Robots meet politicians and pets get on demand delivery: 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 IKI Lithuania, StrongPoint, Yoti, Starship Technologies, Debenhams Group, Peak AI, Rohlik Group, Walmart, Currys, Jisp, Westfield Rise, Simbe, Carrefour, and Amazon Just Walk Out technology.

Carrefour

VusionGroup has announced a partnership with Carrefour to trial what is pitched as a new generation of connected stores powered by EdgeSense technology.

Carrefour becomes the first major European grocer to adopt the tech, following its deployment by Walmart in the US. Combining AI, computer vision, smart rails and digital shelf labels, EdgeSense delivers real-time shelf monitoring, stockout detection, pricing compliance and precise product geolocation.

The partnership is currently being piloted in Carrefour’s hypermarket in Villabé, France, where approximately 70,000 electronic shelf labels, 500 cameras, and 7,000 EdgeSense rails have been installed, with a second site launching soon.

IKI

IKI Lithuania, a supermarket chain owned by REWE Group, has launched AI driven age estimation technology in its stores. It worked with StrongPoint, IKI, and Yoti on the project.

In a LinkedIn post, Julius Stulpinas, SVP Products at StrongPoint Group, said: “Today (Wednesday, 11th June) I had the pleasure of participating in a press conference announcing the launch of age estimation technology in retail - a first for the Lithuanian market.”

“Together with our strategic partner IKI, we’re introducing a truly innovative, privacy first solution that allows customers to verify their age instantly and securely using AI - no ID required. This is a major step forward in combining regulatory compliance, customer convenience, and cutting-edge technology in physical retail.”

He added: “A heartfelt thank you to Nijole Kvietkauskaite (CEO, IKI Lithuania) and her team, for visionary leadership and trust in innovation. Your openness to bold ideas makes partnerships like this possible. Huge congratulations to the StrongPoint and Yoti teams for delivering this breakthrough. You continue to raise the bar for what’s possible in modern retail.”

Starship Technologies

Starship Technologies’ delivery robots made it to 10 Downing Street this week to celebrate game changing innovaion against a backdrop of London Tech Week 2025. And the thorny issue of regulations reared its head.

In a LinkedIn post, Lisa Johnson, VP, Corporate Comms & Public Affairs (Global) at Starship, said: “Team Starship Technologies had a blast at 10 Downing Street. We joined Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Peter Kyle (Secretary of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) to celebrate innovation and show how tech is already changing the world.”

She added: “The PM remembered his last trip to meet the robots years ago as an Opposition Shadow Minister (we might have mentioned regulations still haven’t changed...). We discussed how Starship can create high skilled tech and manufacturing jobs if the conditions are right, and introduced the little guy to Science Minister Lord Valance. Also took the opportunity to catch up with the Transport Secretary.”

Pinterest and Macy's

Pinterest is rolling out a suite of new AI driven ad solutions, with the aim of making it easier for advertisers to tap into emerging trends and meet consumers at every stage of their shopping journey. 

As part of Pinterest Ad Labs, it is piloting auto-collages whch, it claims, allows advertisers to turn their existing product catalogue into thousands of new shoppable collages in minutes. 

Auto-collages intuitively curates, cuts out and groups together product images into new shoppable visual content based on: 

• Outfit ideas: finds items of clothing that make up a look based on existing outfits and builds a new outfit collage.

• User engagement: creates new collages that emulate existing collages with strong user engagement.

• Similar products: selects similar products and groups them together in a grid style collage.

• User saves: creates new personalised collages featuring products similar to what users have saved on their boards. 

Macy’s is one of the retailers currently working with Pinterest to test and provide feedback on auto-collages. In the coming months, it plans to gradually expand access to more advertisers.

“Auto-collage was born out of the Pinterest Ads Labs programme that launched last year, where we innovate new generative AI products that help brands stay ahead of the curve,” says Julie Towns, Pinterest Vice President for Product Marketing and Operations.

“The auto-collages tool is an exciting leap that harnesses AI to instantly transform how brands turn their product catalog into fresh creative that resonates with Gen Z and beyond.” 

Debenhams Group

Debenhams Group - home to brands including PrettyLittleThing, Boohoo, BoohooMAN, Karen Millen, and Debenhams - says that it has implemented AI at scale to optimise product pricing and promotions.

It has partnered with Peak, an AI platform from UiPath, to roll-out intelligent automation across its brand portfolio. The system enables real-time, automated pricing for thousands of SKUs, replacing manual processes with faster, more precise, and data driven decision-making.

This allows Debenhams Group to respond more effectively to changing demand, seasonal trends, and inventory levels. It says that pricing and promotions are now more relevant and timelier, with discounts tailored to individual product performance rather than broad, catch-all campaigns. This approach keeps pricing aligned with actual demand.

Jisp

Jisp has announced the launch of Scan & Win Video, a new feature that allows shoppers to scan moving video content - from TV ads and digital signage to cinema screens and social videos - to unlock real-time rewards and enter instant win competitions.

This enables FMCG brands to bridge the gap between ad spend and shopper conversion with measurable, gamified experiences that drive footfall, product trial, and long-term loyalty.

“In a world where attention is the new currency, brands need more than awareness - they need action,” says Alex Rimmer, Director of Marketing & Communications at Jisp (pictured below). “Scan & Win Video is our answer to that challenge. It brings campaigns to life, turning brand storytelling into immediate shopper engagement.”

PetSmart and Skip

Omnichannel pet retailer, PetSmart, has announced a partnership with delivery network Skip. Canadians can now order over 15,000 PetSmart products directly on the latter’s platform, ranging from premium food and litter to toys and accessories.

Skip's latest ad spot features actor Jon Hamm wandering through a store, jokingly telling another shopper he "shoulda skipped it" after seeing him struggle with a large bag of pet food.

"Partnering with PetSmart is a big move in our mission to become Canadians' go to destination for everyday convenience," says Paul Sudarsan, VP of Retail and New Verticals at Skip. "We're creating a retail experience where getting what you need, whether it's dinner, groceries, or dog food, is fast, easy, and hassle free. Now Canadians can sit and stay, while we handle the fetching."

Rohlik Group

Rohlik Group, a European online grocer and tech specialist founded in 2014 in the Czech Republic, is launching Veloq, an AI driven grocery fulfillment platform that has powered its growth across five markets.

Rohlik currently delivers over 1.3 million monthly orders and generates €1.1 billion in annual revenue.

Developed and refined within its grocery operations, Veloq is now launching as an independent company, bringing the technology to grocers worldwide. Built on a proprietary software stack and robotics, Veloq unifies the entire grocery fulfillment process into a single modular platform, according to those involved.

This includes automated picking, intelligent routing, inventory forecasting and personalised customer engagement. An AI engine powers every layer of operations, including dynamic queue and labour management within fulfillment centres, supply chain forecasting and real-time last mile logistics optimisation.

Currys

Currys has partnered with WelcoMe, an inclusive platform that allows customers with additional needs to pre-book a personalised shopping experience in its stores.

Customers create a profile on the WelcoMe website or app, detailing their access and communication requirements (e.g., mobility support, preferred communication styles, sensory considerations) alongside what they're looking to purchase or research. They can then schedule their visit, ensuring businesses are prepared to meet their individual needs before they arrive.

When a visit is booked, store colleagues receive a heads-up along with short training videos and guidance specific to that visitor and also training and tips to support disability awareness amongst staff for all customers.

After a pilot in Currys’ London and Birmingham stores, the service has now launched in locations across Ireland.

BEONDTV and IRCODE

IRCODE, a technology platform transforming content into scannable, interactive media, has announced a partnership with BEONDTV, a digital and broadcast network known for lifestyle, travel, and talk programming.

The integration debuts what is pitched as a first of its kind interactive television experience, giving audiences the ability to engage directly with what they see on screen, instantly and without QR codes, by  using the IRCODE app on their smartphone.

Built on IRCODE’s EXACT Match technology, it activates a new programmable layer across BEONDTV’s content and advertiser assets, enabling instant discovery, data driven engagement, and precise attribution for every frame. From studio interviews to travel features and advertisements, every moment becomes scannable and measurable, without altering the production or requiring any change in viewer behaviour.

Westfield Rise

Defender is tapping 3D anamorphic content on ‘The Hundred,’ a 100-yard LED screen inside the Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center.

A new campaign marks the debut of immersive, DeepScreen 3D creative on the media network at the destination, with the aim of transforming everyday foot traffic into front row seats for high impact, high tech storytelling.

Westfield Rise, the in-house media and experiential division of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), is bringing the technology to Westfield World Trade Center. Now backed by a suite of technology and toolkits, the media network at the Oculus offers advertising partners the ability to custom design immersive content across 22 high impact large format screens - including The Hundred - viewable directly at eye level from multiple vantage points. 

Amazon and MyVenue

Stadiums and ballparks can now integrate their Amazon Just Walk Out stores with MyVenue’s Point of Sale (PoS) for improved catalogue operations, price control and sales reporting.

“Our partners leverage our APIs and Connectors to integrate their systems with Just Walk Out,” says Bennett Borofka, Sr. Solutions Architec at Amazon Web Services (AWS). “Store operators using MyVenue PoS across all arena wide stores can also use it to update their Just Walk Out store catalogue, reducing the effort to maintain catalogs in two systems.”

After a shopper leaves the store, the virtual cart is sent from Just Walk Out to MyVenue via an Ordering Connector, which MyVenue then uses to calculate price, discounts and tax for the order. The aim here is to give retailers finer control of complex discounts and dynamic pricing during events.

Depending on the scenario, customers may select JWO to handle credit card payments. In this case, MyVenue sends the calculated order back to JWO via a Checkout API. Shoppers experience a consistent checkout experience and receive their receipts from JWO.

Walmart

Walmart reports the expansion of its drone delivery service. Now, millions of customers in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando and Tampa can receive their orders within minutes - making Walmart the first retailer to scale drone delivery across five US states: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas.

“As we look ahead, drone delivery will remain a key part of our commitment to redefining retail. We’re pushing the boundaries of convenience to better serve our customers, making shopping faster and easier than ever before,” says Greg Cathey, Senior Vice President of Walmart U.S. Transformation and Innovation.

“This expansion of our drone delivery service marks a significant milestone in that journey. As the first retailer to scale drone delivery, Walmart is once again demonstrating its commitment to leveraging technology to enhance our delivery offerings with a focus on speed.”

DeCicco & Sons Markets

Simbe has partnered with DeCicco & Sons Markets, a family owned grocer in the US, which is bringing its Store Intelligence platform to a new flagship location in Sleepy Hollow, and additional stores in Eastchester and Larchmont.

President John DeCicco Jr. says: “Partnering with Simbe allows us to enhance the shopper experience even further. This technology perfectly complements our vision for the future of grocery retail.”

In a LinkedIn post, Simbe says: “Thank you to the DeCicco family and team for your trust - and to our partners at Aperion by Hussmann for helping bring this vision to life.”