Change at the top for grocery specialist Instacart: check out the biggest retail technology stories from May

May is done and dusted, June is up and running, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful month for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from May, including Currys, VoCoVo, InPost UK, Asos, H&M Group, Centra, Veesion,  Decathlon, Bambuser, and Walmart.

1. Currys connects with VoCoVo to roll-out headset technology across electrical and tech retailer's UK stores

VoCoVo has announced a partnership with Currys to implement its Series 5 Pro Headset technology and support the retailer’s largest ever investment in store safety initiatives.

Following a trial of VoCoVo’s headsets in 20 selected stores, Currys has begun a full roll-out across all of its UK&I location. Every colleague will be equipped with a headset by the end of this month, allowing them to stay better connected and therefore safer on the shop floor.

They can also communicate with ease and efficiency, ensuring customer queries are answered quickly. Furthermore, call points incorporated throughout the stores will enable visitors to request assistance at the touch of a button, with the notification delivered straight to colleague headsets.

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. Tata Consultancy Services greenlights internal investigation amid fall out from M&S cyber attack

TCS is conducting an internal investigation over whether it was the gateway for the cyber attack on Marks & Spencer.

The Indian IT giant has provided services to M&S for more than a decade.

The retailer recently said that the hackers had managed to gain access to its systems via a third party. It is hoped the investigation will be concluded by the end of the month, according to a report by The FT that cites people familiar with the matter.

Both M&S and TCS did not reply to our request for comment.

4. Carrefour Belgium gears up to deploy StrongPoint Order Picking solution for fulfilment of e-commerce orders

Carrefour Belgium has picked StrongPoint’s Order Picking solution for in-store fulfilment. Deployment is expected to begin and be completed in 2025.

“We chose StrongPoint’s solution to fulfill our scheduled home delivery orders because their order picking system is responding very well to our needs when it comes to in-store grocery order picking. It’s purpose built for handling grocery orders with exceptional speed and accuracy,” says Jan Pollier, Carrefour Belgium Digital & E-Commerce Director. 

“The solution enables us to improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, and deliver a more reliable service to our customers. StrongPoint’s deep expertise in grocery operations was clear throughout the process and gave us confidence in their ability to support our ambitions.”

“That such an esteemed and globally recognised brand has chosen StrongPoint’s Order Picking solution is a clear testament to the world class nature of our technology. Its deployment outside our core markets further demonstrates the solution’s scalability and adaptability, and highlights our ability to support leading grocery retailers no matter where they operate,” says Jacob Tveraabak, StrongPoint CEO. 

5. Swedish retail giant H&M Group takes minority stake in fashion focused e-commerce platform Centra

Centra has announced an investment from H&M Group. The exact amount involved, which gives H&M Group a minority stake in Centra, was not disclosed in a press release, although media reports put it at SEK 50 million.

The cash will be used for research and development, as well as to scale up in Europe and the US.

Centra was founded in 2016 and operates as an e-commerce platform for fashion companies that want to sell directly to consumers. It has partnered with several H&M brands, including COS, ARKET, & Other Stories and Weekday, which all transitioned to the firm’s platform in 2024.

"We started Centra with the simple idea that there’s a better way to run a global fashion brand. Our approach is different from the rest of the market - we focus on providing fashion specific solutions that help brands scale and innovate in ways others can’t,” says Martin Jensen, CEO at Centra.

“The results we’ve seen with H&M's portfolio brands show how effective this approach is, and the investment from H&M Group is a strong vote of confidence in the value we’ve built together. We’re excited to continue driving innovation and proving that there’s a better way for fashion brands to thrive in today’s fast changing commerce landscape."

"We’ve been truly impressed by Centra’s journey so far. Their ability to combine deep industry insights with technical innovation is helping fashion brands solve real challenges in e-commerce. That’s why we’re proud to strengthen our partnership through this investment, supporting Centra’s continued growth and the next phase of their exciting journey ahead,” says Nanna Andersen, Chief of New Growth & Ventures at H&M Group.

6. French sporting goods retailer Decathlon taps Bambuser tech as it expands Visio Store service

Decathlon has partnered with Bambuser to expand Visio Store, a service that allows customers to schedule appointments with sales associates via video conference to receive guidance in choosing their sports equipment.

After a period of testing in its e-bike category, Decathlon has expanded its video service to ten additional product categories, including fitness, mountaineering, and golf, exclusively for the French market. 

Customers can book appointments at decathlon.fr, directly from the product page or the dedicated service page. After email confirmation, the customer is connected with a human sales advisor, trained directly by the sports design teams to present and compare products and guide customers to those that best meet their needs.

7. Grocery retail technology company Instacart appoints Chris Rogers as Chief Executive Officer

Instacart has appointed Chris Rogers as Chief Executive Officer, effective 15th August.

He’ll also join the grocery technology firm’s board of directors. Fidji Simo, the current CEO, will remain Chair of the board.

Rogers joined Instacart in 2019 and currently serves as Chief Business Officer, where he oversees all aspects of the company’s commercial operations, including retailer relationships and expansions, ad sales and R&D, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, Instacart Business, and Instacart Health.

“Over the last four years, we’ve transformed Instacart into a growing, profitable, leading technology platform that’s helping reshape the grocery industry. We’re building a generational company at the intersection of technology and food, and Chris is the right leader for our next chapter. He brings the kind of vision, operational excellence, and customer obsession that will help Instacart play an even bigger role in people’s lives - and I couldn’t be more excited to see how Chris scales the company’s impact from here,” says Simo.

“Instacart sits at the centre of how people shop, eat, and care for their families - and that’s always been what inspires me most about our mission. Together with our partners, we’re transforming the future of grocery shopping, but more importantly, we’re helping people solve real, everyday needs,” says Rogers. “We have a world class team, deep partnerships, leading technology, and a bold vision for the future, and I’m honored to step in and lead Instacart’s next chapter.”

8. Gaming is culture: Walmart Unlimited journey reaches its finale with launch of episode three

Walmart Unlimited, a gamified mini-series, has returned with a third and final chapter.

This made its debut earlier in the year, brought to you by Walmart, Unity and Spatial in collaboration with animators and producers Martian Blueberry and game development studio PIGIAMA KASAMA.

The first episode introduced characters inspired by Walmart’s real-life suppliers, including A Dozen Cousins founder Ibraheem Basir.

It’s the US retail giant’s latest attempt to tap immersive commerce - a form of online shopping that combines VR with 3D visualisations and gamification - to connect with the next generation of consumers.

9. Veesion lands $43 million in Series B funding as it looks to lead charge in tackling retail theft with AI

France-based AI powered retail security technology startup Veesion has bagged $43 million in a Series B funding round.

This brings the total raised so far to $80 million, including non-diluting.

The company uses gesture-based artificial intelligence, connected to a store’s existing security cameras, to alert staff the moment suspicious movements are detected. Its tech is live in 5,000+ stores across 25 countries, including 500 in the US. Clients include ShopRite, Key Food, and 7-Eleven.

In a LinkedIn post, Co-founder and CRO, Benoît Koenig, said: “This is a pivotal moment for us, and I want to extend a huge thank you to White Star Capital, Red River West, Bpifrance, KPN Ventures, and our long-term investors for their continued trust and belief in our vision.”

He added: “This milestone wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our 5,000 customers across 25 countries, who trust us to help them tackle one of retail’s biggest challenges, shoplifting. Their success is our success, and their belief in Veesion fuels our ambition to continue driving innovation in AI powered security.”

10. 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.