Starring Asos, Tesco, Asda, and Walmart: RTIH rolls out the biggest retail technology news stores from July
It’s August, July is done and dusted, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful month for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from July, including Nibble, Marketplacer, Vista Technology Support, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Xiatech, Ikea, Aldi Süd, Emperia, Trigo, and REWE.
1. AI negotiation platform Nibble notches up a milestone as Asos taps tech for return of Sample Sale website
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.
2. Vista Technology Support acquires Irish retail technology support company Store Computer Technology (SCT)
Vista Technology Support has announced the acquisition of Store Computer Technology (SCT) for an undisclosed sum.
Vista says that the move further expands its retail and hospitality support capabilities in Ireland and Europe and will strengthen its position as a leading independent retail IT services provider.
SCT was established in 1994 by John Hogan.
It has grown substantially over three decades and now provides IT service desk, in-store technology maintenance and technology refresh projects to some of the most well known Irish and international retail and hospitality brands.
With its head office, service desk, staging centre and warehouses based in Dublin, forward stock locations and field service engineers located throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland, SCT is well established and provides a tried and trusted service support model to over 7,000 retail and hospitality locations throughout the country.
Vista’s M&A activity was led by Lucy Mayer, Vista’s Commercial Director. She has extensive experience in M&A and corporate finance, having previously held senior positions at PWC and Development Bank of Wales.
3. North and South: Dr. Christian Bock focuses on shaping the future of shopping as he heads to Aldi Süd
Dr. Christian Bock is joining Aldi Süd in August where, he says in a LinkedIn post, he is “looking forward to taking the customer experience and shopping experience to the next level together with my new colleagues”.
He was previously at Aldi Nord where he held the position of Team Lead Store Computer Vision.
In a LinkedIn post, Bock said: “The focus is on the strategic and innovative orientation in connection with technology and business.”
“The aim is to continue to position Aldi Süd as an innovative and future oriented market leader and to offer customers a unique and unforgettable shopping experience. I and we will give everything together for this.”
He added: “I am convinced that we can achieve an enormous amount through close cooperation and the joint use of state-of-the-art technologies and the maximum business focus in combination with the best possible processes.”
“I am looking forward to the new challenges and the exciting task of shaping the future of shopping together with the new colleagues at Aldi Süd.”
New job title TBC.
4. Asda wraps roll-out of online groceries picking solution Store Assist as retailer works on new digital landscape
Asda has completed the roll-out of its new online groceries picking solution, Store Assist, across its estate.
In a LinkedIn post, Kevin Besford, Senior Director - Retail Future, Asda, said: “This achievement reflects brilliant collaboration across the Retail, Tech, E-commerce and the Online Store Assist teams.”
“Thank you for your dedication and hard work! Their expertise has been instrumental as we continue to shape our brand new Asda digital landscape.”
He added: “I want to express my sincere thanks to all our store colleagues who worked tirelessly during this period of change, serving our customers with unwavering commitment. Thanks to everyone involved in the Asda Store Assist programme, a massive cross-functional effort covering 534 stores.”
5. Trigo powered REWE Pick&Go store in Hamburg pitched as Europe’s largest computer vision-based supermarket
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.
6. Co-op hooks up with Walmart Commerce Technologies to support retailer's online grocery push
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.
7. Ikea announces 100th Tesco Click and Collect point and preps roll-out of 100 more within next year
Ikea has opened its 100th mobile pick-up point, following a UK wide roll-out. The service is free of charge for orders over £100 and costs £5 for orders below that amount.
The expansion comes as the retailer reports that almost 40% of its total sales are made through online purchases.
Customers can use the offering at Tesco stores by placing their order on Ikea.com, through the retailer’s app or with the assistance of an Ikea co-worker, either remotely or in-store.
Orders are available from next-day and can be collected at a customer’s local participating Tesco store within one of two daily collection windows.
The scheme was initially piloted in 2022 before a national roll-out began late last year.
Ikea now plans to open an additional 100 pick-up points, with half of them due to open this year.
8. UK’s biggest grocer Tesco partners with Marketplacer to launch its new online marketplace
Marketplacer has partnered with Tesco to launch its new online marketplace.
Powered by Marketplacer’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology, this offers Tesco customers access to more third-party products online that complement its existing range, with the aim of giving people a one-stop-shop for everything they may need.
The project, which commenced in June, will continue to expand, with the addition of further third-party sellers, over the months to come. Marketplacer’s platform will enable the supermarket to find and connect products from third party sellers at scale.
Peter Filcek, Marketplace Director at Tesco, says: “We knew that we wanted to open up access to a wider range of products for Tesco customers; we could see customers were searching for products that we didn't sell, and that we could be front of mind for.”
“It became clear that exploring this advanced technology for industry partnerships would be advantageous for the customer experience and ensure a seamless integration experience for our seller partners.”
9. Danish retailer Flying Tiger Copenhagen expands use of Xiatech Xfuze retail technology platform
Flying Tiger Copenhagen has renewed its partnership with Xiatech, the company behind Xfuze, a MACH certified composable integration and data management platform.
The Danish retailer, which operates 900+ stores around the world, will expand its use of Xfuze as part of a digital transformation push
This includes expansion across its network of franchise and owned stores, boosting the way the company uses data, and embedding AI driven analytics and process orchestration throughout the organisation.
The multi-year contract follows four years of a partnership when Flying Tiger Copenhagen selected Xiatech to accelerate the company’s integration and data centric digital transformation programme.
“Xiatech has strengthened our technology foundation substantially, and they will continue to do so as Flying Tiger Copenhagen’s strategic integration partner. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership for years to come,” says Martin Jermiin, CEO, Flying Tiger Copenhagen.
10. Virtual dorm rooms: Emperia powered Walmart Realm experience reinvents back to college shopping
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.
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