development at Starbucks, said: “For me, this journey began five years ago. On my first day back from maternity leave on 2nd July 2019, I was asked how we could partner with Amazon Go products and Just Walk Out technology.”
“This led to a deeper study on creating effortless experiences, culminating in the opening of two unique stores in New York City in November 2021 and July 2022. These stores serve as incubators and learning centres, with several programmes and insights being scaled across Starbucks.”
She added: “It has been an epic experience, and I am confident that the learnings will continue in this next chapter.”
adidas and Manchester United
Players of the immersive experience platform Roblox are now able to style their avatars in Manchester United’s 2024/25 home kit by adidas.
Shirts, shorts, and socks for the new strip, released yesterday, will be available to dress up avatars - thanks to a new United shop within the adidas Outfit Creator experience on Roblox.
As well as the new home kit, featuring new front of shirt sponsor Snapdragon and sleeve partner DXC, people can grab a series of other adidas and Manchester United apparel as avatar items on Roblox.
This includes the 2024/25 anthem jacket, which players pull on before standing shoulder to shoulder in the line-up, and the pre-match shirt, which players wear during the warm-up.
Fans can also take United’s mascot Fred the Red and place him on their avatar’s shoulder.
Madesa Furniture
Brazilian retailer Madesa Furniture has worked with 3D Cloud on the launch of its Madesa Kitchen Planner offering.
This includes Portuguese language support, seven cabinet collections (mix and match multiple collections in a single room), a designer centric app that includes easy project access and custom BOM packets, download BOMs to CSV for quoting, and high definition visuals to bring kitchen designs to life.
In a LinkedIn post, 3D Cloud said: “This partnership brings together Madesa's production expertise and our innovative design solutions, creating the ideal environment for making design dreams a reality. Stay tuned as we bring more innovation and excitement to the world of kitchen design.”
NAO-ART
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.
Walmart, e.l.f. beauty and Roblox
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 and dunnhumby
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.”
Matalan
Fashion and homeware retailer Matalan has launched its new careers website.
It worked with Genius on this, with the aim of creating “a fresh, modern and engaging experience, reflecting our brand and promoting all things careers and life at Matalan.”
The site includes various new features to improve the candidate experience, including employee testimonials, videos, news and events and key insights into the retailer’s values and culture.
It has also made the offering more accessible with the help of Recite Me, so everyone can tailor the site to their needs.
“This is another fantastic milestone in our ongoing transformation journey,” says Jo Whitfield, Chief Executive and Founder at Matalan.
“The new site is designed to be more engaging and accessible, reflecting our Matalan values and brand. I'd like to say a huge thank you to the talented team at Genius, and a massive well done to all our Matalan colleagues who made this possible.”
Walmart
Walmart has extended its Break the Love partnership (that aims to bring pickleball to the masses) to Walmart Live with a shoppable livestream from its Ultimate Summer Park Day event in Dallas, Texas.
Customers were able to learn about the game of pickleball, shop an assortment of pickleball gear and accessories, and ask hosts, Golden Tate, Kamryn Blackwood and Rachel Love Platt, questions live.
Amazon Fresh
The Eras Tour was at Wembley Stadium on 21st, 22nd and 23rd June and returns on 15th, 16th, 17th, 19th and 20 August.
In a LinkedIn post, Madison Mottram, Marketing Executive Apprentice at Amazon Fresh UK, said: “From concert themed snacks to vibrant displays, we brought the concert culture straight to our shelves. This was a really fun initiative to get involved in (especially as a Swiftie)”.
“Stay tuned for more content launching this August on the Amazon Fresh UK Instagram.”
GXO Logistics and Agility Robotics
GXO Logistics and Agility Robotics, creator of the bipedal mobile manipulation robot (MMR) Digit, have signed a multi-year agreement to begin deploying Digit in the former’s logistics operations.
The tie up, which follows a proof-of-concept pilot in late 2023, is pitched as both the industry’s first formal commercial deployment of humanoid robots and first Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) deployment of humanoid robots.
“We’re building on the success of last year’s groundbreaking pilot with Agility by deploying fully operational Digit humanoids into a live warehouse environment,” says Adrian Stoch, Chief Automation Officer, GXO.
“Our R&D approach is to partner with developers all over the world to help them build and validate practical use cases that improve the working environment for our employees while optimising operations for our customers.”
“Agility shares this philosophy, and Digit is the perfect addition to work alongside our people in our fulfilment centre. We’re delighted to progress our partnership through this critical milestone.”
EE
EE last week unveiled a second Experience store in Manchester.
A year on from the launch of the first Experience store in the city’s Trafford Centre, which to date has resulted in a 25% boost in footfall compared to previous stores in the area, the city is now the first to have two of the new store formats, as part of a commitment by EE to invest £6 million in bricks and mortar retail this year.
Situated on 33 Market Street, it has been specifically designed to guide visitors through the latest innovations across four key areas – game, work, learn and home – featured in dedicated Experience Zones and a Tech Home area.
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