RTIH rolls out the biggest retail technology news stories from the past couple of weeks

It’s Friday, 2025 is up and running, so let’s highlight some retail tech stories that you might have missed over the Christmas and New Year break. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past couple of weeks, including VusionGroup, Walmart, EE, Perfect Corp., Trigo, Sitoo, Adyen, Zebra Technologies, and TikTok Shop.

1. VusionGroup snags deal to expand its digital retail technology solutions across all Walmart U.S. stores

VusionGroup has inked a contract extension to accelerate the deployment of its solutions across the entire Walmart U.S. 4,600-store fleet.

‘’We are pleased with the results of the programme roll-out this year and are looking forward to further expanding to more stores. Digital shelf labels have been a game-changer and simplifies the daily activities of our store teams, while providing a better shopping experience for our customers,” says Greg Cathey, SVP, Transformation & Innovation at Walmart U.S.

The EdgeSense and VusionCloud solutions designed by VusionGroup were integrated into Walmart stores to enable increased associate productivity, simplified stock replenishment and faster online order picking.

With a launch of the programme in almost 500 stores, Walmart U.S. is now accelerating the pace of installations and is ready for deployment across its fleet.

2. Asif Aziz talks 2024 and EE ambition to be most personal, customer focused brand on UK high street

Asif Aziz, Retail Director, EE/BT Group, has taken to social media to discuss a hugely eventful 2024 for the mobile network operator, internet service provider, and physical retailer.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: "We’ve made incredible strides towards our ambition to be the most personal, customer focused brand on the high street. From moving beyond our telco brand roots to stepping boldly into the tech space, we’ve transformed how we show up for customers. Gone are the days of transactional retail - we’re focused on creating experiences that keep customers coming back time and time again."

Highlights this year include opening 31 Experience and Experience Local stores across the UK, with even more planned for 2025.

EE has also launched training modules for regional retail leaders, including a storytelling programme to enhance how they connect with their teams and customers. And it has upgraded its systems, including a major IT refresh to support its teams in delivering seamless service.

Elsewhere, it won multiple industry awards, including accolades from Retail Week for New Stores, Mobile Industry Awards for Retailer of the Year, Creative Retail Awards for Store Design of the Year, and RTIH's Technology Implementation of the Year.

3. Perfect Corp. inks deal to buy virtual try-on technology and digitalisation solutions firm Wannaby from Farfetch

Beauty and fashion tech solutions firm, Perfect Corp., has entered into an agreement with luxury fashion marketplace, Farfetch, to acquire Wannaby, a digital immersive experiences specialist.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wannaby, known for its virtual try-on technology and digitalisation solutions, has worked with over 30 luxury brands.

Alice Chang, Founder and CEO at Perfect Corp., comments: "By welcoming Wannaby’s capabilities into our portfolio, we are poised to enrich our digital solutions and reinforce our presence in the fashion tech landscape. This expansion into new fashion categories such as shoes and bags demonstrates our commitment to innovation and our ability to deliver exceptional value to clients across diverse sectors."

This acquisition also marks the beginning of a collaborative relationship between Perfect Corp. and Farfetch. After completion, the latter will continue to tap Wannaby’s solutions. The acquisition is expected to be finalised in the coming months, subject to customary closing conditions.

4. Sudhakar Potineni departs Lily AI to take on AI and personalisation role at Fastlane by PayPal

Sudhakar Potineni has returned to PayPal, stepping into the role of Head of Product, AI & Personalisation for Fastlane by PayPal, the FinTech giant's quick online checkout solution.

He joins from Lily AI, a US-based company specialising in AI solutions for retailers and brands, where he served as Head of Product Management.

His CV also includes stints at Gap (as Head of Digital Growth Initiatives), and PayPal (as Senior Manager, Customer Engagement Platform).

In a LinkedIn post, Potineni said: "Coming back to PayPal feels like a full circle moment, and it’s been incredible to see how much the company has grown and transformed. The progress, energy, and innovation here are truly inspiring, and I’m thrilled to contribute to this next chapter of growth."

"In this role, I’ll draw on my experience in retail and AI focused companies, where I worked at the intersection of technology and customer experience. These roles taught me the power of personalization and scalable AI driven solutions, and I’m excited to bring those learnings to shape transformative checkout experiences at PayPal."

5. Trigo takes the wraps off real-time AI powered retail loss prevention over CCTV

Trigo Vision has announced an addition to ts technology suite, introducing a CapEx free loss prevention solution.

Trigo has leveraged its frictionless retail technology, used by the likes of the UK’s Tesco and Germany’s REWE, to help those struggling to balance shrink reduction with a free flowing and non-intrusive customer shopping journey.  

Its system tracks shopping journeys and human-product interactions in real-time, even with partial camera coverage. This eliminates blind spots by connecting the dots between different camera angles in store aisles to detect potential theft or unintentional checkout errors. 

"Traditional retail security creates an impossible compromise between prevention and customer experience. Caught in a Catch-22, retailers must prioritise creating an enjoyable shopping experience while still safeguarding inventory," says Trigo CEO Daniel Gabbay. "Our technology eliminates this tradeoff by delivering unprecedented visibility without treating customers like suspects."

6. Sitoo Payments solution goes live, powered by Adyen, with Recognition offering set to follow in 2025

Sitoo Payments, powered by Adyen, is a new solution that combines the former’s Point of Sale functionality with the latter’s payment processing capabilities. It aims to simplify how retailers manage payments across markets and channels, unify physical and digital shopping experiences, and unlock high quality first-party data.  

This builds on years of collaboration between the two companies. As part of the new arrangement, Sitoo assumes full commercial responsibility for the customer relationship.

“With Sitoo Payments, we’ve created a solution that empowers retailers to scale globally while delivering exceptional customer experiences,” says Alexander Almonte, VP Business Development – Partner and Sales at Sitoo.

“This deepened partnership with Adyen allows us to innovate faster, operate more efficiently, and offer unmatched value to our customers. Sitoo Payments give retailers an agile, scalable platform that eliminates operational silos. It’s not just about transactions; it’s about enabling retailers to innovate and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.”

7. One to watch: REWE takes loyalty into its own hands as retailer bids farewell to Payback platform

REWE and Penny are ending their loyalty partnership with Payback as rivals Edeka, Netto Marken-Discount, and Marktkauf get ready to join the latter's network.

REWE is planning to launch its own loyalty programme in 2025, called REWE Bonus, with CEO Lionel Souque last week teasing the move with the following post on LinkedIn: “From tomorrow, 29th December, ‘Blue’ will become ‘Eucalyptus’ and ‘Dragonfruit.’”

Oleksandr Koshovyi, Product Owner at REWE digital, added yesterday: “Unbelievable how quickly time has passed. Exactly two years ago, we started with the idea for a new customer loyalty programme. Today, at 00:01 on Sunday, I was able to collect my first bonus at the airport – an incredible feeling!”

“I am infinitely proud of the outstanding team effort at REWE digital with over 400 colleagues who were involved in product development. Now I'm looking forward to seeing how our programme resonates with our customers and what added value we can offer them in the future.”

As for Payback, Germany’s largest loyalty platform with 30 million users, it is set to expand its network significantly with the addition of Edeka and Netto. In addition, a new partnership with Sparkassen will enable its customers to automatically earn Payback points through their Girocards in 2025.

8. Health and beauty retailer Watsons boosts presence across GCC with opening of new flagship store in Bahrain

AS Watson Group and Al-Futtaim Group have announced the opening of Watsons' new flagship store at City Centre Bahrain Mall, marking the latter’s entry into a new market alongside the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Qatar.

This is also the third store opening in three months in Bahrain, strengthening its presence across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The 200-square-metre location showcases over 200 local and international brands across various zones.

A press release notes that: “Bahrain is one of the six countries of the GCC, presenting a dynamic and potential market with a surging demand for health and beauty products, driven by a predominantly young population - over two-thirds of Bahrainis are under the age of 35 – who are pursuing high quality products. Increased awareness of beauty trends, influenced by social media and lifestyle shifts, has led customers to greater spending on personal grooming.”

9. Retail technology big hitter Zebra Technologies set to acquire 3D vision technology firm Photoneo

Zebra Technologies has announced its intention to acquire Brightpick subsidiary Photoneo, a developer and manufacturer of 3D machine vision solutions.

Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. It follows the creation this year of an OEM relationship for Photoneo’s cameras that expanded Zebra’s 3D portfolio offering.

“This acquisition addresses the needs of customers globally who want to maximize the potential of machine vision within their frontline operations,” says Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer, Zebra Technologies.

“Building on our proven expertise in autonomous data capture, inspection software and deep learning AI capabilities, this combination expands our portfolio of highly differentiated 3D sensors and advanced 3D machine vision software."

"What a bittersweet moment this is. This must be what it feels like watching your child grow up and leave the nest," says Jan Zizka, Founder and CEO at Brightpick.

"On one hand, I’m incredibly proud to see our baby, which we started literally in Tomas Kovacovsky's (CTO) garage, grow into the market leader in 3D vision guided robotics and be acquired by a major US corporation."

"On the other hand, it’s difficult to say goodbye to 120 amazing colleagues and friends who have been by our side through thick and thin. While it’s impossible to name everyone, this would not have been possible without their dedication and hard work."

10. 'Re-shapping future of e-commerce': TikTok Shop aims to reign in Spain amid social commerce boom

TikTok Shop ended 2024 by announcing its official launch in Spain.

In a LinkedIn post, Marta Gil Cáceres, Head of Fashion and Home & Living at TikTok Shop, said: "For those who do not know us yet, TikTok Shop is not just an e-commerce platform - it´s a place where creators, brands, shoppers come together to redefine how we discover and enjoy products."

"A huge thank you to all the incredible teams involved in making this happen. Special mention to my team. You are a constant source of inspiration. Your hard work, creativity, and dedication have been instrumenal in bringing TikTok Shop to life. Let´s keep having fun and re-shapping the future of e-commerce."