All American eyes on the Trump administration: our most read retail technology articles from last week

Check out the articles on this here website that caught your fancy last week, including Cart.com, Primark, Amazon, Ikea, Reckon.ai, Hugo Boss, Qsic, Outdoor and Cycle Concepts partners, and Pricer.

Cart.com research finds retailers prepping 2025 investments in CX, AI, machine learning and data analytics

Unified commerce solutions provider, Cart.com, has released survey findings among 351 US retail operations leaders detailing investment priorities for 2025. 74% of respondents indicated that they are waiting to see what new policies are enacted by the Trump administration before fully dedicating their budgets.

Top findings from the study include increased investments in: Customer experience; AI and machine learning; Inventory management systems; Real-time data analytics; Cybersecurity measures.

Despite some disappointments in 2024 investments, retail leaders are recalibrating their budgets to address inefficiencies, shifting funds away from costly last-mile delivery solutions and underperforming inventory management software and redirecting investment to promising areas such as digitalisation, warehouse automation, and last mile delivery.

“The retail industry is transforming even further in 2025, driven by technological advancements and shifting consumer demands,” says Ilias Simpson, President at Cart.com. “In addition, the results of the recent election and the new administration’s tariff announcements demand that brands reassess their supply chain among potential regulatory and policy changes, including the looming rule change that will close the 321 de minimis loophole."

Currys tests out in-store QR code powered 'want to know more?' experience for product browsing

Currys has launched a pilot of an initiative the retailer intends to bring to market across its stores, a QR code enabled “want to know more?” experience that customers can trigger on their smartphone as they’re browsing products.

In a LinkedIn post, Dan Rubel, Brand & Marketing Director at Currys, said: "I believe this will be a gamechanger for us. I can’t believe we didn’t do it like this earlier. Mimic the in-store shopper experience by clicking here for yourself.”

"For nearly every piece of tech we sell, our physical fixtures don’t have enough space to wax lyrical about everything that tech can do. We skim the surface and that will become even more of a reality as AI becomes ever more embedded in the tech we buy. Sometimes customers want to know more than the fixture can tell them, but they’re not quite ready to chat to an expert colleague."

He added: "So Ainsley Sykes (Head of Commercial Initiatives at Currys) and his crew have grabbed hold of that challenge and smashed it to pieces with a blend of old and new tech.”

On triggering the QR code, shoppers will experience a social inspired dramatisation of the product’s key benefits (short sharp vignettes, using motion graphics or video). The content aims to be easy to skip through (bearing in mind that people are interested in different things) and with links to deeper detail for those who need that. And in the future there will be an AI fuelled chat function enabling customers to ask specific questions.

Primark journey shows digital transformation not about ditching successful business models

Now is the critical moment for Primark to accelerate its digital journey. The convergence of the retailer's enhanced website capabilities, growing digital engagement, and robust store network creates a unique opportunity, argues Matthew Critchley, CEO at Odin Stones and former CMO at Kingfisher.

Primark is positioned to redefine value driven retail for an omnichannel age by leveraging its physical presence while expanding digital touchpoints, he adds.

Critchley made his comments as sales at Primark dropped for the first time since the Covid pandemic lockdowns, with the company saying its low income shoppers had been hit by economic worries.

Owner Associated British Foods (ABF) reported that sales at Primark’s established UK stores fell 6% in the final three months of the year.

Critchley said: "Primark's digital transformation presents a fascinating inflexion point. With 140 million website visits across 17 markets and a 23% global traffic increase, the numbers tell a compelling story: customers are ready for a digitally enabled Primark experience."

"The planned expansion of Click and Collect to all GB stores marks just the beginning. What's particularly intriguing is how Primark has maintained its core value proposition while strategically embracing digital innovation. Their approach to self-checkout technology in a few UK stores demonstrates their commitment to testing approaches to offering customer experience without compromising their cost-effective model."

Another one bites the dust as Amazon opts to shutter Go convenience store in California

Amazon will next month close its Amazon Go convenience store in Woodland Hills, California.

An Amazon spokesperson told RTIH that it’s being shut down after a portfolio assessment. The store is one of Amazon Go’s more spacious suburban formats.

At its peak in 2023, Amazon operated about 30 of these stores across Washington, California, New York and Illinois. But it has shuttered around half of these locations over the past three years.

AI powered in-store audio and retail media specialist Qsic bags $25 million in Series B funding

In-store audio platform, Qsic, has closed a $25 million Series B funding round led by Hedosophia.

That brings the total raised to date to $31.7 million.

Powering in-store audio and retail media for retailers and QSRs like 7-Eleven, Coles Express and McDonald's, the company currently reaches more than 100 million shoppers at the point of purchase monthly, with more than 70,000 speakers set to deploy across North America over the next year.

The funds will be used to support the expansion of its AI powered in-store audio platform into new retail locations, accelerate product development and scale its sales team. 

UK retailer Outdoor and Cycle Concepts partners with Pricer for digital in-store pricing initiative

Outdoor and Cycle Concepts (O&CC) has leveraged shelf-edge automation to improve operational efficiencies in-store, increase labour productivity and enhance customer service, in a partnership with Pricer.

As the UK’s largest specialist outdoor, run and snow sports retailer, O&CC operates Cotswold Outdoor, Runners Need and Snow+Rock. As well as offering a range of specialist sporting and outdoor goods, it builds in ‘value adding’ services, such as 3D foot scanning and running gait analysis, and outdoor footwear, pack and ski-boot fitting, into its store offer.

“Inspiring and supporting customers to get outside and enjoy the outdoors is our brand mission, and the services we build into our store offer are central to delivering this,” says Chris Jones, Strategic Operations Director at Cotswold Outdoor.

“Our store associates - all passionate experts with a shared love of the outdoors - play a key role in delivering that customer experience, sharing their knowledge, expertise and passion to kit out customers with the equipment to make exploring the outdoors all the more enjoyable.”

London calling as Reckon.ai preps launch of first autonomous microstore with Ikea

Reckon.ai reports that its first autonomous microstore in partnership with Ikea is about to open in London.

In a LinkedIn post, Ana Pinto, CEO at Reckon.ai, said: "By streamlining customer access to Ikea products, optimise inventory management, and boost efficiency - food service revolution is there and our technology is ready to support. Stay tuned for this super launch and new stores, close to you, are coming too."

Pinto did not respond to RTIH’s request for comment re. the exact store in London and the opening date. We will update this article as soon as this information is available to us.

Hugo Boss harnesses power of AI: last week’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance

RTIH rounds up the stand out retail tech deals, launches, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Including Co-op, YEEP!, New Look, SheerLuxe, Eurocell, Peak AI, Mountain Warehouse, BigCommerce, AiFi, Mastercard, and Levy Restaurants.