Starring InPost, Asos, Walgreens, and B&Q: RTIH brings you 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 Cart.com, Marks and Spencer, Zitcha, Frasers Group, Wing, DoorDash, AutoStore, OnePointOne, Majid Al Futtaim, and BrandSwap.

1. InPost launches next-day UK nationwide locker delivery in partnership with online fashion retailer Asos

InPost UK has launched what is pitched as the UK’s first nationwide next-day delivery service to lockers, in partnership with Asos.

The service, available exclusively to the online fashion retailer’s customers, offers next-day collection from InPost’s network of lockers and parcel shops for the first time. Shoppers will be able to select these lockers at checkout as their primary OOH delivery option. This is available to all Asos customers, and is free of charge for Premier customers.

The launch follows a series of moves by InPost to accelerate its growth and enhance its infrastructure in the UK, the Polish firm’s fastest growing market. In April, InPost announced the acquisition of UK parcel delivery firm Yodel, enabling the company to step into the position of the third largest agnostic logistics player in the country.

2. Here's why Walgreens is doing something brilliant as retailer expands use of prescription filling robots

Walgreens is expanding the number of stores served by its micro-fulfillment centres to fill thousands of prescriptions for patients who take medications to manage or treat diabetes, high blood pressure or other conditions. 

It first rolled out the MFCs  in 2021, but paused expansion in 2023 to focus on gathering feedback and improving performance at existing sites. It now plans to have its 11 MFCs serve more than 5,000 stores by the end of the year, up from 4,800 in February and 4,300 in October 2023. As of February, the centres handled 40% of the prescription volume on average at supported pharmacies.

This is the biggest opportunity out there for Walgreens and Sycamore Partners, according to Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive.

In a LinkedIn post, he notes that, in 2015, Walgreen's market value was $100 nillion. In 2019, the value of the company had decreased to the point where KKR made an offer to acquire it or $77 billion. In March, Walgreens agreed to be taken private by Sycamore Partners for $10 billion.

Walgreens currently has more than 310,000 employees globally and 12,500 retail pharmacy locations across the US, Europe and Latin America.

Ladd comments: "Like CVS, Walgreens has shifted from opening new stores to closing hundreds of underperforming locations to shore up profits. Both companies are racing to stay relevant as online retailers lure away customers and patients increasingly opt for fast home delivery over traditional pharmacy visits. Sycamore Partners claims they’re confident in Walgreens pharmacy led retail store model. Bad idea. Walgreens must go direct to customers and minimise the use of their stores. Will it happen?"

"Walgreens is doing something brilliant that, if leveraged properly, will transform the company - it is expanding the use of MFCs, which use robots to fill thousands of prescriptions for patients who take medications to manage or treat diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions. That translates to around 16 million prescriptions filled each month across the different sites."

3. Unified commerce and logistics solutions firm Cart.com pulls in valuation of $1.6 billion as it raises $50 million

Cart.com, a unified commerce platform and logistics network, has raised additional funding of $50 million and notched up a post-money valuation of $1.6 billion.

This includes financing from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock and Neuberger Berman, new backers such as eGateway Capital, as well as other venture capital firms, strategic investors and family offices. Since its founding, Cart.com has raised a total of $475 million.

The company intends to utilise the new capital for its global expansion push through investments in infrastructure, technology, and M&A. It will also be used to support and enhance its platform with capabilities that enable customers to drive demand and grow profitably while navigating rapid marketplace change, including global trade disruptions resulting from evolving policy decisions.

4. Marks and Spencer cyber attack saga takes another twist as retailer admits customer data stolen

M&S has written to customers informing them that some of their personal data has been taken during a cyber attack.

The retailer was hit by the attack some three weeks ago and is struggling to get services back to normal, with online orders still suspended and many store shelves empty.

The data does not include useable payment or card details, and also any account and passwords. M&S says that it is working with leading cyber experts, government authorities and law enforcement officers.

“The revelations that customer details have been stolen is not surprising, given the deep nature of the breach, but it’s yet another setback for the company, which is trying to minimise damage to its reputation,” says Susannah Streeter, Head of Money and Markets at Hargreaves Lansdown.

“The saving grace is that the compromised data does not include usable card details or payment data and passwords have not been compromised. But, for peace of mind, customers will be prompted to change their passwords when logging on.  The share price has risen in early trade in a beat of relief that the hackers haven’t been able to access ringfenced bank details, and that the company is working with leading cyber security experts and law enforcement.”

“But the update highlights that the cyber chaos is still without end, with the financial damage to the company piling up. Every extra day that shoppers unable to buy online means yet more unsold inventory, and shares are down almost 18% since the crisis unfolded during the Easter weekend.”

5. B&Q enlists BrandSwap for retail media move as retailer adds post-checkout rewards at DIY.com

BrandSwap has been appointed by home improvement retailer B&Q to deliver post-checkout rewards to shoppers at diy.com. 

B&Q will use the firm’s advertiser network and retail media platform to add exclusive rewards from brand partners such as Apple, Sky, and The AA to its order confirmation page.

The initiative will tap BrandSwap's real-time relevance capabilities, which recommend rewards based on shopper purchase. For example, customers buying appliances will be able to redeem offers on cleaning products from smol, and those making kitchen-related purchases will see rewards from Pact Coffee.

B&Q will use the same functionality to create tailored retail media opportunities, allowing advertisers to target shoppers purchasing in specific categories and locations. 

6. Majid Al Futtaim's Precision Media and Advertima retail media tie up sees AI roll-out in Carrefour stores

Majid Al Futtaim, the exclusive operator of Carrefour in the UAE, and its retail media network, Precision Media, have partnered with Swiss-based Advertima to deploy AI powered audience activation and measurement across ten flagship hypermarkets.

Plans are afoot for expansion across its UAE hypermarket and supermarket network in the coming months.

Arun Chandra Mohan, Chief Digital Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, comments: “Our partnership with Advertima reflects our strategic ambition to shape the future of retail media in the region. We are merging real-time in-store intelligence with online audience data, unlocking smarter, more precise ways for our brand partners to connect with customers.”

“This milestone reinforces our dedication to innovation and to crafting immersive experiences. It also marks a transformative phase for retail media, effectively bridging physical and digital commerce to enable a unified customer journey and measurable impact across the ecosystem.”

7. Gopuff offers rapid grocery delivery service to Amazon UK customers starting with Birmingham and Salford

Amazon UK has announced a partnership with Gopuff. Initially available to its customers in Birmingham and Salford, Gopuff will offer thousands of grocery products including alcohol and snacks, which will be delivered to by the US quick commerce big hitter in under 60 minutes, and as fast as 15 minutes, available 24/7.

Russell Jones, Director of Grocery Partnerships at Amazon, says: “Working with grocery retail partners is an important part of our offering, giving customers more choice and more convenient options to have groceries delivered from their favourite stores and brands, ordered via our website. We are excited to bring Gopuff to Amazon customers and to offer our Prime members even more savings, with free delivery on their first order over £20 and other great value discounts.” 

8. AutoStore OnePointOne robotic vertical farm taps automated cubic storage, supplying Whole Foods Market stores

AutoStore and OnePointOne have unveiled what is pitched as the world’s first robotic vertical farm. Utilising automated cubic storage, this is supplying select Whole Foods Market stores with leafy greens and herbs.

At Opollo Farm, robots move crops through a precision controlled environment, adjusting their position to deliver a balance of water and nutrients. The result is harvest ready greens in 15 days - about half the time of traditional farming - and grown just miles from where they're consumed.

Opollo Farm is designed to tackle some of the biggest challenges in agriculture today: labour shortages, supply chain disruptions, water scarcity, and the demand for fresher, locally grown food.

“We’re constantly exploring new ways to bring fresh, sustainable food to our customers,” says Chris Petroulakis, Category Merchant for Produce at Whole Foods Market. “Opollo Farm is a perfect example of how advanced technology can revolutionise local agriculture, helping to deliver high quality, locally grown produce right to our stores faster and fresher than ever before.”

9. Wing and DoorDash partnership brings first ever drone delivery service to Charlotte, North Carolina

DoorDash and Wing are introducing drone delivery to Charlotte, NC for the first time.

Starting this week, eligible DoorDash customers within about four miles of The Arboretum Shopping Center in southern Charlotte can order from a selection of local and national restaurants and choose to have their items delivered by drone.

The lineup includes Curry Junction, Matcha Cafe Maiko, Joa Korean food, and Panera Bread - the city's first national partner available for drone delivery.

DoorDash and Wing first launched this service together in Australia in 2022. Since then, it has landed in the US and parts of Southwest Virginia, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and now Charlotte. Plans are afoot to expand to additional neighbourhoods later this year.

“Autonomous delivery will help shape the future of local logistics, and we’re proud to introduce drone delivery to Charlotte for the first time with Wing,” says Harrison Shih, Head of Product at DoorDash Labs.

“What makes this launch special isn’t just the technology, it’s the experience. Whether it’s your favourite Panera sandwich, a savory snack from DashMart, or a local matcha latte on DoorDash, there’s something special about watching your order arrive by air in minutes. DoorDash and Wing aren’t just delivering faster, we’re delivering what’s next.”

10. Zitcha to power Frasers Group ELEVATE retail media network across Sports Direct, Flannels and Frasers

Australian firm Zitcha has been appointed by Frasers Group, behind UK retailers such as Sports Direct, Flannels and Frasers, to power its newly launched ELEVATE retail media network. 

This enables brand partners to reach shoppers at key moments across the Group’s physical and digital touchpoints, including in-store, online and off-site locations.

With an audience of 30 million+ customers, spanning across the sports, premium and luxury sectors, it is pitched as the UK’s most comprehensive retail media offering from a multi-category retailer, covering the likes of a physical and digital advertising estate of 750+ UK stores, 60+ Everlast Gyms locations, Frasers Group owned shopping centres, and national out-of-home advertising spaces.

This builds on the recent launch of Sports Direct Membership, a programme designed to reward loyal omnichannel customers with exclusive benefits and personalised benefits.