Walmart steps up commitment to the gaming world: check out the biggest retail technology stories from March
March is done and dusted, April is up and running, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful month for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from March including Ikea, Studenac market, Exotec, Oxford Industries, Tesco, Ocado Group, Prime Markets, Simbe, Klarna, and Heineken.
1. Omnichannel thought leaders: RTIH presents its latest Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List
Here are the people who made a splash in 2024 and are set for a barnstorming 2025.
RTIH has scoured the retail technology world to find the most influential figures for this comprehensive list of people and trends that shape the industry and help drive it forward.
We’re living in unprecedented times.
In a post-Covid world, we’re witnessing a seismic change in shopping habits. Retailers are taking innovative technologies like AR, AI, machine learning, and finding ways to use them to boost business efficiency and make customer experiences more exciting and dynamic.
Which is where the RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List comes in, presented, we should stress, in no particular order.
Such disruption requires new ways of problem solving and thought leaders who can both evangelise and execute on the likes of digital transformation and omnichannel success.
We hope you enjoy reading through it and, as always, if you would like to give feedback or believe that there are some glaring omissions, please feel free to get in touch (a contact us form can be found at the end of this article).
Many thanks to 3D Cloud, which provides 3D product visualisation software trusted by top furniture and DIY retailers, for sponsoring the report.
2. Exotec agrees Oxford Industries partnership to deploy Skypod system in new multi-brand distribution centre
Warehouse robotics provider, Exotec, has been selected by Oxford Industries to automate its new distribution centre in Lyons, Georgia, USA.
Oxford Industries is a specialist in the apparel industry and owns several brands including Tommy Bahama, Lilly Pulitzer and Johnny Was.
The new 560,000+-square-foot facility is designed to process more than 20 million units a year, making it Exotec’s largest and most intricate robotic deployment to date. Its Skypod system, which will serve as the picking engine for the whole warehouse, will consist of over 450,000 storage locations and more than 450 robots.
Exotec will integrate its hardware and software with third-party machinery to offer end-to-end warehouse automation and support receiving, decanting, sorting, and packing, as well as outbound shipment. The system will also enable the company to handle returns, cutting the amount of time and labour needed to inspect, sort, and store returned items, streamlining the process of making it available for resale.
“As the largest Exotec deployment to date, the Oxford Industries project not only showcases the performance and scalability of our system, but also the sophistication of our integration capabilities.” says Romain Moulin, CEO and Co-founder at Exotec.
“Having a client like Oxford Industries select Exotec as the integrator for a project of this complexity speaks volumes about the trust they put in our ability to deliver end-to-end warehouse automation that goes beyond our standard Skypod system.”
3. Klarna lands a blow on FinTech rival Affirm as it bags exclusive buy now pay later partnership with Walmart
Klarna is set to become the exclusive provider of buy now, pay later loans for Walmart, nabbing the partnership from rival FinTech firm Affirm.
The Swedish firm, which this month publicly filed a registration statement (Form F-1) with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a proposed initial public offering (IPO) of its ordinary shares, will partner with OnePay, a consumer finance app backed by Walmart and Ribbit Capital, to offer installment loans for purchases at the retailer in the United States. OnePay is already integrated inside of Walmart’s physical and digital channels.
"This is a game changer,” says Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Co-founder and CEO, Klarna. “Millions of people in the US shop at Walmart every day - and now they can shop smarter with OnePay installment loans powered by Klarna. OnePay choosing Klarna as their exclusive installment loans partner at Walmart in the US is a huge vote of confidence as we pursue our goal of being available everywhere for everything. We look forward to helping redefine checkout at the world’s largest retailer - both online and in stores.”
The loans will cover thousands of items, including electronics, home and garden, and automotive. Once approved, people will be able to choose from a range of repayment terms, from 3 to 36 months, and have the ability to manage this in the OnePay app.
4. 'Out of touch' Tesco under fire for large trolley checkout scales trial at grocery giant's Gateshead store
Tesco is testing out giant trolley checkout scales at its Gateshead Trinity Square Extra store.
The aim is to identify items that customers may have missed or duplicated while using the retailer's Scan as You Shop service, which is exclusive to Clubcard members.
In a LInkedIn post, Lee Coopersmith, Director of Business Development at Cleveron, said: "Before joining Cleveron, I had the privilege of being a key contributor to this Tesco project, and like many, I find it tough to leave behind something I’ve invested so much effort into (over three years!), especially when I know it’s bound for success. A huge congratulations to Bizerba and Supersmart for making this happen in the UK. Excited to see where this journey takes them next."
There have been mostly negative reactions to the trial among customers on social media, with one user on Reddit likening the experience to “border control”.
Another quipped: “No Clubcard? Deported!”
Over on X, meanwhile, @BradChuck said: "Having fallen foul to the @Tesco policy of making you look like a criminal every time you use the scanner to shop, for them to then not belive you and rescan all your shopping again whilst making you look like a shoplifter, these new weight measuring gates are nothing new."
And @ClareBeveridge commented: "So now you have to have your trolley weighed after self scan in @Tesco, how much has that cost? You just don’t get it do you? Bring back proper checkout tills."
5. Here's why there's a dark cloud hanging over loss making retail technology trailblazer Ocado Group
There's a dark cloud hanging over Ocado Group and it goes by the name of Kroger. That's the view of Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive.
Ladd was speaking as Ocado Group said it would scale back its research and development workforce in the UK and globally as it remained loss-making last year despite a strong performance from its online retail arm. The company specialises in robotic warehouses for other retailers alongside its Ocado Retail business as a joint venture with M&S.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: "I’m a fan of the technology created by Ocado Group, and I believe the company should be respected for pushing the grocery industry to think differently about how they operate."
"I believe Ocado Founder and CEO Tim Steiner, has fought the good fight to keep pushing grocery retailers globally to embrace the use of Ocado’s customer fulfillment centres (CFC), even as the company has experienced over $1.5 billion in losses, and encountered stiff resistance to their business model. Like Jeff Bezos when he launched Amazon, Steiner has learned that sometimes the only person who believes in a company is the founder."
He added: "For the eternally optimistic Steiner, there are many reasons to be cheerful. He points out that back in 2012, the average time for Ocado to fulfil an order was 25 minutes. Today an Ocado CFC is capable of fulfilling a 45 to 50-item order with around 10 minutes at 1/7th the cost of using human labour."
"Ocado has also expanded the use cases for CFCs to include fulfilling non-grocery items for retailers and orders for B2B clients, and the company is finding success."
But regardless of the improvements made to Ocado’s technology, or the expansion into other retail categories, Kroger poses a big problem. It is Ocado’s largest and most important customer. The goal is to build 20 CFCs, and eight CFCs have been opened. However, the eight CFCs actually convert into 13 standard sized Ocado CFCs with three more being built.
6. Studenac market focuses on digital solutions and sustainability with new logistics and distribution centre
Croatian retailer Studenac market has provided an update on the status of construction of a new logistics and distribution centre in Velika Gorica, pitched as a key step in strengthening its supply chain.
On 36,000 square metres of warehouse space, with an investment of over €10 million, the aim here is to optimise distribution, improve logistics processes and create over 400 new jobs.
In a LinkedIn post, Studenac market said: "In addition to advanced digital solutions, we also focus on the energy efficiency of the building, so about 80% of the roof will be covered with solar panels. In this way, we continue to raise our logistics and distribution to the highest level of excellence."
"By mid-2026, we will operate as many as two completely new, technologically advanced, sustainable and environmentally efficient facilities. While the works in Velika Gorica are progressing, in the meantime, a contract has been signed for the new LDC Split in Dugopolje, which will cover 23 thousand square metres. Ready for the future - because growth never stops!"
7. Walmart Skyward experience goes live ahead of A Minecraft Movie theatrical release during April
Walmart has launched its first ever server on Minecraft Java Edition.
Walmart Skyward is being released in the run up to A Minecraft Movie hitting cinemas in April.
It is pitched as an action packed, story driven server on Minecraft Java Edition where players embark on a space adventure to find a lost friend. It will run over the course of six weeks, with a new chapter being released each week, taking players on a journey across galaxies to uncover the secrets of an interstellar civilisation.
"While Walmart Skyward is not an official Minecraft service, we’ve created a truly immersive experience for players and YouTube content creators alike, offering endless content creation possibilities with our chapter-based format. Walmart is also players' go to destination for Minecraft products, including exclusive items from The Minecraft Movie," says Justin Breton, Head of Brand Marketing Innovation at Walmart.
"This activation is a significant step in our growing commitment to the world of gaming. With over three billion gamers worldwide and even more gaming content consumers, gaming is more than just entertainment - it’s a culture. From Minecraft lovers to YouTube creators, we're here to make gaming even more accessible, creative, and unforgettable."
8. Prime Markets becomes first retailer in Saudi Arabia to bring Tally inventory robot to stores
Simbe reports a partnership with Universal Cold Store (Prime Markets), a grocery retail chain in Saudi Arabia, involving the introduction of its autonomous robot, Tally.
In a first for the region, the aim here is to enhance inventory management, improve pricing accuracy, and elevate the customer experience across select Prime Markets locations.
Tally autonomously roams store aisles and scans shelves multiple times a day. Using AI and computer vision technology, it identifies out-of-stock items, pricing errors, and misplaced products, collecting product data. With its insights, store teams can ensure that customers’ desired items are adequately stocked and priced correctly, while also enabling faster fulfillment of online orders.
“We are committed to delivering the highest quality shopping experience for our valued customers, and Tally is a power tool for taking that to the next level,” says Nooman Hussain, IT Director, Prime Markets. “Based on Tally’s proven performance in stores around the globe, we’re excited to bring this technology to our stores in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
9. Ikea unveils its largest fulfilment store after extensive revamp project in Budapest, Hungary
Ikea has uunveiled its redesigned Soroksár store in Budapest, pitched as a major step in the retailer’s efforts to adapt its physical locations for an omnichannel world.
For the first time ever, it has merged the Market Hall and the Showroom into one floor, dedicating the other floor to online fulfilment.
The latter area brings under one roof automation and digital solutions that Ingka Group, the biggest Ikea retailer, has tested separately in different markets but not until now utilised together in one place. The result is its biggest fulfilment store in Europe, and the largest fulfilment store in the world by 2026.
The nearly Euro 50 million investment has doubled the store’s online sales capacity to almost a million orders a year, and aims to enhance in-person shopping and e-commerce fulfilment while ensuring a full product range remains available for customers in the store.
“It’s really a different kind of experience if you’re going through the Soroksár store compared to any other Ikea store around the world. The shopping journey is shorter, more interactive and automated, and it still offers our customers the full Ikea experience - complete with our entire product range, expertise of our co-workers, and of course delicious food,” says David McCabe, Country Retail Manager & Chief Sustainability Officer at Ikea Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia.
Features like the Rug Projector tool bring products to life, while digital kiosks and the Ikea app simplify browsing, in-store navigation, and post-purchase engagement.
10. Heineken launches Global GenAI Lab in Singapore as it ramps up digital transformation push
Heineken has announced the launch of its first Global Generative AI (GenAI) Lab in Singapore.
Ronald den Elzen, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Heineken, says: "We aim to be the world’s best connected brewer. GenAI will play an increasingly important role in understanding consumer needs, enhancing customer engagement, and improving productivity throughout the company.”
“The establishment of the Global GenAI Lab marks a significant milestone in our digital transformation journey, highlighting our strategic focus on advanced GenAI technologies as essential drivers for growth, efficiency, and innovation.”
Kenneth Choo, Managing Director, APAC, says: “We are pleased to announce our Global GenAI Lab in partnership with AI Singapore. This Lab will serve as a global centre of expertise, driving AI innovation at a local level while enhancing our operations on a global scale.”
“By taking this significant step, we are strategically positioning ourselves for a resilient and thriving future, reaffirming our commitment to Singapore and the Asia Pacific region. By harnessing Singapore’s exceptional AI ecosystem, skilled talent and supportive government policies, we are excited to drive the development of innovative solutions that will transform the beverage industry for years to come."
The Lab will lead the development of scalable GenAI solutions across critical business areas, including agentic systems that can autonomously solve complex problems, from automated marketing content creation to intelligent financial reporting and next-generation customer support and knowledge management systems.
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