Retail technology innovation of the week: Honeywell’s Multi-Modal Intelligent Agent set for early 2025 launch

Retail Technology Innovation of the Week is a series brought to you by RTIH, and sponsored by 3D Cloud, highlighting stand out deployments, launches, and initiatives by retailers and tech suppliers.

Every week, we will showcase forward thinking tech plays that have impressed our Editor and the Retail Technology Innovations Report judging panel, alongside the publication of the 2024 report.

So far, we’ve flagged up sterling work being done by Ocado Retail, Decathlon, Lacoste, Downtown Spirits, TalkShopLive, Huck’s, Rovertown, Wing, Nobody’s Child, IKI, Pixevia, A.L.C., Archive, Therabody, Outform, Kingfisher, PMC, Boots UK, Ocula Technologies, Grace O'Malley Irish Whiskey, Metacask, Ikea, Carrefour Belgium, Matalan, and McDonald’s.

And this week we’re focusing on Honeywell, which is working on an artificial intelligence (AI) enabled Multi-Modal Intelligent Agent for its mobile devices powered by Qualcomm Technologies. The agent will allow workers and customers in the distribution centre and retail industries to interact naturally with their handheld devices through voice, pictures, and barcodes.

Workers will be able to enter data into the technology and then receive practical answers to queries like, "Do we have the gluten-free variant of this product in stock?" or "Where can I find this particular item in the store?" 

Depending on the question, users will receive responses in the form of an image, video, spoken response, text answer, or a combination of several modalities.

This functionality is designed to enable workers to more efficiently complete their work while simultaneously navigating other ongoing tasks, such as assisting customers in a retail setting or performing multi-step workflows in a distribution centre.

The solution will be available to users through a software development kit that can integrate with an organisation's existing applications and systems.

"Utilising our strengths in on-device generative AI, high performance and low power computing, this collaboration with Honeywell underscores our commitment to pioneering innovative solutions that will propel the expansion of the connected intelligent edge," says Nakul Duggal, Group General Manager, of Automotive, Industrial and Embedded IoT, and Cloud Computing, Qualcomm Technologies.

"Honeywell's new Multi-Modal Intelligent Agent represents a significant step forward in utilising advanced edge AI to streamline operations and elevate customer interactions across industries. This initiative enables us to drive digital transformation, enhancing how businesses interact with their environments through intelligent and responsive technology."

"By pairing Honeywell's easy to use mobile devices and intelligent software with Qualcomm Technologies' industry leading edge AI processors, Honeywell is creating solutions to make workers' jobs easier while also helping businesses produce the stellar experience they want for their customers," says Jason Urso, Honeywell Industrial Automation Chief Technology Officer.

"With AI, Honeywell is amplifying what's possible for businesses with mobile workers today."

The Multi-Modal Intelligent Agent is expected to be available in early 2025.

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

AI is a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which is now open for entries.

The awards, sponsored by CADS, 3D Cloud, Retail Technology Show 2025, and Business France, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.