Theo Paphitis aims fire at Amazon, Google and Shein: our most read retail technology articles from last week
Check out the articles on this here website that caught your fancy last week, including Ikea, SAP, Aramark, Archie Norman, Marks and Spencer, Shopify, Rithum, Ingka Investments, RTS 2025, and the Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List.
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.
Ikea unveils its largest fulfilment store after extensive revamp project in Budapest, Hungary
Ikea has unveiled 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.
“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.
Kroger must avoid 'design by committee' approach to retail tech as it pilots Simbe and VusionGroup solutions
Kroger does everything by committee when it comes to piloting technology. This is done because no one at the retailer is willing to make a decision that they will have to defend. So says Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: "What’s the best way to make a decision without making a decision? Form a committee and then claim you were the only member who didn’t support adopting software if it fails."
Ladd noted that Kroger is currently testing multiple solutions. This includes a project involving Badger Technologies and Simbe which involves trying out in-store robots in two of its markets, including at locations in and around its hometown of Cincinnati.
The autonomous robots, Simbe's Tally and another dubbed Barney after the grocer’s founder, are being used for real-time inventory management and pricing accuracy. A pilot is active at a number of stores, with the Tally deployment also extending to the Indianapolis area.
“We are always exploring new ways to create a more convenient and friendly customer experience,” Kroger said in a statement. It added that utilising the robots “means our associates can more easily and quickly identify and address shelves where products are low or out of stock.”
Kroger is also piloting electronic shelf tags from VusionGroup. Ladd said: "Over 100 people are involved as committee members who plan on taking “four to six months, maybe longer” according to sources, to test Simbe and VusionGroup. It should take a fraction of that time. Note to Kroger: Partner with VusionGroup immediately. Not a month from now. NOW!!"
SAP and Aramark open 24/7 S.Mart store in Germany with tech partners including Diebold Nixdorf, VusionGroup
Tech partners include Diebold Nixdorf, VusionGroup, C2RO, payfree, Lenovo, Intel Corporation, and Adyen. The store will offer convenience products and will initially be used by SAP employees.
It features:
RFID for fast checkout and fast inventory
Computer vision for a personalised customer experience, and also for theft prevention
Digital temperature monitoring
Cameras checking for stockouts
In a LinkedIn post, Michael Bosch, CEO at Checkout Peak, said: “Imagine walking in, grabbing a jar of Nutella, and heading out - all in under 50 seconds. Thanks to RFID technology and Payfree, every product is automatically detected. The receipt? Seamlessly generated in the background using SAP Customer Checkout.”
He added: “An exciting, forward thinking environment was created right at the SAP campus. We’re proud to have contributed to such a unique project. Stop by and experience the future of retail!”
Retail Technology Show 2025: turnaround at M&S down to culture change says Chairman Archie Norman
Speaking on the opening day of Retail Technology Show 2025 at London ExCel on 2nd April, the industry legend who formerly headed up Asda and Kingfisher, added that the “headwinds on cost are the greatest I’ve ever seen” referencing the current cost-of-living and of operating crisis.
Norman also joked that Percy Pig, the famous confectionery brand that has recently expanded Stateside, “may be tariffed soon” by Trump.
His opening keynote Q&A conference session with Kate Hardcastle moderating, however, mainly focused on how M&S, founded in 1874 and on every British High Street with 50,000 employees, was a bit vain previously. “For example, every bit of technology had to be redone for them to fit their systems in the past. No, I said, that ends up with a very overcomplicated company” - not to mention inflexible.
“I had to fracture the culture,” Norman stated, as he explained he “didn’t have time to retrain or refocus leaders” who had become defensive. “I typically change 80% of the leaders at every company I’ve ever worked at. All the jobs I’ve had have been turnarounds because it’s what I’ve become known for.”
“The unvarnished truth was M&S had to change and we had to liberate people to do so,” - typically lower down the organisational chain.
RTS 2025: Theo Paphitis talks Ryman’s blended approach, his love of technology, and Shein 'cop out'
“I love technology. I’m an early adopter,” said the eponymous Owner and Chairman of the Theo Paphitis Retail Group, which owns the Ryman stationer, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue brands, at Retail Technology Show 2025 in London, as he shared his trenchant views on the past UK government and future of the High Street, which is likely to rely on a blended approach where tech supports the in-store offering.
As an aside Paphitis, who is well known for the Dragon’s Den TV programme and for his Small Business Sunday (#SBS) business network that supports over 4,000 SMEs, also advised attendees at RTS 2025 to play with artificial intelligence tools in order to be an early adopter themselves of this important technology. “You ignore AI at your peril,” he warned.
More immediately, Paphitis discussed how his Ryman stationary estate of stores is using technology to drive customers back in-store after a tough time during the Covid-19 pandemic, and indeed since when more and more of its customers now work from home. They no longer regularly travel into UK city centres, where his physical Ryman stores are typically located. “We went from a £10 million profit to minus -£4 million, but returned to profit last year,” he said.
Shopify’s AI powered commerce assistant Sidekick expands across Europe, now supporting 20 languages
Shopify reports that Sidekick, its AI powered commerce assistant, is expanding from English only to 20 supported languages.
Sidekick now automatically detects and responds in the merchant's language. In Europe, it supports a further 12 languages, including Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish.
Sidekick acts as a virtual co-founder, blending Shopify platform knowledge with each merchant's store data to provide personalised guidance through natural conversation. Merchants can instantly analyse business data, enhance product descriptions for better SEO, automate routine tasks, and make more informed decisions - all within their existing workflow.
"We're building AI tools that inherently understand business, trained specifically for commerce to make practical, relevant recommendations that benefit merchants in their day-to-day operations," says Deann Evans, Managing Director, EMEA at Shopify.
"With Sidekick now available in multiple languages, including right here in Europe, we're making entrepreneurship more accessible to everyone, regardless of their native language or technical expertise. The goal is for Sidekick to feel like a true companion on the journey."
Amazon reportedly funding team to design and build humanoid robots for various use cases
Amazon is reportedly building a team of eight individuals, which includes its own employees and members of Covariant, to design and build humanoid robots. The team will increase in size over the coming weeks.
That’s according to Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive, who, in a LinkedIn post, states his belief that the US online retail giant entering this market will lower the valuation of Figure and other robot manufacturers.
Citing unnamed sources, Ladd flags up use cases for the robots that include loading and unloading trailers, moving pallets, fulfilling orders, and other tasks that occur inside Amazon's warehouses. The company is also creating use cases for leveraging the robots inside of homes, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and other uses. Incorporating Alexa into the robots will be tested.
He adds: “The plan is to use simulation to assess different designs. For example, one version of a planned humanoid robot will leverage wheels, while other designs will be bipedal and able to walk. Simulation will take place by early fall if not sooner. It’s possible that one or more design prototypes “can be ready later in the year,” according to a team member.”
He observes: “I'm glad Amazon is entering the humanoid robot business. Unlike other companies in the market, it should be able to build robots that legitimately can work in warehouses and in manufacturing plants. Its robots for use in homes, hospitals and other businesses, should also be much more practical than the humanoid robots that have been created.”
Ingka Investments heads up funding round involving South Korean food waste management firm RECO
Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest Ikea retailer, has announced an investment in RECO, a company offering end-to-end solutions for food waste management in South Korea.
It is the lead investor in a KRW 58.5 billion (EUR 37 million) funding round.
“South Korea leads the way in advanced waste management systems, and RECO exemplifies how innovative solutions can tackle pressing challenges like food waste. Its commitment to transparency, resource recycling, and digital transformation aligns perfectly with Ingka’s vision for a circular economy,” says Lukas Visser, Head of Circular Investments at Ingka Group.
“By investing in RECO, we aim to amplify their impact while driving meaningful change beyond our own operations - contributing to a better world, ensuring sustainable practices and a brighter future for all.”
E-commerce solutions firm Rithum appoints Sean Meeks as President of Brands and promotes Bill Smith to CSO
Most recently, Meeks served as a Partner at SBI, a growth advisory firm where he helped SaaS companies design and implement high impact sales, enablement and customer success strategies. His experience also includes leadership roles at Workday and Hewlett-Packard (HP), where he led global sales and operations teams, managed enterprise client relationships and helped launch multiple new business units.
Since joining Rithum in July 2024 as Vice President of Global Revenue Operations, Smith has led several strategic initiatives, including the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) project, the launch of a new sales methodology and the rebuild of the Sales Enablement team. Most recently, he served as interim CSO.
Smith has held senior leadership roles at 1E, Granicus and Vista Equity Partners. “This is an important growth period for Rithum, and Sean and Bill’s strengths and expertise will be instrumental in aiding that progress,” says Lou Keyes, CEO at Rithum.
“Sean’s visionary leadership and ability to drive innovation across revenue teams paired with Bill’s proven success in building high performing sales organisations are exactly what we need to deliver meaningful results.”
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