Morrisons opts for slow checkouts: RTIH presents last week’s biggest technology plays at a glance

RTIH rounds up the stand out retail systems deals, launches, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Including New Look, Revolution Beauty, Albertsons Companies, Bershka, Evri, Klarna, Weis Markets, Bolt, Domino’s Pizza, Puma, Jysk, and Snapchat.

Morrisons

Morrisons has teamed up with the 1 Million Minutes campaign, which asks people to donate their time, rather than money to combat loneliness.

To support the campaign, Talking Tills have been introduced at the UK grocery retailer's stores nationwide, offering customers the chance to spend a little more time at the checkout to enjoy a chat with colleagues. These were available from Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th December. 

David Scott, Corporate Affairs Director at Morrisons, says: “Supporting the communities we serve is at the heart of what we do. We know that for many people, especially at this time of year, a simple conversation can make a real difference. The Talking Tills campaign is designed to create space for those meaningful moments, offering customers the chance to slow down and chat if they’d like to.”

New Look

New Look has completed its migration to SAP Commerce Cloud, pitched as a major milestone in the retailer’s ongoing digital transformation journey.

Building on existing deployments of SAP Emarsys and S/4HANA Finance, the new platform unifies customer, product, sales and finance data with the aim of enabling targeted engagement, boosted sales and reduced costs.  

As part of its broader investment in data, AI and digital infrastructure, New Look partnered with SAP and Accenture to modernise its commerce platform and better reach, convert and retain customers.

Building on the £30 million capital investment announced earlier this year to accelerate its digital growth, the project consolidated and cleansed disparate customer data into a single platform.

Revolution Beauty

Research published by Revolution Beauty and CM.com shows a record breaking number of customer enquires handled by artificial intelligence across the Black Friday weekend.

During the period, Revolution Beauty’s AI chatbots took care of nearly a quarter of all customer queries end-to-end without the need for an agent handover.

This meant less queries reaching human agents, freeing up time for other essential tasks. Alongside this, the power of channel diversity was on full display with 29% of all customer queries resolved by agents on WhatsApp - up from 4% in the 2024 Black Friday period.

Compared to Black Friday 2024, queries reaching the customer support team were almost 60% lower. Within this environment, AI chatbots, WhatsApp and improved self-service played an important role in resolving routine questions earlier and ensuring agents could prioritise complex cases.

At the same time, Revolution Beauty says that it did not experience the infamous Black Friday close of business backlog with unresolved queries by the end of the weekend falling 95% compared to the previous year.

Since deploying CM.com's Mobile Cloud Service, the company has seen team productivity increase by 50% compared to its previous system. That enabled Revolution Beauty’s support team to tackle the Black Friday rush with a blend of automated assistance and live expertise with the aim of providing the best experience for its customers.

The Fragrance Shop

The Fragrance Shop has deployed YOOBIC's AI powered retail operations platform for frontline teams.

In a LinkedIn post, Berni Hawkins Rusby, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer at The Fragrance Shop, said: "When great people meet great technology - that’s when transformation truly happens. Today marks a proud milestone for TFS as we officially launch YOOBIC across all our stores and our Fragrance Quarters (FQ) teams."

"After a successful pilot in area three, YOOBIC has already proven its power to simplify how we operate, strengthen communication, and enhance visibility across every level of the business. At 9am this morning we took that success company wide.”

“This isn’t just about a new system, for us, it’s about evolving the way we work. It empowers our people to focus on what matters most: delivering an exceptional experience for every customer, every time."

Rusby added: “A huge thank you to everyone involved, from the YOOBIC sales team who sold the dream, to the project and implementation teams who delivered on their promise and continue to partner with us as we enter our next phase of evolution.”

“To our incredible internal project team, our stores and FQ teams, your passion, engagement, energy, and feedback will make YOOBIC not just a platform, but a genuine force for progress. Together, we’re building a smarter, more connected future for retail."

Fabrice Haiat, CEO and Founder at YOOBIC, added: "This roll-out is a powerful testament to what happens when a great retail culture meets the right technology. Huge congratulations to the The Fragrance Shop teams for driving this transformation with energy and ownership and thank you for trusting us as your partner on this journey."

Furniture Village

Furniture Village is rolling out Constructor's AI powered online search and product discovery technology.

In a LinkedIn post, George Clark, Chief Digital Officer at Furniture Village, said: "Today marks a big step forward in our digital journey. I’m excited to share that we’ve partnered with Constructor, a global leader in AI powered search and product discovery. This is a move that reflects our ambition to modernise, personalise, and elevate every part of the customer experience."

"For me, this isn’t just a tech integration. It’s a signal of where we’re heading: a future where customers discover the perfect furniture for their home faster and with far greater ease, feel understood through smarter personalisation, and enjoy a frictionless journey from initial inspiration through to checkout - or seamlessly into one of our many wonderful stores."

"Huge thanks to the brilliant teams at Constructor and Brave Bison for the collaboration so far. This is a milestone I’m genuinely proud of and only the beginning of what we’re building here."

Riverford

Employee owned vegetable box specialist Riverford has selected RELEX Solutions for demand planning, production planning, and production scheduling.

As part of its medium and long-term growth strategy, it has embarked on a digital transformation initiative, with investment in a new ERP system. To harmonise core business processes and support evolving operational requirements, Riverford will implement IFS Cloud delivered by Arcwide, together with RELEX.

Riverford operates two organic farms and production sites and manages approximately 200 SKUs sourced from organic farms in the UK and Europe. As demand has grown, it identified the need to move beyond manual, spreadsheet-based planning to an AI driven planning solution that can ensure efficiency and scalability. 

With RELEX’s unified planning solution, Riverford says it will move from reactive to proactive planning where demand and supply planning are seamlessly connected and plans are automatically optimised down to operational level accounting for the production capacity.  

Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies has launched an AI shopping assistant, a web browser experience designed to make grocery shopping faster, smarter and more personalised.

Building on the company’s Ask AI tool introduced earlier this year, the agentic shopping assistant is powered by various collaborative agents and is now available on all Albertsons Cos. banner websites as Albertsons AI, Safeway AI, Vons AI, Jewel-Osco AI etc.

“Our goal is to make our customers’ lives easier, and by implementing AI powered features across the customer journey from discovery to purchase, we are delivering an experience that’s faster, easier and more enjoyable,” says Jill Pavlovich, SVP, Digital Customer Experience at Albertsons Cos.

“We are laser focused on using AI as part of our strategy to meet customers when and how they choose to shop, ultimately driving customer growth and engagement through digital connection. The Albertsons AI shopping assistant is an exciting step in this journey, with much more innovation to come.”

Jo Malone London

The Estée Lauder Companies has announced the launch of a Jo Malone London Scent Advisor, an AI powered digital experience designed to help customers discover their perfect fragrance through an intuitive, conversational journey.

Now available on JoMalone.com in the United States and United Kingdom, the tool invites customers to describe the kind of scent they’re looking for in their own words, whether for themselves or a gift.

Using Google’s Gemini and Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform, the chat interprets natural language responses and maps them to Jo Malone London’s olfactory data attributes to generate bespoke, expert informed fragrance recommendations.

“We are entering a new era of digital scent discovery where AI can bridge the gap between curiosity and confidence,” says Jo Dancey, Global Brand President, Jo Malone London.

“With the launch of our AI Scent Advisor, we’re strengthening the way consumers explore scents, bringing the Jo Malone spirit of curiosity and creativity to online fragrance discovery. This smart advisor lets people describe in their own words what they’re drawn to and translates that into meaningful, tailored scent recommendations. It’s designed to feel like having one of our fragrance experts at your side, wherever you are.”

Walmart and Wing

Wing and Walmart are launching on demand drone delivery in Metro Atlanta in the USA.

Beginning 3rd December, the service will be available from six Walmart stores across Metro Atlanta.

Walmart products eligible for drone delivery include grocery items, last minute gifts, household goods and over the counter medicine.

“Atlanta is a powerhouse in aviation, and we’re bringing the same spirit of speed and efficiency to thousands of Walmart customers across the Metro just in time for the busiest season of the year,” says Heather Rivera, Chief Business Officer at Wing.

“This launch is a critical next step in our significant expansion, turning drone delivery from novelty to norm as residents make drone delivery part of their everyday shopping.”

Ocado Retail

Ocado Ads, the retail media network for Ocado Retail, has partnered with Epsilon, to develop a solution powered by COREid, the latter’s identity resolution platform.

“This partnership reinforces our commitment to putting real control in the hands of advertisers,” says Ben O’Mahoney, AdTech & Data Partnerships Lead at Ocado Ads. “By bringing digital media, data and retail execution together, we’re making it easier for more brands to participate - and more likely for shoppers to connect with the brands that matter to them.”

Collaborating with the Epsilon Retail Media platform enables brands to extend their reach beyond Ocado’s properties, activating across the open web, connected TV and audio. Whether it’s Netflix, Disney+ or Spotify, brands can connect with verified audiences wherever they are, while maintaining consistent, personalised messaging.

Bershka

Bershka has introduced its first semi digital jeans developed in partnership with FFFACE.ME.

The release marks the brand’s entry into phygital denim, a category where physical garments include a built in digital layer. 

A QR code on jeans opens a TikTok filter that responds to the texture of the fabric. The digital layer launches instantly and does not require additional devices or extra steps.

The format is designed for customers who regularly create content and use clothing as part of their visual identity. Bershka says that it is applying this approach to the mass market for the first time.

“Semi-digital clothing has moved beyond small experiments,” says Dmytro Kornilov, CEO at FFFACE.ME. “Bershka is responding to the Gen Z audience's demand for “clothing as an experience” and showing how this approach can work in a simple and accessible format for a wider audience.”

Evri

Evri has partnered with Zebra Technologies on a roll-out of new print-in-store devices across its ParcelShop estate.

In a first for Evri, the solution has been designed and built by Zebra to offer a zero liner solution, meaning all labels printed are completely liner less, supporting ParcelShops in their sustainability efforts.

Additionally, shops will see greater efficiency from the new devices, with up to 50% more labels per roll and variable sizing so stores only print what they need, while customers will get a faster, more seamless service thanks to the new in built technology.

And with more labels per roll, fewer rolls are required for transport and storage, resulting in a 40% reduction in shipping weight and helping to lower CO₂ emissions.

foodora

foodora, an online food delivery brand owned by Delivery Hero, has notched up a first in Czechia with Starship Technologies.

The pair have started testing robot delivery in the streets of District 8 of Prague, with McDonald’s onboard as a partner.

In a LinkedIn post, foodora said: “Backed by Starship’s global expertise and the support of local municipalities, we are proving how modern tech can shape the future and make daily life better for the communities.”

It added: “This pilot project is a major milestone for the country, allowing us to explore how autonomous tech handles real-world scenarios, specifically testing hot food delivery in collaboration with McDonald's Czech Republic.”

Dior

Scandit and Hardis Supply Chain have partnered with Dior to boost its warehouse operations including optimisation of its workflows with the addition of real-time insights.  

Scandit’s MatrixScan Count embedded into Hardis WMS (formerly Reflex WMS)  warehouse management software (WMS) enables logistic chain reliability between warehouses and stores, which has reduced shipping control time by 85%.

With MatrixScan Count, warehouse teams now capture multiple barcodes simultaneously through Dior’s Order Preparation app. The data captured is verified in Hardis WMS and instant feedback appears on‑screen via augmented reality (AR), guiding warehouse operators with intuitive user interface gestures. 

In addition, MatrixScan Find is deployed during the order preparation process in the warehouse and in-store price updates to easily locate the correct item via an AR overlay. Currently a manual process, this will increase workflow speed and accuracy for store associates.   

With Scandit and Hardis WMS deployed on handheld computers, workers are able to automate a variety of other warehouse workflows including receiving on their existing devices. Damaged, poorly printed and even partially visible barcodes can be read which increases user productivity and streamlines day-to-day tasks thanks to Scandit’s AI powered advanced barcode scanning.  

Crew Clothing

Crew Clothing has expanded its use of Retail Store Excellence from Cegid across its 124 stores, while also supporting sister brands Ben Sherman (15 locations) and Salt Rock (78). 

The platform consolidates task management, store communications and photo led visual merchandising and feedback in one place. This enables head office to have real-time visibility across the estate and for stores, an easier, more consistent way to work that frees their time to spend with customers.

Before deploying Cegid Retail Store Excellence, stores relied on spreadsheets, email threads and manual follow-ups. Today, communications, tasks and checklists are digitised and two way, allowing store teams to surface issues, request help and share progress instantly, vital for a business where stores remain a major growth engine and Click & Collect is a core customer promise.

“Cegid Retail Store Excellence has become the operating system for our stores,” says Bailey Collett, Operations Coordinator at Crew Clothing.

“We simply couldn’t run retail operations at our current scale and pace without it. It gives every colleague, from store managers to sales advisors, the clarity, consistency and real time information they need, so they can focus on customers rather than chasing emails and spreadsheets.”

Weis Markets

Weis Markets is partnering with Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions and implementing ELERA Security Suite with the aim of enhancing loss prevention measures and improving the overall customer experience.

ELERA Security Suite is now operational across self-checkout lanes in all 199 Weis locations, with plans to extend the technology to dual use and cashier lanes. The offering includes ELERA Loss Prevention and Produce Recognition.

“Our goal is to upgrade our technology stack and invest in Security Suite to provide a frictionless experience for our customers. Our customers have embraced produce recognition, with over 94% selecting to use it at self-checkout,” says Greg Zeh, CIO and SVP at Weis Markets.

“We are one of the first retail chains with ELERA Security Suite across our stores, ensuring speed, privacy, and performance. It is already strengthening real-time loss prevention.”

Klarna

Swedish FinTech firm, Klarna, has launched a new feature Tap to Pay across 14 European markets.

Utilising NFC technology, Tap to Pay turns the Klarna app into a contactless wallet, letting consumers set up a buy now pay later plan and pay with a tap, all in one place, without adding their card to another wallet or switching apps at checkout.

The move builds on the new debit first Klarna Card, now used by more than four million consumers. This is debit by default, with the option to activate credit when needed within the company’s app, and is accepted at over 150 million merchant locations worldwide through Visa Flexible Credential.

“Tap to Pay brings us closer to our vision of Klarna being everywhere for everything. Now you can set up a flexible payment plan and tap to pay in seconds, all inside our app. It makes the everyday shopping moments significantly smoother for our Klarna customers across Europe, giving them even more flexibility and choice at checkout,” says David Fock, Chief Product & Design Officer at Klarna.

The offering is now live for Klarna consumers across Germany, Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Portugal, Norway, Poland, Denmark and Sweden, and works on both iOS and Android devices. Support for Klarna Credit Card will be added soon.

Domino’s Pizza

Domino’s Pizza and Havas have released results of what is pitched as the first European advertising campaign to use Samsung Ads’ GameBreaks ad unit, which replaces the conventional ad with a branded, remote control powered trivia quiz or game.

The Domino’s campaign presented viewers with a pizza related trivia question: “According to a 2024 national survey, what do Americans choose as their favourite pizza topping?”, along with four possible answers.

Viewers could select their answer using the TV’s remote control, with an onscreen message telling them if they were right or wrong. The quiz section was then followed by a ten second section promoting Domino’s Ultimate Gunpower Chicken pizza, part of the Ultimate Indian Feast.

The campaign delivered an engagement rate of 3.84%, and a 31% uplift in brand consideration. 

GameBreaks launched earlier this year, initially in the US and Canada, rolling out to the UK over the summer.  Advertisers can customise trivia questions, themes, and design elements within GameBreaks ads to align with campaign goals. 

Snapchat

Snapchat has launched Winter Village, a festive AR retail experience in partnership with Chopard, Lancôme and BOSS.

Throughout December, Snapchatters can explore the village's boutiques and discover new products, just as they would in real-life, before shopping one of the brand’s e-commerce sites.

Chopard invites visitors into a digital reinterpretation of its boutique. Snapchatters can browse displays showcasing the Maison’s watches and jewellery, with each piece revealing its story and craftsmanship through an interactive product card.

Lancôme takes people on a poetic journey through beauty and light. Inspired by the Lancôme Express and its signature soft pink aesthetic.

This AR experience reimagines the luxury perfume store as a glowing train carriage floating above snowy mountains. Inside, visitors wander through a pink and gold interior where each fragrance icon is presented like a precious treasure. Selecting a product reveals the story and inspiration behind each creation.

BOSS, meanwhile, is unveiling its Augmented Factory, a festive space with copper toned walls and wooden crates, animated by a central conveyor belt highlighting the latest BOSS x Steiff collection, an exclusive collaboration where BOSS’ signature elevated aesthetic meets the timeless charm of Steiff’s beloved teddy bears with the trademark ‘Button in Ear’.

Smythson

Red Ant reports that it is working with luxury goods company Smythson with the aim of delivering an enhanced in-store experience.

Alexandre Oliveira, Smythson’s IT Director, says: "Our clients expect - and deserve - the very best experience, and the Red Ant team’s deep knowledge of luxury makes them the ideal partner. We’re looking forward to enhancing our in-store capabilities even further."

Hannah Ross, Red Ant’s Head of Client Success, says: "We’re privileged to be working with a brand that is truly committed to excellence in everything it does, and our experience in luxury retail  means we’re perfectly placed to help Smythson achieve its goals."

Puma

Puma has opened the doors to its largest ever European flagship store, situated on Oxford Street in London.

Focusing on immersive story telling, the store, located close to Selfridges and Bond Street Tube Station, spans 24,000 square feet and features Puma’s running technology NITRO, its football boots FUTURE, ULTRA and KING, as well as its current range of lifestyle products. 

“The opening of our Oxford Street flagship is an exciting moment for us,” says Arthur Hoeld, CEO at Puma. “It’s our first flagship store in Europe, which gives us the chance to connect with more people than ever before - right in the heart of one of the world’s most iconic shopping destinations.”

“It is a powerful platform to engage directly with consumers, showcase our latest performance innovations, and strengthen our brand presence in one of the world’s most influential retail destinations. This space not only highlights our product excellence, but also celebrates our heritage and long-standing connection with elite athletes.”

Bolt

Checkout, identity and payments specialist, Bolt, has announced the introduction of Bolt ID, a network identity system that, it claims, helps merchants and shoppers reduce the growing risks associated with synthetic identity fraud and account takeover attacks.

The system operates across Bolt’s checkout network and aims to strengthen the integrity of shopper identity without requiring users to create an account or opt into a marketing programme. It functions as a security control that verifies key elements of identity during checkout so that merchants and consumers can complete transactions with greater confidence.

“The future of e-commerce depends on environments that people can trust, yet the foundations behind that experience have not kept pace with the way shoppers live and buy,” says Ryan Breslow, Founder and CEO at Bolt.

“Many systems still assume that identity is fixed, when in reality it shifts across devices, retailers, and moments of intent. Our network shows how often gaps appear between those systems and how important it is to close them for the sake of the consumer."

"Bolt ID helps move the industry toward that standard by confirming that a real person is behind a purchase, while giving shoppers more agency and a quiet, always on layer of protection that strengthens their sense of safety without adding friction. Stronger identity safeguards are now essential for an industry that wants to grow with integrity and put people first.”

Jysk

Jysk, a home furnishing retailer headquartered in Denmark, has partnered with WSO2.

The company has over 3,300 stores across more than 48 countries (25 being in the UK) and opening approximately 150 new locations in Europe each year.

This expansion placed increasing pressure on its IT infrastructure to scale and evolve, particularly its API ecosystem, which supports critical business functions such as omnichannel retail, inventory management, point of sale integrations, and e-commerce.

Jysk's APIs were widely used across departments, but they lacked standardisation and central governance. Each team operated with its own guidelines, resulting in limited visibility into API assets, usage patterns, and life cycle management.

This made it daunting to maintain consistent quality and security, scale efficiently for new stores and online growth, manage dependencies between systems, and handle peak events like Black Friday without compromising performance.

The retailer selected WSO2 API Manager as its enterprise API management platform. It says that WSO2 was chosen for its focused, best-of-breed capabilities as a dedicated API management solution, its open source model offering flexibility and transparency, and its reputation for responsive technical support.

Carfume and Moto

Carfume is laying claim to the world’s first vending machines for luxury car fragrances. Available to purchase now, these stock the full range of Carfume’s fragrances, including limited edition products. 

Following a six-month trial, it has inked an exclusive three-year partnership with Moto to expand the machines nationwide. 

There are currently 23 vending machines at Moto service stations around the UK, with plans to launch another 100 across more service stations, shopping centres, and other high traffic locations in 2026. Priced at £4.95, the fragrances have been selling around 10,000 units per month. 

Sean Mallon, Carfume CEO, says: “This is a truly unique retail innovation; no other global brand has launched a dedicated vending concept for luxury car fragrances. Our partnership with Moto allows us to bring convenience, exclusivity and a little indulgence to drivers all across the UK."

“We are continuously expanding, and our partnership with Moto is a huge step forward in our success. After seeing the demand for these products during the trial period, we knew it was time to expand our operations, and we hope to increase our presence even further next year.”

In addition to the Moto partnership, Carfume is also stocked nationally in the likes of Halfords, The Range, B&M, and Asda.