M&S makes it official on TikTok Shop: RTIH brings you this week's biggest retail technology stories

It's Friday, the weekend is almost upon us, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail technology space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past few days, including DM, VusionGroup, Wickes, Gophr, Tesco, Just Eat, Kroger, Instacart, Whole Food Market, Fulfil, Wildberries, Topps Tiles, Cegid Retail, and Co-op Media Network.

1. German drugstore retailer DM taps VusionGroup AI powered EdgeSense digital shelf tech

VusionGroup reports a new partnership with DM, a German drugstore retailer, to deploy its EdgeSense digital shelf platform. 

Powered by IoT, data, computer vision, and AI technologies, EdgeSense supports DM in streamlining processes, with the aim of reducing operational complexity, and improving efficiency and the customer experience over time.

DM store associates will benefit from simplified daily tasks, including faster and more accurate product identification during order fulfillment, thanks to the roll-out. By leveraging intuitive shelf indicators such as LED guidance (pick-to-light), they can complete routine operations in less time.

EdgeSense also provides associates with instant access to detailed product information through digital labels and mobile devices interactions. Approximately 70 stores are planned in the current roll-out phase, with around 20 stores live to date, and additional deployments scheduled.

2. Home improvement retailer Wickes connects with Gophr as same-day delivery launches in UK

UK home improvement retailer, Wickes, has partnered with last mile delivery specialist Gophr to launch its Wickes Rapid service across 150 stores nationwide. This same-day delivery offering promises to bring DIY essentials and trade materials directly to homes and job sites in as little as two to three hours.

Customers will have access to Wickes’ full store, with same-day delivery options ranging from motorbikes (smaller items such as tools) to large vans (big ticket orders including timber and flooring). 

Gophr provides two to three hour delivery slots with live GPS tracking, proof of delivery and real-time notifications. Orders can be placed seven days a week during store opening hours.

The delivery experience is also powered by Metapack, which connects Wickes’ online checkout with Gophr’s courier network. Acting as the delivery management system, Metapack automatically allocates orders and provides full visibility for both customers and store teams. 

3. UK retailer Topps Tiles taps Cegid Retail Store Excellence platform, wraps store wide roll-out

Topps Tiles has completed the roll-out of Cegid Retail Store Excellence, a task management and retail operations platform, across its 297 stores in the UK.

Before implementing the solution, it faced challenges ensuring that product on promotion was merchandised accurately and consistently across its store network.

Whilst it does have area managers responsible for store standards, there is an inevitable delay between store visits, leaving head office with limited visibility into how promotions were being executed and store teams without a clear way to demonstrate compliance.

“Some stores were fantastic at bringing promotions to life, while others needed more support,” says Sarah Kite, Retail Support Manager at Topps Tiles.

“The problem was visibility. We couldn’t see in real time what was happening on the shop floor, and our reporting process using Excel spreadsheets was incredibly time consuming. Now, with Cegid Retail Store Excellence, we can see what’s working and share best practice across the business.” 

3. Co-op Media Network hits digital advertising touchpoints milestone across its 2,300 stores

Co-op Media Network (CMN) has completed a roll-out of 1,000 front of store screens.

These installations - combined with kiosk, self-service and customer-facing screens at manned tills - will take the total number of screens across Co-op’s 2,300 stores to 15,871, making it one of the largest digital advertising screen footprints of any UK grocery retailer.

CMN announced that it was to install 300 front of store digital screens last October, a figure that has now increased by over 230%, with the 1,000th recently installed in Newton Stewart, Scotland. The network offers advertisers the ability to work with CMN on in-store campaigns.

4. M&S official TikTok Shop launches as a pilot initially featuring a curated range of beauty products

M&S has officially gone live on TikTok Shop. Initially launching as a pilot, this is part of the retailer’s focus to broaden appeal and make it easier for customers to discover and shop whenever, wherever and however they like.  

The shop will initially range a curated selection of beauty products, from skincare heroes, including £6 Apothecary Hand Lotion and the retailer’s SKINKIND range (from £7.50) to home fragrance favourites, like the £10 Discover (three million bottles sound and counting).

M&S says that the move comes at a time when it is capturing the attention of the TikTok community with products including this year’s Christmas decorations range, a trench jacket from its summer collection and animal print collarless jacket going viral, leading them to sell out.  

Other products that have gone viral include M&S haircare and bodywash, along with disinfectant and laundry offerings. The hashtag #marksandspencer has racked up 104.2k posts on TikTok.

5. Kroger and Instacart expand relationship to include Express Delivery boost and agentic shopping

The Kroger Co. and Instacart have announced an expanded relationship involving increased access to Express Delivery and new, agentic shopping experiences.

The tie up reaffirms Instacart as Kroger's primary delivery fulfillment partner across Kroger.com and the retailer’s app, powering delivery from nearly 2,700 stores across more than 20 banners in the US. The pair will also open new opportunities for CPG companies to reach customers with messages and offers through engagement and retail media options.

Kroger will be one of the first retailers to offer customers access to Instacart's AI assistant, Cart Assistant, which it will offer to customers shopping on the Kroger iOS mobile app. This helps customers find meal inspiration, build carts faster with favourite items, and plan meals more easily.

6. AI powered customer engagement platform MoEngage secures $100m in funding

MoEngage, a customer engagement specialist that works with brands including Domino’s, Travelodge and FoodHub, has secured $100 million in funding, led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and A91 Partners.

This brings total funding to date to $250 million.

In a LinkedIn post, Raviteja Dodda, Founder at MoEngage, said: “This milestone means a lot. It reflects the trust our customers place in us, the hard work our team puts in every day, and the progress we’ve made together.”

He added: “When Yashwanth Kumar and I started MoEngage 11 years ago, we had a simple goal: help brands truly understand and engage their customers. That mission still drives us. What’s changed is the scale - today, more than 1,350 brands across 75 countries use MoEngage to connect with their audiences in meaningful, timely, and personal ways.”

“Many of these brands have moved away from legacy marketing clouds to work with us, and we’re seeing strong adoption of our Merlin AI suite of agents, which are purpose-built for marketers.”

He concluded: “Global expansion hasn’t been easy, being a first-time SaaS founding team. I am proud to share that we have built a diverse global footprint, with a revenue mix across North America, Europe and the Middle East, India, and South East Asia regions, with North America now contributing the largest share. We’ve come a long way, and there’s so much more to build.”

7. Tesco boosts Whoosh rapid grocery delivery service with launch of new Just Eat Go partnership

Just Eat Go, Just Eat’s white label service, has announced a new partnership with Tesco involving the UK grocery giant’s on-demand service Whoosh.

In addition to Whoosh, the tie up will see Just Eat Go power rapid delivery services across One Stop and Booker’s symbol brands such as Premier. 

Tom Baxter, Commercial Director for Just Eat Go, says: “Our new partnership with Tesco demonstrates the diverse range of retailers who are utilising our service, from community retailers such as One Stop, to big brand grocers including Tesco Whoosh.”

“With Just Eat Go we empower our partner brands to respond even more quickly to the rising demand for rapid fulfillment, something that will be particularly important as we head towards the busy festive season.” 

8. Russian online retailer Wildberries greenlights pilot involving drone deliveries for orders

Wildberries has begun testing drone delivery of orders placed on its online marketplace. The first unmanned deliveries were carried out from a logistics centre to one of its pickup points in St. Petersburg, Russia.

This was tested out with the support of the St. Petersburg Transport Committee, using a certified domestic unmanned aircraft system. The trials included a route featuring multiple landing points.

“We are continuously working to make the delivery process as fast and convenient as possible for our customers,” says Maxim Kim, Head of Wildberries’s Pickup Point Development Department. “Drone assisted delivery is one of the innovations we are testing and believe in, particularly for hard to reach regions.”

Wildberries processes more than 20 million orders daily through its online marketplace. To enhance the speed and efficiency of order delivery, the company is expanding its logistics infrastructure across Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other markets, while also piloting various technologies.

9. Whole Foods Market concept store features Fulfil powered automated micro-fulfillment centre

Whole Foods Market’s new concept store in Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA combines its natural and organic products with Amazon’s name brand groceries and household essentials, with the aim of allowing customers to complete their entire shopping list in one location.

The store features a 10,000-square foot automated micro-fulfillment centre that houses over 12,000 unique items, enabling customers to order additional products via QR codes while shopping in-store or through online delivery and pickup options.

Amazon says that it plans to refine and expand the offering to additional stores over time.

"We've always taken pride in offering a wide selection of natural and organic products, but we understand our customers appreciate the convenience of one stop shopping," says Jason Buechel, Vice President of Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores and CEO at Whole Foods Market.

"We're making grocery shopping more convenient for customers by thoughtfully blending our grocery offerings and leveraging new fulfillment capabilities in creative ways. This new concept store experience allows customers to get everything on their shopping list in one convenient stop or one online order, combining quality with convenience while still delivering the exceptional shopping experience customers expect."

10. Neve Jewels Group's Graham Broomfield joins RTIH AI in Retail Awards judging panel

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

Graham is a retail and digital leader with 25 years’ experience scaling global consumer brands.

As COO at Neve Jewels Group, he has overseen international expansion, brand transformation, and the development of high performing teams across stores, e-commerce, and operations.

His work focuses on building customer centred cultures, modern retail systems, and commercially resilient growth models. Graham also advises retail and technology businesses on strategy and leadership. He is passionate about elevating customer experience, developing people, and creating meaningful, long-term value.

Welcome onboard, Graham!

Don't delay, enter today!

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.