Christmas comes early at Asda: RTIH rounds up our most read retail technology articles from last week

Check out our most clicked retail technology articles from last week, including Primark, Deliveroo, Lincolnshire Co-op, SOLUM, Auchan Retail, IBM Consulting, Zebra Technologies, VoCoVo, Kult, and the RTIH AI in Retail Awards.

Primark launches proof of concept for cash and card payments self-checkouts at its York store

Primark has gone live with a proof of concept for self-checkouts that accept both cash and card payments at its store in York.

The retailer started to roll-out self-checkouts across its stores in 2022. But while some shoppers welcomed the quicker and easier process, others were unhappy about the limited number of traditional tills and the inability to pay with cash.

So it’s no great surprise to that this trial is getting underway, and it will be interesting to see whether it will move beyond the York store and across the UK estate.

In a LinkedIn post, Connor Button, Product Leader at Primark, said: “An amazing thing happened in York this week; the launch of our proof of concept for cash amd card self-checkouts.”

He added: “A fantastic initiative where Technology and Retail Operations have collaborated together to deliver an innovative and cost effective solution that will drive learnings on customer behaviour and operational execution.”

“I'm excited on the positive impact this will have on further elevating our great customer and colleague experience. It has been great working with so many talented people to deliver a fantastic outcome.”

Author, podcast host and event speaker Andrew Grill joins 2026 RTIH AI in Retail Awards judging panel

We're hugely pleased to announce the addition of Andrew Grill to the judging panel for the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, sponsored by 3D Cloud and EdTech Innovation Hub.

Andrew is a leading AI expert, combining over 30 years’ experience at IBM and high tech startups with degrees in engineering and business strategy. He was a Global Managing Partner at IBM, and works with C-suite teams at Kingfisher, Shell, Dell, Intel, Vodafone and the NHS.

Andrew has delivered over 600 keynotes in 50 countries on generative AI, quantum computing, and digital transformation and in 2025, he was named to the AI 100 UK List for responsible AI. He is the author of the international best seller Digitally Curious, hosts a popular podcast, and appears regularly on BBC, Sky News, and in major publications.

Welcome onboard, Andrew!

Don't delay, enter today!

Time is running out to enter the RTIH AI in Retail Awards is now open for entries. Deadline for submissions is Friday, 5th December. It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories.

Check out categories and entry forms here.

As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.

With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.

Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.

Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Thursday, 29th January. This will kick off with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room.

Auchan Retail works with IBM Consulting on smart green pallets roll-out in warehouses and stores

Auchan Retail is rolling out 50,000 IBM Smart Green Pallets across warehouses and stores.

The pallets are recyclable, lighter than standard offerings, and fitted with connected sensors that track geolocation, temperature and shocks in real-time.

The technology allows the retailer to: better preserve the freshness and quality of products, especially refrigerated products; limit the risk of food waste; reduce the emissions linked to our logistics flows and therefore the environmental impact; improve the daily life of the teams, thanks to lighter and easier to handle pallets.

Franck Descamps, Director of Logistics Procurement at Auchan Retail, says: "We are taking a new step towards a more responsible, more connected and future oriented supply chain."

Christmas comes early as Asda pilots Zebra Technologies TC53E RFID device in first store

Asda is testing out new Zebra Technologies TC53E-RFID solutions in stores.

The mobile device features integrated short range UHF RFID functionality. Made with 25% post-consumer recycled plastic and equipped with the SE4720 1D/2D Scan Engine, this aims to enhance worker capabilities and versatility in indoor environments.

In a LinkedIn post, Max Parker at Technical Product Owner at Asda, said: "After an exceptional week, we’ve started the pilot of the new TC53E-RFID within our first store. It’s as if Christmas has come early."

"With RFID capability built into it, a larger screen and a generally quicker device our colleagues will be pleased to see the older clients disappear."

Deliveroo set to offer Christmas tree on demand deliveries for the first time across select cities in the UK

Deliveroo is launching a Christmas tree delivery service across the UK. Users will be able to order fresh fir Christmas trees from local suppliers on the company’s app and have them delivered straight to their door, same day.

This is rolling out over the next week in select cities across the UK, including London, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Coventry, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle.

Tree sizes range from 3 feet up to 12 feet, with prices starting at £59.99. Once an order is placed on the app, it will be delivered directly by the local supplier of choice’s own delivery fleet, as part of Deliveroo’s Marketplace+ offering. Some partners will also offer an optional installation service.

“As Christmas fast approaches, we’re thrilled to make it even easier for our customers to get into the festive spirit,” says Suzy McClintock, Vice President of New Verticals at Deliveroo. “We know the run up to Christmas can be a hectic time and there aren't enough hours in the day, so between ordering in pizzas for Friendsmas, getting a top up of mince pies, and now getting your Christmas tree, Deliveroo has you covered.”

Customers looking to refresh their Christmas decorations can also find a selection of extra items in the Shopping section of the app such as wreaths, garlands, and decorations. Deliveroo also has a gifts range, including Black Friday offers running this week on electricals, beauty, wellness, toys and DIY, with up to 40% off or even more across selected items.

VoCoVo boosts senior leadership team to support its international growth and AI powered CX plans

Retail communications specialist, VoCoVo, has announced two key senior appointments.

Dan Creed joins the C-Suite as Chief People Officer, while Theo Theodorou has been appointed Customer Experience (CX) Director.

Creed will focus on strengthening employee engagement, well being and talent development with the aim of fostering a high performance culture that scales in line with VoCoVo’s expansion and growth plans.

Bringing 25 years of HR leadership in scaling technology businesses such as TM Group (UK) and Celesio to the role, he joins from CV Library, where he served as People and Culture Director.

Creed says: “Fast growth opportunities are where my passion lies, and VoCoVo is an incredibly exciting phase of growth. The business has already invested heavily in its people, building a highly talented and engaged team. My focus now is to build on that foundation, strengthening our high performance culture and implementing the frameworks and tools that will help our people thrive.”

Lincolnshire Co-op teams with SOLUM on food store electronic shelf edge labels roll-out across stores

Electronic shelf edge labels (ESELs) are being rolled out across all 100 Lincolnshire Co-op food stores, as part of a £4 million food technology transformation project.

Approximately, food store colleagues manually change 550 labels a week which can rise to 2,000 during an ambient promotion changeover week. Moving to a digital system removes the need for colleagues to print and replace labels manually, meaning hours of their time will be saved to help shoppers and colleagues can also react faster to pricing changes.

The electronic labels will also save over £100,000 on paper, toner and printing per year, contributing to Lincolnshire Co-op's sustainability strategy.

They were first trialled in Lincolnshire Co-op's The Bridge Food store in Newark during October.

Jane Wheeler, The Bridge Food Store Manager, says: “I can’t speak highly enough of the new electronic labels - they’re easy to use and incredibly reliable. It’s a massive but positive change to how the team continues to deliver exceptional customer service and, when new promotions arrive, we’re confident our store will be ready to trade.”

Former PayPal India exec Parag Gupta joins beauty tech platform Kult as Chief Financial Officer

Kult, an AI and personalisation beauty platform pitched at India’s Gen-Z and Millennial consumers, has announced the appointment of Parag Gupta as Chief Financial Officer.

Gupta has served as Group CFO at College Dekho and its group of companies. He directed financial operations and led market entry strategy for PayPal India, served as India CFO for AT&T, and Group CFO for Nimbuzz BVI.

His career also includes managing large scale offshore resources and multi-phase transitions of accounting and collections for international organisations including Washington Mutual Bank and Dell International Services.

"Parag's experience with MNCs and startups is a unique combination," says Karishma Singh, Founder and CEO at Kult E-Commerce, which recently closed a $20 million Series A funding round.

"MNC experience brings quality benchmarks and startup experience brings the dynamism. Parag comes at a time when the company is closing large inventory financing with banks and institutional lenders. Thus having a CFO as a financial steward was the need of the hour."

"The beauty category has immense potential. Even though there are large players, the market is still at a very nascent stage," says Gupta.

"Kult's approach through personalisation and AI will have a niche carved out for itself, and I am sure it will emerge as a market leader eventually. The team is young and their enthusiasm is commendable. I am very excited and looking forward to working as a team and taking Kult to new heights."