Doubling down on cashierless shopping in Hamburg: August’s coolest retail technology plays

RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his stand out ‘future of retail’ systems deployments from August, including Walmart, Target, Trigo, Best Buy, Victoria Beckham, Bambuser, Blippar, Hasbro, Paramount Pictures, Ikea, Hugo Boss, Franprix, Warner Bros., Fandango, and Roblox.

REWE Group

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.

Walmart

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.”

Target

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.

Best Buy

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

In an 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.”

Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham has partnered with Bambuser as it looks to create a seamless shopping experience through video commerce, starting with the brand’s newly launched denim collection.

This will be showcased through high quality video, available on Victoria Beckham’s website and social media channels.

“We're excited to introduce video commerce for the launch of our denim collection and push the boundaries of how fashion can be presented and experienced. By integrating our social channels with our e-commerce platform, we're providing our customers with an immersive and convenient shopping experience” says Kate Hurrell, Head of E-Commerce at Victoria Beckham.

Blippar, Hasbro, Paramount Pictures and Walmart

Walmart shoppers can now experience a Transformers One augmented reality experience via the retailer’s website.

They can do so by scanning a QR code that also unlocks a digital reward.

Transformers One is an upcoming American animated science fiction action film based on Hasbro's Transformers toy line. The ensemble voice cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm.

Blippar is the company behind the AR experience.

Ikea

Ikea has announced the next phase in its drone technology programme: an upgraded AI powered system capable of operating around the clock alongside co-workers.

This will be integrated into fulfilment units, including distribution centres.

After a year of testing at the retailer’s DC in Winterslag, Belgium, Ikea is ready to deploy its drones to more locations over the next year. 

The next phase will automate the physically demanding and time-consuming task of stock inventory, which is otherwise handled by employees.

This shift will not only free up co-workers to enhance the customer experience but also provides Ijea with faster, more precise and accurate stock management. 

In 2021, Ikea launched a collaboration with Verity, a provider of AI and robotics, to develop a fully autonomous drone solution for its warehouses.

The first drone took flight in Ikea Switzerland, and today, more than 250 drones operate across 73 locations, in nine countries.

CITY Furniture

American retailer CITY Furniture has announced a partnership with 3D Cloud.

Starting with 3D Cloud 360 Spins and 3D Cloud WebAR in 2024, CITY will integrate the full suite of 3D Cloud's visualisation tools for furniture over the next six to eight months.

"3D Cloud are experts at understanding the customer's journey and have developed best in class technology to help address customer's pain points," says Andrew Koenig, CEO at CITY Furniture.

"We're excited to offer our customers an engaging shopping experience that seamlessly combines online and in-store elements. This partnership allows us to create a unique experience that not only attracts our customers but also guides them in making confident purchasing decisions, setting a new industry standard."

Woolworths Supermarkets

Woolworths Supermarkets is piloting a scan-as-you-go trolley system at a store in Sydney, marking a first for the Australian market.

The technology, developed in collaboration with Hanshow, enables shoppers to scan groceries at their trolley using the Everyday Rewards card and a touchscreen device.

Customers still have to pay at the checkout, but further down the line they might be able to swipe their cards and pay at their trolley.

If the trial is successful, Woolworths says it would look at expanding the smart carts to all Australian stories.

Hugo Boss

Hugo Boss has gone live with a smart fitting room in its new flagship Boss store in Düsseldorf, Germany, which has around 1,000 square metres of sales space, spread over two floors.

It worked with One iota on the project, integrating it into eight of 17 fitting rooms in the store for the first time.

This is a screen that reads items taken in via RFID, displays the items (and other items that may go with it) and allows customers to select different size/colour variants if required.

This triggers a request to an iPad app for a store member to pick the item and take it to the nominated dressing room number.

"Today more than ever, our stores are points of experience where we can offer a unique experience and individualised services to our customers,” says Oliver Timm, Chief Sales Officer and Deputy CEO at Hugo Boss. 

“The aim is to inspire customers for our brands in the long term and create new opportunities to connect beyond the collections available in our stores.”

“The new Boss store in Düsseldorf demonstrates this approach, together with our flagship stores in London, Dubai, and Tokyo.”

“With our new design and hospitality concept, which reflects our premium positioning, and new digital services that are industry leading, we are taking the customer experience to the next level.”

Warner Bros., Fandango and Roblox

An immersive Beetlejuice Beetlejuice experience has gone live on Roblox, courtesy of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.

This includes an integrated virtual Fandango box office, where eligible users can purchase movie tickets - a first for the Roblox platform as it tests and invests in commerce.

[Beetlejuice] Escape the Afterlife was developed by Sawhorse and provides Warner Bros. the opportunity to expand its reach with new audiences and ways to increase content viewership, as well as drive ticket sales.

“We are always looking to engage audiences and amplify our reach in new and exciting ways; this first of its kind collaboration with Roblox and Fandango for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice allows for just that,” says Cameron Curtis, Executive VP of Marketing, Warner Bros.

“By leveraging the vast Roblox creator community, we are not only able to connect with existing Beetlejuice fans, but also have the opportunity to reach new audiences who are being introduced to him for the first time. And we are thrilled to be the first studio to test ticketing on the platform.”

“We are excited to collaborate with Warner Bros. and Roblox on this unique in-world experience and test the first ever virtual Fandango box office for the much anticipated Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie,” says Will McIntosh, Fandango President.

“We are champions of the big screen and remain committed to reaching new fans through innovative, one of a kind experiences that drive increased theatre attendance.”

Franprix

A2Z Smart Technologies Corp. has announced the first deployment of its new generation Cust2Mate 3.0 smart shopping carts at Franprix in Paris, France.

Franprix is a grocery chain that operates over 600 stores in France.

The launch is part of a framework agreement with IR2S to deploy 30,000 smart carts until 2026 across retail chains in France.

The A2Z Cust2Mate smart shopping carts that were deployed feature an all in one clip-on panel equipped with AI technology, self-scanning, and in-cart payments for a "pick and go" experience.

The 3.0 carts aim to enable the "connected store," combining online and physical shopping to offer exclusive promotions and personalised product recommendations as if shopping online.

Customers based in Paris were able to use them for the first time during a public launch.

Amazon

Amazon has announced an advancement in the technology behind Just Walk Out, its checkout-free service for retailers.

A new multi-modal foundation model increases its accuracy by using the same transformer-based machine learning models underlying many generative AI applications, and applies them to physical stores.

In an online post, Jon Jenkins, Vice President, Just Walk Out technology, AWS Applications, said: “We accomplish this by analysing data from cameras and sensors throughout the store simultaneously, instead of looking at which items shoppers pick up and put back in a linear sequence.”

“For retailers, the new AI system makes Just Walk Out faster, easier to deploy, and more efficient. For shoppers, this means worry free shopping at even more third-party checkout-free stores worldwide.”

B&Q

B&Q is trialling a robot delivery option in Milton Keynes with DPD.

Customers will be notified in advance about that their order (related to smaller parcels) being delivered. Once they confirm they will be home to accept the parcel, a robot will be dispatched.

The deliveries are trackable on a map and shoppers are notified when the robot reaches their property. They are then given a code to unlock a compartment and retrieve their parcel.