Including Primark, Old Navy, and Heineken: RTIH presents March's coolest retail technology plays

RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his stand out ‘future of retail’ systems deployments and launches from March, including Rovertown, RADAR, Walmart, Citi Trends, Invent.ai, CITY Furniture, 3D Cloud, Liverpool ONE, WelcoMe, Lowe's, Carrefour Belgium, Pinterest, Oxford Industries, and Exotec.

Old Navy

RADAR, whose platform combines RFID, AI and computer vision technology to track and locate in-store inventory in real-time, has announced a partnership with Gap's Old Navy brand.

Old Navy's multi-year plans include a phased roll-out of RADAR's technology across its nationwide store fleet to provide its store associates with real-time inventory information to locate items anywhere in the store and deliver an improved customer experience.

"We're excited to partner with RADAR, which offers a sophisticated platform and analytics that will give our teams greater real-time inventory visibility to provide an even better in-store shopping experience," says Haio Barbeito, Old Navy President and CEO.

"Building on the rigour and discipline that is now core to how we operate, this new technology can place power in the hands of our frontline teams to better serve our customers - an important factor in our long-term strategy to make Old Navy the most loved apparel brand in North America, standing for on-trend style, consistent quality, and frictionless experience, all at an accessible price."

Rovertown

Game Room is a new feature on the Rovertown platform that's designed to help convenience retailers turn app engagement into a daily habit.

“Game Room turns app engagement into a daily habit,” says Jeffry Harrison, President and Co-Founder at Rovertown. “When customers open your app every day to play and earn their daily rewards, they’re thinking about your brand constantly. That’s the kind of engagement every retailer wants.”

With more than 30 games available and eight active at any time, Game Room is centrally managed by Rovertown, with the aim of ensuring users always have relevant content. Players earn coins based on daily participation, not skill.

Retailers can also create a coupon catalogue and drive sales by allowing customers to redeem coins for in-store products. Game Room will also feature Rovertown’s instant win experiences, including the recently released Scratch Offs game.

“Our team piloted Game Room, and the results speak for themselves,” says Jessica Starnes, Director of Loyalty at Weigel’s. “Initial data shows that time spent in our app increased by 15.6% across all users. We’re excited to continue exploring how we can use this to drive deeper engagement with our customers.” 

Prime Markets

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.” 

Walmart

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."

Citi Trends

Invent.ai has been selected by Citi Trends, a value retailer of apparel, accessories and home trends primarily for African American and multicultural families in the US, to provide AI powered inventory solutions for allocation and replenishment.

Invent.ai’s AI and machine learning capabilities will help Citi Trends optimise inventory and enhance efficiency across nearly 600 stores and two distribution centres.

“We are excited to partner with invent.ai to transform our inventory management processes,” says Ken Seipel, Chief Executive Officer at Citi Trends. “By embracing AI and data driven decision-making, we are confident that we can significantly enhance our operational agility, improve our bottom line, and deliver exceptional experiences for our valued customers.”

CITY Furniture

CITY Furniture has deployed a suite of 3D tools, now live on its website.

With the recently launched 3D Cloud 360 Spins, WebAR, and CITY Furniture 3D Room Planner, customers can: Explore products from any angle with interactive 360 spins; See furniture in their space with WebAR augmented reality; Design entire rooms in 3D.

"We partnered with 3D Cloud because they share our commitment to innovation, quality, and exceptional customer experiences," says Andrew Koenig, CEO at CITY Furniture. "Scaling 3D content is challenging, and having the right partner makes all the difference. 3D Cloud delivers."

Heineken

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.

Oxford Industries and Exotec

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.”

Liverpool ONE

Liverpool ONE, a shopping, residential, and leisure complex in the UK, has launched accessibility service WelcoMe.

This allows visitors to share their accessibility requirements with Liverpool ONE’s guest services team ahead of their visit, ensuring they receive the right support when they arrive.

It is the first destination in the North West to introduce this service, joining nearly 100 locations across the UK.

“Today I'm feeling just that little bit more confident that we can and have turned a corner in making shopping more accessible and inclusive for those requiring a little support to feel more confident in their retail experiences,” says Gavin Neate, Founder at WelcoMe.

“Liverpool ONE is working with Sociability and Waymap and today adds WelcoMe to the solutions they offer to ensure that they are meeting the needs of their guests.”

Lowe's

Lowe’s has launched Style Studio for Apple Vision Pro in five stores across Austin, Texas, and its metro area. The app, developed by the retailer, allows customers to visualise and design a dream kitchen within an immersive, 3D experience.  

“By combining the power of Lowe’s Style Studio with our passion for helping customers, Lowe’s is transforming the retail experience like never before,” says Lowe’s Chief Digital and Information Officer Seemantini Godbole.

“This immersive in-store technology leverages the spatial computing technology of Apple Vision Pro to make it easier for customers to visualise, plan, and shop their dream kitchens, all in one seamless experience. This is yet another example of Lowe’s leading the industry in solving problems and fulfilling dreams for the home.”

Carrefour Belgium

Carrefour Belgium has developed a new autonomous micro-store concept, Carrefour BuyBye, in association with Reckon.AI, with the aim of tapping into opportunities beyond traditional retail.

The initiative has now seen a trial of an interactive fridge section at an Auderghem hypermarket.

"We’re proud to mark a new milestone with Carrefour Belgium, bringing smart stores to one of the largest hypermarkets in Auderghem - unlocking new revenue streams with ease," says Ana Pinto, CEO at Reckon.ai. "Trusted by Carrefour, our solution is live at HQ, franchised stores, and Publicis, with roll-outs expanding to hospitals, stations, and universities, driving growth and creating value together."

Matthieu Ullens, Director E-commerce, Data and Digital Transformation at Carrefour, comments: "This is the future of shopping - the interactive fridge that lets you buy and say bye in one seamless move.Developed with our amazing Innovation team, this new concept is designed to revolutionise the way our customers shop, combining convenience with cutting-edge technology."

He adds: "After successful technical tests, we’re now diving into financial viability assessments to measure its potential impact. The journey has already begun with Carrefour BuyBye units up and running at our Service Centre in Zaventem, in franchised stores, at our partner Publicis, and in other strategic locations such as hospitals, offices, and more.”

“We’re excited to see how the latest test at the Auderghem hypermarket unfolds. A huge thank you to all the teams who brought this idea to life. Your dedication is paving the way for a more innovative and effortless shopping experience. This is just the beginning as we continue to build the future for our customers."

Just Eat Takeaway.com

Just Eat Takeaway.com has inked an international partnership agreement with Manna to roll out drone operated deliveries.

Customers will have the choice to receive their orders from participating partners via drones, which will be deployed from local delivery hubs operated by Manna. Once the food has been loaded onto the drone, they will receive their orders in as little as three minutes, it is claimed.

This service is now available in Dublin, Ireland. The aim is to roll this out internationally to more Just Eat Takeaway.com countries. Manna operates under the pan-European regulatory framework set by EASA (the European Union Aviation Safety Agency) and is developing roll-out plans in collaboration with partners, local authorities, and communities to expand its services to more countries in Europe. 

Primark and Pinterest

Primark is for the first time ever officially launching a Pinterest inspired new Spring home collection.

As new research (which involved a survey of 2,003 Brits) reveals a lack of money (51%) and a lack of inspiration (22%) are some of the biggest challenges when it comes to redecorating, the pair say that they are partnering to make it easier than ever to design and transform your space with stylish, budget friendly pieces.

The new collection, launching in Primark stores and available to purchase via Pinterest using Click & Collect, is inspired by the social media platform's search data and features products from Spring floral crockery, to soft pink frill bedding. The three hottest trends that have informed the collections are - Cosy Cottage, Minamaluxe and Dainty Décor.

To style the new collection before they buy it, people can head to Pinterest and use Collages -  an interactive tool to pull together their vision, using cutouts of products from the Primark range. It’s then possible to bag the collection in a new way, as the Collages link directly to Click & Collect, which is now available in over 130 Primark stores across Great Britain. Shoppers can also purchase the range in stores throughout March.

Sinead McDonagh, Head of Design at Primark, says: “Pinterest is where so many of us go for home inspiration, but sometimes turning those saved Pins into reality isn’t always easy, especially on a budget. That’s why at Primark Home, we’re committed to making trend led interiors affordable and effortless."