Tesco taps dynamic digital information: check out this week's coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail’ systems launches and deployments from the past week, including Alipay, e.l.f. Beauty, Roblox, Matin Kim, Screwfix, THG Ingenuity, Currys, Shopify, Walmart, Simbe, Theisen’s Home Farm and Auto, Walmart, Instacart, and Schnucks.
Walmart
Walmart's Express Delivery offering allows customers to have their prescriptions – and everything else they need to feel better – delivered to their doorstep in as fast as an hour.
To create awareness of this service, the retailer is launching a campaign that pays homage to the most famous sick day ever - Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - with a modern twist. This features actress Anna Faris in a role that flips the script to a sick day in.
Faris plays a character who, feeling under the weather, uses Walmart Express Delivery to get her prescription meds delivered in as fast as an hour. As she waits, she has an epiphany: what else could she get through the service to make the most of her sick day? The campaign showcases the convenience and speed of Express Delivery, highlighting how it can transform a sick day into a more comfortable and manageable experience.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off fans can also catch 20 easter eggs sprinkled throughout the spot – from a Red Ferrari to the iconic fedora and trench coat.
Instacart and Schnucks
Instacart reports that its AI powered Caper Carts are being deployed across more Schnucks locations in Missouri and, for the first time, into Illinois.
The roll-out brings them to five new stores and introduces a key new hardware feature: a lower tray, designed to help customers easily shop for heavy, bulk items like cases of water and pet food.
Schnucks was one of the first grocers to deploy Caper Carts in 2024. Customers can scan as they shop, track their total, receive personalised recommendations and savings, and check out directly from the cart, with no lines required.
“Schnucks was an early adopter of Caper Carts, so they’ve seen first hand how the carts can drive a double digit basket size increase,” says David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart. “Whether customers are looking to save money, stay on budget, or simply enjoy the convenience and ability to scan, pay, and go - we’re proud to offer an engaging and personalised way to shop for Schnucks customers.”
“It’s clear to us that customers love shopping with Caper Carts - and at our newly launched stores, we’re seeing many times throughout the day where all ten carts are in use,” says Chace MacMullan, Senior Director of Digital Experience at Schnucks.
“As a family owned grocer, we’re always looking for new ways to stay competitive and improve the in-store experience for our customers. Caper Carts are intuitive and make shopping fun and engaging.”
Tesco
As part of an expanded pilot, Tesco is trialling QR codes powered by GS1 in a small number of stores.
This replaces traditional barcodes on 12 own brand meat and produce lines in a small number of locations across southern England.
Developed in collaboration with GS1 UK and ten supplier partners, the initiative is primarily focused on capturing use by dates and batch numbers.
This is pitched as the first trial of its kind and scale by a UK supermarket. The focus here is on core operational data and laying the foundation for future use cases, such as linking to allergen information, sourcing and sustainability credentials, and recycling guidance.
“While it’s still early days, we’re already seeing the benefits of connecting our products to dynamic digital information that will help customers to know more about the products on our shelves,” says Isabela De Pedro, Supply Chain Development & Change Director at Tesco.
”As well as improving the customer experience and unlocking new supply chain value, we are testing how QR codes can help Tesco with issues including traceability, compliance, sustainability and shelf-edge communication.”
Iain Walker, Director of Industry Engagement at GS1 UK, says: “This trial is a clear signal that the retail industry is entering a new chapter. QR codes powered by GS1 allow brands and retailers to share richer, more trusted information - at the Point of Sale, at home, or anywhere in between. Tesco is helping to lead the way, demonstrating how digital product identity can unlock both commercial and consumer value.”
e.l.f. Beauty
e.l.f. Beauty is laying claim to being the first ever beauty brand to launch a financial literacy game on Roblox.
Developed by Karta, Fortune Island: Earn Learn Flex, in partnership with Chime, a financial technology company, was created by e.l.f. to unite the community in a fun, engaging way while teaching essential financial decision-making skills.
“Gen Z would rather talk about literally anything than money or debt - so we flipped the script,” says Patrick O’Keefe, Chief Integrated Marketing Officer at e.l.f. Beauty. “We created Fortune Island: Earn. Learn. Flex to equip our community with the skills and swagger to be their best e.l.f. selves. By building real connections and fueling personal growth, we’re not just creating a safe space - we’re creating a launchpad for Gen Z to flex their power, own their future and thrive on their terms.”
Alipay
Alipay Tap!, a QR code-based contactless payment and customer engagement solution introduced by Alipay in China in June 2024, has picked up over 100 million users within an 11 month period.
Users tap their unlocked phone against a merchant’s terminal or an Alipay Tap! Tag, eliminating the need to open an app, scan a code, or click through multiple screens.
Data from early adopters shows the solution also allows merchants to integrate customer engagement tools more seamlessly into the experience. FamilyMart, a nationwide convenience store chain, reports that membership sign-ups at checkout tripled post-integration.
According to Cyril Han Xinyi, CEO at Ant Group, the company has committed RMB 10 billion to grow the Alipay Tap! ecosystem.
“From leadership in payment innovation to extensive investments in agentic AI solutions, Alipay is accelerating the two flywheels for its growth: digital payment and 360° digital connectivity,” said Han in a message to Alipay's 80 million merchant partners at the 2025 Alipay Tap! Ecosystem Summit. “We believe Alipay Tap! and more similar exciting new initiatives will continue to transform the checkout moment into a wider gateway to enriched consumer experience and merchant business growth.”
The service is also available to international visitors to China, who may now bind their international cards to an Alipay account to pay and travel like a local across the country.
Matin Kim
Matin Kim, a South Korean chain, has installed Proto hologram technology at five of its Matin Kim and Hago Haus stores. Hologram models can move and turn 360 degrees to show people various outfits.
The hologram content was produced by Creative Mut, Proto's exclusive partner in Korea. It is the same technology as that used for KPOP's G-Dragon Media Exhibition held in The Hyundai Seoul last month, and at Marie Claire Korea's anniversary celebrations last year.
Proto units have built in cameras, microphones, speakers and touch screens and include AI capabilities. For future projects, special guests will be able to beam into the stores and see and hear and interact with shoppers in real-time. The avatars can also be activated to answer questions for shoppers about products, in any language, using Proto's AI Persona tools.
Screwfix
Screwfix's quick commerce service, Sprint, has now delivered more than 2.7 million products.
In a LinkedIn post, Nick Burton, CIO at Screwfix, said: "We're not stopping there - it's now faster than ever! Order with Sprint and we will deliver over 8,500 products in as little as 20 minutes, only via the Screwfix app: 480+ stores; 58% UK population coverage; 80,000+ customers."
He added: "I'm incredibly proud of this service and the work my amazing UX, app and platform teams have done to add real-time tracking to the experience, and want to thank all our store colleagues for the work they do to make this amazing experience possible."
THG Ingenuity
THG Fulfill, THG Ingenuity’s fulfilment and courier management solution, reports that its 1am next-day delivery offering is driving customer acquisition in the wellness and nutrition and beauty sectors.
Analysis of c.40 million THG Fulfil customer orders shows that between 10pm-11pm, a fifth of wellness and nutrition NDD orders come from first time customers, with this rising to 23% between 12am-1am. For beauty consumers, where urgency tends to be lower, 8% of post-10pm orders come from new customers.
“The trend is clear. Late night fulfilment drives commercial success: our customers are receiving new orders while their competitors sleep,” says Tom Killeen, COO at THG Ingenuity.
THG Fulfil's data analysis shows that 82% of all next day delivery orders are placed after 2pm, and 27% are placed after 10pm (up 7% versus 2024). It also reveals that free delivery has generated an 11% uplift in subsequent order value, delivering a 10x return on investment.
“We’ve seen first-hand how fulfilment can make or break customer experience and brand reputation in e-commerce - it's why we became obsessed with attempting to perfect it," says Killeen.
"We’ve always believed fulfilment is a growth driver, impacting customer retention and acquisition - our data now confirms that delivering on the demand for immediacy has a direct impact on new customer acquisition and attracting high value shoppers willing to pay for premium, rapid delivery via multiple options."
Valspar
Valspar has launched a new free service to help customers make informed decisions about paint choices and colour schemes.
People can choose from a 20-minute in-store consult, or an online service is also available via WhatsApp.
The former is available in over 100 B&Q stores. Customers need to book an appointment at the chip rack for a session. They can share examples of favoured styles and purchase sample paint pots to try at home.
In what is pitched an an industry first, new ‘WhatsApp Colour Experts’ will be chatting to consumers directly, taking them through the colour process, getting a feel for their style and curating moodboards to inspire them.
Lucy Steele, Senior Brand Manager at Valspar, says: “Our consumers no longer need to feel overwhelmed by the rainbow of options, or struggle with their style inspo. This new, free service gives customers a chance to chat to colour experts and get the confidence they need to transform their space.”
“This approach to shopping puts the customer first and provides access to experts like never before. With two easy options to either visit your local B&Q, or simply open up WhatsApp, our service is the easiest way to transform your home to an expert standard.”
Currys
Currys recently launched a social media account dedicated to gaming, and has now reported its first big engagement win.
In a LinkedIn post, Dan Rubel, Brand & Marketing Director at Currys, said: "We've have stepped up our social game... on gaming. We now have a dedicated social account on gaming - which makes a lot of sense given the breadth of interesting stuff to talk about in the world of gaming (and given the tribal nature of gamers)."
He added: "And last week we had our first really big engagement win, a post that appeared on our Instagram gaming account generating two million views and 120k likes on the post (plus >55k likes in the comments)."
"It’s a cracking post, jumping on not one but two trends to shout about how customers can pre-order the hot new Nintendo Switch2 at Currys. Well done to Ryan Todd who heads up our social crew (part of Sarah Leat’s wider marketing, promo, social and PR group). And a big thanks to Rickesh Solanki and Fabric Social who are the orchestrators of our gaming engagement plans."
Tribes Unite
In a LinkedIn post, Boxbar Tech said: "We’re thrilled to announce that Tribes Unite festival, brought to you by the minds at JBM Music, has joined the Boxbar Tech revolution. We will be supporting the festival as it takes over The Milton Keynes National Bowl this summer with a huge automated, self-serve bar delivery featuring 54 points of sale and 108 serving taps."
It added: "With Pendulum (Live), Andy C, Wilkinson, Netsky, Friction, Dillinja and so many more on the billing this is going to be one of the drum and bass highlights of the summer - we can’t wait!"
Shopify and OpenAI/ChatGPT
OpenAI is gearing up to add an online shopping experience to ChatGPT via an integration with Shopify.
New code strings in ChatGPT’s public web bundle, “buy_now”, price and shipping fields, product-offer ratings, and “shopify_checkout_url”, indicate that OpenAI is wiring a native purchase flow into the assistant.
The snippet suggests a hand off to Shopify’s hosted checkout, implying a formal tie-up rather than a generic affiliate link.
According to Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive: “This is a big step forward for Shopify and ChatGTP. The changes to the coding will let purchases complete inside the chat instead of jumping to external retail sites, turning ChatGPT into a full-funnel shopping tool. When a purchase is made, all shipping is managed via Shopify’s platform.”
“OpenAI has been testing e-commerce actions in its Operator research agent, which already books travel and places grocery orders for Pro users. Want to buy a plane ticket? Use ChatGPT. Why visit Expedia or another travel site? Agents will easily be able to find the best flight at the best price. I stated in a LinkedIn post a few weeks ago that OpenAI has the potential of severely disrupting DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart, by allowing agents to place orders directly with a restaurant and a grocery retailer..”
He adds: “I remain convinced that OpenAI has the potential to become one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world. Why? Because consumers will begin their product search using ChatGPT and utilise ChatGTP to make the purchase.”
“ChatGPT will likely begin to generate billions in advertising revenue as brands divert their advertising spend to OpenAI. Why? Search. If consumers make ChatGPT their go to site for product searches, advertising is sure to follow. ChatGTP will likely look massively different in 2026 than it looks in 2025. The user experience will be much different to maximise advertising and content monetisation.”
Dr. Max Slovakia
Dr. Max Slovakia has boosted its logistics network with the launch of a new distribution centre in Senec.
Thanks to an investment of over Euro 5.3 million, it says it can now dispatch up to 2.6 million packages of medicines per month to its 423 pharmacies, hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
At the heart of the warehouse is an automated A-frame system, stretching 100 metres, capable of processing up to 10,000 packages per hour. It lines up alongside an upgraded centre in Košice.
In a LinkedIn post, Miguel Martins de Silva, Group Chief Supply Chain Officer at Dr. Max Pharmacy Chain, said: "With the inauguration and full production of our second wholesale warehouse in Dr. Max Slovakia, we reach the goal of a fully integrated supply chain network in the country."
"Major highlights: Full omnichannel integration with three warehouses operating within same backbone and systems with significant synergies; Full market verticalisation from manufacturers to pharmacies to patients; Faster deliveries, further quality and best-in-class efficiency for all business segments; More value for all stakeholders (customers, employees and shareholder; Another step in our Dr.Max Pharmacy Chain commitment to build the pharmacy network of the future, already happening now."
Walmart
Walmart is using geospatial technology for more accurate mapping of delivery areas, enabling multiple stores to fulfill a customer’s order in one delivery.
In an online post, it said: "Convenience is a key driver of our growth, and technology is what enables us to meet customers where they are. That’s why we continue to invest in innovation to enhance our delivery capabilities - integrating automation into our fulfillment centres to boost speed and efficiency, leveraging AI to predict demand and optimize inventory, and ensuring customers get the items they need, when and where they need them."
"Now, we’re taking delivery innovation even further with geospatial technology, a powerful data science model that divides geographic areas into precise hexagonal grids, optimising delivery zones for greater efficiency."
"By redefining how we map delivery areas, we’ve expanded our reach, bringing the convenience of Walmart’s delivery to 12 million more households across the US, making same-day deliveries more accessible than ever. What was once just out of reach is now within range, ensuring even more households have access to the essentials they rely on - delivered fast and reliably right to their doorstep."
SPAR
Bitcoin payments are now accepted at SPAR stores in Switzerland, starting with Zug.
Customers can scan a QR code at the register, and complete their payment using Bitcoin over the Lightning Network - with fees said to be as low as $0.04.
This has gone live on BTC Map, a community driven project highlighting stores that accept Bitcoin payments, DFX Swiss, a crypto-to-fiat payment solution firm, announced last week.
“This SPAR location is among the first supermarkets in Switzerland where you can pay directly at the checkout using Bitcoin (via LNURL), thanks to our new Open Crypto Pay solution, an open P2P standard for in-person crypto payments,” DFX Swiss said.
Theisen’s Home Farm and Auto
Theisen’s Home Farm and Auto has introduced Tally, a shelf-scanning inventory robot, to three of its stores: Theisen’s of Dubuque, IA; Dyersville, IA; and Jefferson, WI.
Using AI and computer vision technology, Tally identifies out-of-stock items, pricing errors, and misplaced products, collecting product data and providing quick actions for Theisen’s associates.
“We are committed to delivering the highest quality shopping experience for our valued customers, and Tally is a powerful tool for taking that to the next level,” says Steve Jensen, CMMO. “Bringing Tally to our Dubuque, Dyersville, and Jefferson locations is an exciting step forward. This technology makes daily tasks more efficient, so our teams can focus on what matters most—taking care of customers.”
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