Smart stores in German airports: it can only be 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 systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past few days, including Petbarn, SumUp, The O2, Hightouch, Lekkerland SE, MediaMarktSaturn, Dolce&Gabbana, Currys, Deloitte, Ikea, and Serve Robotics.

1. Australian retailer Petbarn partners with reo, powered by oOh!media to deliver retail media network

Petbarn has announced the launch of a retail media network giving brand partners exclusive access to  shoppers through the PetAds platform.

The retailer has partnered with reo, powered by oOh!media on this, and lays claim to the first comprehensive and scalable platform for pet media in Australia.

Leveraging insights from Petbarn’s 2.9 million members of its Friends for Life loyalty programme, brands can deliver targeted and personalised campaigns, while closed-loop reporting offers measurable sales outcomes and visibility on return on advertising spend.

Reo will manage end-to-end service delivery including onsite, off-site and in-store retail media solutions, as well as sales representation with a dedicated team. It will also install and manage Petbarn’s in-store screen network across its chain of stores nationally.

Lucas Barry, Chief Executive Officer, Greencross Pet Wellness Company, says: “We’re always looking for innovative ways to help brands provide closer touchpoints to enhance the Petbarn shopping experience of our 2.9 million loyal customers. PetAds will deliver best-in-class media products, while allowing us to focus on what we do best - caring for pets and delivering on our mission of making the world a happier place through the love of pets.”

2. SumUp appointed official payment processor for live entertainment, leisure, retail destination The O2

FinTech big hitter SumUp has been appointed the official payment processor for live  entertainment, leisure, and retail destination, The O2. The multi-year deal, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, covers supply of payment processing on-site (including SumUp’s Point of Sale solutions as well as self-service kiosk) and sponsorship of payment processing across the London venue.

The deal will see it dovetail with American Express, the preferred method of payment at The O2 (Amex customers receive benefits like exclusive concession offers with American Express cards and access to the American Express Lounge).

Located on the Greenwich peninsula across the river from Canary Wharf, The O2 has welcomed over 100 million visitors since opening in 2007, and hosts over 200 events a year from the biggest names in music, sport, comedy and entertainment. It is set to host a UK exclusive residency with Usher, who will be bringing his tour to the venue for ten nights in April, as well as standout shows from the likes of Billie Eilish and Katy Perry.

3. Hightouch bags $80m Series C at $1.2bn valuation as it brings AI decisioning to retail marketers

Hightouch, a composable CDP and AI decisioning platform, has raised an $80 million Series C investment round at a valuation of $1.2 billion. This was led by Sapphire Ventures, with participation from NVC, Amplify Ventures, ICONIQ Growth, and Bain Capital Ventures. Sapphire Ventures Partner Rajeev Dham will join the Hightouch board.

The investment will help drive adoption of the company’s AI Decisioning product which lets marketers identify a business goal and then lets AI agents deliver the one to one experience that will achieve it. AI Decisioning and Hightouch’s composable CDP product have brought in enterprise customers like PetSmart, Spotify, and Accor Hotels.

“We’ve talked about 1:1 personalisation for years, but it’s not possible with the way marketers work today. Everything is too slow, too manual, and usually results in customers receiving a blizzard of irrelevant communications,” says Tejas Manohar, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Hightouch.

“Our vision is to use AI to help marketers break free of manual work. Instead of building rigid calendars and static journeys that are inherently impersonal, marketers can simply enter goals like ‘drive repeat purchases and subscriptions’ and let AI agents decide what to do next at a 1:1 level. It’s a reimagining of the job of being a marketer.”  

4. German retailer MediaMarktSaturn preps nationwide parcel shop roll-out with DPD and GLS following pilot

MediaMarktSaturn is integrating parcel shops in almost all 400 Media Markt and Saturn markets in Germany.

After a pilot project in around 50 markets, customers can now pick up and send parcels from DPD Germany and GLS Germany. In February, 30 more stores will be equipped.

"For us, close cooperation with retailers is an essential part of our journey to more parcel drop-off and acceptance points and thus more convenience for senders and recipients. As a leading electronics retailer with a strong brand, extensive market network and high customer frequency, MediaMarktSaturn is an extremely attractive partner," says Jens Haberecht, Group Manager Parcelshop at DPD Germany.

5. M-Cube rustles up bespoke digital signage for new flagship Dolce&Gabbana store in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia

M-Cube has designed the digital customer experience for the Dolce&Gabbana flagship store in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

This plays a key role in Bujairi Terrace, a high end shopping destination developed under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme. It is the largest Dolce&Gabbana boutique in the Gulf region.

The store delivers an immersive experience, featuring exclusive fashion collections, jewellery, fragrances, and a dedicated Dolce&Gabbana Café, the first of its kind in the area. M-Cube designed, engineered, and installed custom LED solutions.

The circular design presented a unique challenge, requiring custom engineered digital solutions that complemented its curved architecture while maintaining the refined aesthetic. Every element is connected to a real-time content management system, enabling Dolce&Gabbana to adapt its digital messaging dynamically. 

Luca Violato, Stores & Properties at Dolce&Gabbana, comments: "M-Cube engineered, supplied, and installed all LED walls in our Diriyah boutique. Their team also managed the complex logistics of Saudi Arabia with great efficiency. They were highly proactive, ensuring smooth execution despite the challenges of last minute modifications."

6. Serve Robotics makes Miami Metro move as company offers autonomous delivery for Shake Shack and Mister O1

Autonomous sidewalk delivery company, Serve Robotics, has announced the launch of its service in the Miami metro area, alongside the expansion of its existing partnership with Shake Shack and new tie up with Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza.

Customers who order from select Shake Shack and Mister O1 locations in the Brickell and Miami Beach neighbourhoods with Uber Eats can receive their next order via Serve’s autonomous robots.

This expansion builds on Serve’s growth in Los Angeles and its planned entry into the Dallas-Fort Worth market. With approximately 120,000 residents and bustling commercial districts, the company says that Miami Beach and Brickell provide an ideal setting for sustainable robotic delivery.

“Expanding to the Miami Metro is a major step in our mission to make sustainable, autonomous delivery a reality across the US,” says Ali Kashani, CEO and Co-founder at Serve Robotics. “By bringing robotic delivery to forward-thinking communities that embrace innovation, we’re helping reduce emissions and traffic congestion while supporting local restaurants and enhancing the customer experience.”

7. Deloitte encouraging employees to recycle tech for free through Currys Cash for Trash and trade-in initiatives

Currys is supporting Deloitte’s new Recycle for Good launch, enabling the latter’s 25,000 UK people to recycle their old tech and electricals at the former’s stores. 

Deloitte is encouraging its people to do so for free through Currys Cash for Trash and trade-in initiatives. By doing so, they will also receive at least a £5 Currys voucher, regardless of where and when the tech was originally purchased.

The UK retailer plans to then return some of the collected tech that might be reusable back to Deloitte, so the firm can donate it through its device donation scheme as part of its commitment to digital inclusion.

The collaboration builds upon Deloitte’s existing programme, which sees all its retired laptops recycled and donated to charities and schools. Deloitte says that it has thus far provided over 17,500 refurbished laptops to those who need them the most.

8. Cashierless Rewe To Go Smart Box store opens doors in public arrivals area of Germany's Frankfurt airport

Lekkerland SE’s 20th entry in its smart store concept push, the Rewe To Go Smart Box, is now live at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 Gate B.

In a LinkedIn post, Mehmet Tözge, Vice President Smart Stores at Lekkerland SE, said: “Customer preferences have changed. End consumers want to shop 24/7, quickly and with as few contacts as possible. We’re developing smart stores to meet the evolving expectations of end consumers.”

The Rewe To Go Smart Box is equipped with computer vision technology from AiFi Iand smart vending solutions from Stüwer. The check-in application was developed by Futuremind.

The shopper scans a cashless means of payment at the check in terminal. After that, they can enter the store. Computer vision cameras record which products have been removed. The amount due is automatically debited from the previously scanned means of payment.

In addition, it is possible to select products at Stüwer’s smart vending solution with touch display and then receive them via the output compartment. This is used in particular for tobacco and alcoholic products. Age verification by scanning an identity card or driver's licence ensures compliance with youth protection regulations.

9. Ikea seeks more seamless, personalised, inspiring shopping journey with mobile app enhancements

Ikea has announced several new features on its mobile app. It says that the enhancements will create a more seamless, personalised, and inspiring shopping journey.

The Ikea Kreativ 3D experience aims to take the guesswork out of buying furniture by previewing items in a space or rotating them in 3D to see all angles.

Other new tools include:

Customers can scan and shop as they move through the store, skipping queues and enjoying more time for a post-shopping coffee.

The mobile wallet feature enables faster, more secure transactions.

Orders, updates, cancellations and returns can be managed in one place, streamlining the process and saving time.

People can enjoy shorter waiting times when ordering at the Ikea restaurant and bistro though the app.

They can now view their local store page, check quieter times, and access exclusive local offers.

Customers can now get notified when cool stuff is happening at an Ikea store nearby. They will get the latest information on events, offers, new collections and back in-store notifications.

All purchase details, including receipts and order history, are stored in the app for easy access.

10. lululemon opens largest flagship store in EMEA to date as Regent Street, London location sees double

Performance apparel, footwear, and accessories brand, lululemon, is relocating its London Regent Street flagship store to a bigger space, making it the company's largest store in EMEA.

The new location is double the size of the previous one, with 8,923 sq ft of retail space. It will house lululemon’s men’s and women’s clothing and accessories for yoga, running, training, and everything in-between.

Unique features include lululemon’s biggest pant wall in Europe, its largest assortment of menswear in EMEA, and elements of its newest store design concept. There will also be a water bottle personalisation station and a staircase light feature, which changes tones depending on time of day.

“We’re so excited to open the doors to our biggest store in EMEA”, says Sarah Clark, Senior Vice President, lululemon EMEA. “Regent Street is one of the most important shopping destinations in the world, and 11 years after opening our first store in London we’re delighted to welcome our community to our newest flagship store.”

“With double the space of our previous location, our guests will be able to discover our all gender offering for yoga, run, training, casual, localised product and more, across two incredible floors showcasing our latest beautiful store design. lululemon has seen significant International growth in recent years - we have ambitions to quadruple International sales from 2021-2026 - and this London flagship store will be a must visit destination for both our local and international guests at an exciting time in our EMEA expansion.”