Say hello, wave goodbye: RTIH rolls out the biggest retail technology news stories of the week

It’s Friday, the weekend is almost upon us, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past five days, including Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Asos, Walmart, The Very Group, Instacart, Schnuck Markets, 7-Eleven, John Lewis, Deliveroo, and B&Q.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Instacart achieves Carrot Tags first as electronic shelf label software launches chainwide at Schnuck Markets

Grocery technology firm, Instacart, and Schnuck Markets, report that the former’s Carrot Tags offering is rolling out chainwide.

Carrot Tags is a software solution that integrates into a retailer’s electronic shelf labels (ESL) hardware to enable incremental functionality, including pick to light capabilities.

Schnucks will be using this across most of its stores allowing Instacart shoppers to activate items from their picking list within the firm’s shopper app for easier and more accurate order fulfilment.

Schnucks first began using Instacart’s Carrot Tags’ pick to light functionality in 2023, and says that it quickly saw success across its pilot stores.

“As our first retail partner to introduce Carrot Tags’ pick to light functionality chainwide, we’re incredibly excited by the telling results of our partnership. Because Schnucks is using pick to light, we’re seeing an increase in found rates, which in turn provides higher order quality and customer satisfaction,” says David McIntosh, VP and GM of Connected Stores at Instacart.

“Schnucks has long served as a leading-edge partner for Instacart, especially when it comes to adopting our Connected Stores technologies like Caper Carts and Eversight. We look forward to building the future of grocery alongside Schnucks for years to come.”

4. Just Eat ramps up partnership with Morrisons amid huge appetite for on-demand grocery from consumers

Morrisons has expanded its partnership with Just Eat to include groceries from its supermarkets as well as deliveries from its cafés and Morrisons Daily convenience stores.

The tie up was initially rolled-out to Morrisons Cafés in 2022, followed by 60 Morrisons Daily convenience stores in December 2023, and today serves almost 700 Dailys.

Now, on-demand delivery from Just Eat will also be available from 380 Morrisons supermarkets across the UK. Customers will have access to thousands of products.

As part of the extended partnership, Just Eat is offering free delivery on all Morrisons grocery products (with a total basket value of over £15) until the end of 2024.

Charlotte Exell, Morrisons Online Operations Director, says: “By building on our successful partnership with Just Eat, we are excited to introduce another fast and convenient option for our customers to get Morrisons groceries delivered straight to their door.”

“We’re committed to offering great value and high quality products to our customers however they choose to shop.” 

5. Snappy Shopper and Allwyn UK team up for UK National Lottery scratch cards online delivery first

Rapid delivery specialist Snappy Shopper has announced a partnership with Allwyn UK, operator of the UK National Lottery.

As a result of the tie up, independent shops now have the opportunity to sell National Lottery scratch cards online for delivery for the first time.

Previously, only major supermarkets had been allowed to sell scratch cards for home delivery due to age restricted sale requirements from regulator the Gambling Commission.

However, Allwyn said following ‘a successful trial’ with a small number of retailers, all Snappy Shopper partnered National Lottery stores can now offer the service.

6. Asos CTO Clifford Cohen departs fast fashion giant for new challenge in renewable energy sector

Clifford Cohen has departed Asos where he held the position of Chief Technology Officer.

In a LinkedIn post, he  said: “After nine amazing years I have made the difficult decision to leave Asos and move onto my next challenge.”

“It has been an absolute pleasure and honour to lead the Tech team and I couldn’t be prouder of the team we have today and what we have achieved.”

He added: “I would like to thank my entire technology team, past and present. I would also like to thank Jose Antonio Ramos (CEO), Nick Beighton (former CEO) and Nick Robertson (Co-founder) for all their support and friendship over the years.”

“I will be starting a new and exciting challenge in the renewable energy sector at the start of August.”

Asos did not respond to our request for information on Cohen's replacement as CTO.

7. John Lewis partners with Epsilon on launch of new retail media capabilities to connect brands and customers

John Lewis has announced a suite of new retail media capabilities, with the aim of helping brands connect with customers shopping on johnlewis.com.

The move will allow brands to create and manage their own campaigns, including via banner ads and sponsored product listings.

It also offers users a dashboard showing exactly how their campaigns are performing, how customers are engaging, and how many sales are coming through.

Brands can maintain always on campaigns, and quickly adapt to seasonal trends and sales peaks such as Back to School and Black Friday.

In addition, thanks to real-time data and performance metrics, they can measure the impact of their initiatives right down to the individual product level and search terms.

The options have been delivered in partnership with Epsilon, the advertising and marketing technology company which recently launched a similar offer for Waitrose.

They can also be helpful for customers looking to explore new brands that are relevant to their search and browse activity. All ads are reviewed by John Lewis’ in-house team to make sure they are suitable, beneficial and relevant for customers.

8. The Very Group veteran and Head of Technology Tony Rourke departs to recharge, reflect and seek new challenge

Tony Rourke has announced his departure from The Very Group, a multi-brand online retailer and financial services provider in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where he held the position of Head of Technology (Platforms, Infrastructure and Networks).

In a LinkedIn, he said: “After 29 years the time has come to say goodbye to The Very Group. I’ve had a few months to prepare for this but it’s clearly not long enough and I’m struggling to put into words how I’m feeling right now. This company has given me everything…”

He added: “An opportunity to build a career, taking me from a graduate fresh out of university to leading technical teams that have transformed us from a loss making catalogue business to a £2 billion digital retailer. Instilling in me core values you need if you want to be successful, inside and outside of work.”

“Above all else, allowing me to meet and work with so many amazing people. People who are friends not colleagues and have supported me, taught me and basically made coming to work not feel like work. Honestly, 29 years feels more like 8…and for all of this I will be eternally grateful.”

9. Pay and Go Down Under: 7-Eleven Australia goes live with first stores to use Grabango checkout-free system

7-Eleven has upgraded its first stores to use the Grabango checkout-free system. 

These stores are all located in Australia and represent a new continent for US-based Grabango.

7-Eleven Australia announced last year that it was partnering with the company to develop My 7-Eleven App Pay and Go 2.0.

The Grabango technology uses AI to enable customers the choice to skip the register, without the need to scan purchases using their device.

7-Eleven Australia General Manager -Technology and Strategy, Stephen Eyears, said at the time: “Our current My 7-Eleven App Pay and Go feature lets consumers scan their items, or fill their vehicle at the pump, and complete their transaction on their phone without the need to queue at the register.”

“The enhancement the team is working with Grabango to develop will make it even more convenient for our customers who choose to pay with the Pay and Go feature as they won’t need to scan merchandise items individually.”

“This Australian first partnership with Grabango follows on from our launch of Australia’s first cashless and cardless convenience store in 2019, and the national roll-out of pay and go solutions into all of our stores nationally earlier this year.”

10. B&Q agrees London-based on-demand delivery tie up with Deliveroo

B&Q has partnered with Deliveroo to offer a new, on-demand delivery service of over 600 home improvement products from nine of its Local stores in London.

Starting later this month, customers will be able to order interior and outdoor paint, decorating, painting tools, plumbing, electricals, bathroom essentials, as well as tools and hardware.

B&Q said in an online post: “Our partnership with Deliveroo taps into the increasing demand from consumers for speed and convenience when it comes to buying DIY products.”

“It gives customers more choice of when and how their B&Q purchases are delivered, whether they’re tackling an emergency job that needs a quick fix or need additional tools halfway through a project. With the new service, orders will be delivered from the Local store to home in as little as 25 minutes.”

It added: “Offering an on-demand, fast delivery service in partnership with Deliveroo, helps us to reach a new target customer base and serve new shopping missions.”

The nine Local stores involved are at Camden, Harrow, Palmers Green, Streatham, Sutton, Tooting, Wandsworth, Wood Green and Staines-Upon-Thames.