Including Primark, Target, and Ikea: 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 Shopify, Tilt, Adyen, TCS, Best Buy, REWE Group, Walmart, Zepto, and Zippin.

1. Live shopping startup Tilt nabs $18 million in Series A funding round led by Balderton Capital

Tilt, a real-time shopping platform founded by ex-Revolut employees, has closed an $18 million Series A funding round led by Balderton Capital.

There was also participation from existing investors TQ Ventures, Earlybird and Seedcamp.

Founded by Neil Shah and Abhi Thanendran, Tilt focuses on the fashion space and claims to address several key problems in the current e-commerce landscape.

Traditional online shopping can feel impersonal and disconnected, the company says.

This leads to a passive, often frustrating experience for buyers. Additionally, the static nature of most e-commerce platforms lacks the urgency and engagement required to really drive sales for sellers.

Tilt lets buyers engage directly with sellers through real-time streams, Similar to in-store shopping, deals and offers are available only while users are actively engaged on the app.

Along with features such as auctions, boosts and interactive events, Tilt has attracted over half a million users since its launch just a year ago. 

2. The future of retail: Target wraps roll-out of GenAI powered Store Companion tool across its store estate

Target has completed a roll-out across its nearly 2,000 stores of a new GenAI tool that helps store employees quickly resolve on the job challenges.

The solution, called Store Companion, is a chatbot designed by Target that can answer on the job process questions, coach new team members, support store operations management and more.

The initiative is part of Target's broader strategic approach to using GenAI across its business.

"We know technology will continue to play an outsized role in the future of retail - for our team members, our guests and our business,” says Brett Craig, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Target.

“With that in mind, we're continually experimenting with new tools to make it even easier for our team to do their jobs and to bring more of what guests love about shopping at Target to life.”

“The transformative nature of GenAI is helping us accelerate the rate of innovation across our operations, and we're excited about the role these new tools and applications will play in driving growth."

Store Companion is available as an app on store team members' specially equipped handheld devices, providing immediate answers to their questions about processes and procedures.

3. Best Buy tackles shopper frustrations with launch of new AI powered live home delivery tracking experience

Best Buy reports a new live tracking feature, leveraging AI solutions, that aims to improve the Best Buy delivery or installation experience.

In a online post, the retailer said: “With this new digital feature, we’ve created a new way for our customers to digitally track their Best Buy deliveries and installations when they purchase large items like big screen TVs, refrigerators, washers, dryers and more.”

“Now, on the day of their delivery or installation, customers will have to-the-minute tracking details on the progress of their order, including a real-time map view of where their driver is along their route.”

It added: “It’s the latest example of how we’re using technology to create a better experience for our customers from start to finish. (It also aligns with some of the recent additions we’ve made to customer support services that provide easier access to information when it matters most.)”

“We’re using data like predicted demand and real-time traffic patterns to reduce delivery lead times, optimise our routes and ultimately provide customers with live estimated time of arrivals down to the minute.”

4. Walmart Marketplace launches pre-owned destination and unboxes new online fulfilment solutions

Walmart Marketplace, which allows third-party sellers to list their items on the US retail giant’s website,is introducing Resold at Walmart, its first digital destination for cross-category and cross-condition pre-owned items from performance managed sellers.

With five million items from more than 1,700 sellers, this offers customers a selection of goods from luxury fashion and electronics to collectibles, sporting goods and more.

According to a press release: “By extending the life of these products, Resold at Walmart aligns with our commitment to make the more sustainable choice the everyday choice and builds on the success of Walmart Restored, a collection of refurbished electronics and small appliances powered by Walmart Marketplace.”

Elsewhere, Walmart Fulfilment Services (WFS) is announcing new ways for sellers to quickly move merchandise across markets and use Walmart to fulfil any e-commerce retail order.

A new Multichannel Solutions programme allows sellers to use WFS to fulfil orders from any e-commerce site via Walmart’s supply chain.

Walmart says that it will fulfil orders and manage returns while offering plain, unbranded packaging, fast, reliable shipping and competitive rates averaging 15% lower than the competition.

The retailer is launching the programme on 10th September in time for holiday deliveries.

Through its new Walmart Cross Border import service for full container load shipments, WFS can now handle transportation of inbound goods from ports of origin in Asia directly to WFS facilities across the US. 

Walmart is also opening its carrier network to sellers for full truckload shipments. Sellers using the Walmart Preferred Carrier programme through WFS can now choose to ship a few items or an entire truckload at special rates through carriers vetted by Walmart.  

5. Ikea and Adyen shake hands on global online and in-store payments and loyalty partnership

Adyen has announced a global partnership with Ikea that, it says, will allow the retailer to connect the dots between in-store and digital sales channels and offer better payment and loyalty experiences for customers.

Ikea will tap Adyen’s single financial technology platform to gather customer payment data from both physical and digital channels.

Adyen’s solution also provides a closed-loop payment system offering worldwide processing, acquiring, local payment methods and like-for-like settlement capabilities for Ikea franchisees.

This reduces the amount of contracts and integrations for global IT operations, enabling simplified financial reporting and management of customer data. Adyen’s consolidation of the tech stack behind commercial operations also helps to minimise the risk of operational disturbances and the ability to troubleshoot.

6. San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s Stadium stump up $200m for new venue features including Zippin powered concessions

New Zippin checkout-free concessions are part of a $200 million investment project at Levi’s Stadium, home of the National Football League's San Francisco 49ers.

This follows the stadium’s ten-year anniversary and comes in preparation for 2026, when it will become the first venue in history to host a FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl in the same year.

On the main concourse, frictionless concession stands will provide an alternative, cashierless way for fans to obtain basic food and beverage.

“Together, with our 49ers Faithful fans, members and corporate and event partners, we have collectively made Levi’s Stadium a world class sports and entertainment destination,” says Brent Schoeb, 49ers Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer.

“Throughout our first decade at Levi’s Stadium, we have cultivated an award winning experience. As we embark on the next decade of 49ers games, Super Bowl 60, FIFA World Cup, concerts and other events, we will continue investing in the fan experience.”

7. Mikhail Parakhin departs Microsoft for Canadian e-commerce big hitter Shopify and new CTO challenge

Mikhail Parakhin has joined Shopify and taken on the role of Chief Technology Officer. 

He arrives from Microsoft where he served as CEO, Advertising and Web Services.

In an online post, the company said: “Mikhail's career is a testament to his ability to build critical infrastructure and invent key technology that has made a significant impact on the broader tech industry.”

“Specifically, he led Microsoft's AI advancement, building consumer and enterprise facing products like Copilot. Between stints at Microsoft, Mikhail was Chief Technology Officer at Yandex, where he developed multiple search engines, cloud services, digital assistants, and ClickHouse.”

It added: “As CTO, Mikhail will oversee our engineering and data organisations and push Shopify to the cutting edge, not just in ML and AI, but in everything we’re building to make commerce better for everyone. And we can’t wait.”

8. Primark extends Tata Consultancy Services retail technology deal to support retailer's plans for global growth

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has expanded its eight-year partnership with Primark, announcing a new five-year deal involving the retailer’s IT systems and new store openings. 

TCS has been working with Primark since 2016.

As well as driving business critical integration programmes and stabilising core platforms for the retailer, it has also improved cybersecurity capabilities, boosting stability and reliability of processes and systems.

As part of the expanded partnership, TCS will look to transform Primark’s technology operating environment to make it more resilient, reliable, and efficient.

It will also work with Primark to adopt a more agile and product-based operating model by enabling automation through intelligent automation and DevOps technologies.

Andrew Brothers, Chief Information Officer, Primark, says: “To help support our ambitious growth plans we’re expanding our partnership with TCS to build a robust, resilient, and reliable IT operating environment to become a more efficient, technology led global organisation with the agility to quickly adapt to changing demands and requirements in a fast-paced industry.”

“Working with TCS will provide us with the ongoing operational stability and accountability needed to support our business to scale. This will allow us to respond to market trends and customer preferences in a timely manner, ensuring that we continue to deliver quality products at the best value for our customers.”

9. Seeing double: Hamburg becomes only city in Germany to have two cashierless shopping REWE Pick&Go stores

A second REWE Pick&Go store has opened in Hamburg, powered by Trigo technology.

In a LinkedIn post, the retailer said: “After the successful launch of Europe's largest cashierless supermarket two months ago in the heart of Hamburg, the second store is now ready for operation.”

“Hamburg's First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher gave the official starting signal for the REWE Pick&Go system in Altonaerstraße, corner of Amandastraße. If you don't yet know how such a cashierless shopping works, you should either stop by the store directly or our media centre.”

Customers will be able to choose between four different payment options: at the cash register; by scanning and paying at the self-checkout terminal; via computer vision support without scanning at the self-checkout terminal; or completely cashless when using an app.

Jochen Vogel, CEO at REWE Nord, says: “Hamburg is now the only city in Germany to have two REWE Pick&Go stores. We were able to launch the markets just a few weeks apart. This was only possible thanks to the outstanding teamwork and close cooperation of all those involved. We all have a common goal: to offer our customers the best shopping experience.”

10. Indian rapid grocery delivery firm Zepto bags $340m in follow-on financing at $5bn valuation

Indian online grocery delivery app, Zepto, has secured $340 million in a follow-on financing round, placing the company at a $5 billion in valuation following its previous fundraise in June.

General Catalyst led the round, with Dragon Fund, and Epiq Capital joining as new investors. Existing backers such as StepStone, Lightspeed, DST, and Contrary also increased their stakes.

Zepto has now raised more than $1 billion in just two months.

“The rationale behind this follow-on financing was twofold,” says Aadit Palicha, Co-founder and CEO at Zepto, which he launched in 2021 alongside fellow Stanford University dropout Kaivalya Vohra.

“First, the opportunity to bring onboard a lead investor of  Neeraj Arora’s calibre from General Catalyst was one we couldn't pass on. Second, strengthening our balance sheet is a strategic move, particularly as the company continues to deliver robust growth and operating leverage.”

“While these recent financings reflect strong confidence in Zepto’s performance to date, we recognise there is still a lot of execution ahead of us to fulfil our ambition of building a world class internet company out of India. At Zepto, we genuinely feel we are just at the beginning of our journey.”