Asos under fire and Veloq on the rise: 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 InPost UK, Debenhams Group, Pinterest, Habitat, Sainsbury's, Co-op, Just Eat, Scandit, Walmart, Currys, and Diebold Nixdorf.
1. Asos comes under fire as disgruntled customers' accounts are closed due to their online returns activity
Online fast fashion giant Asos has recently been deleting customers' accounts due to high levels of return activity. This is the result of an update to its fair use policy.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, disgruntled customers have taken to social media to vent spleen.
For instance, Rhea Sangha, Senior Marketing Manager at John Lewis Partnership, said in a LinkedIn post: "This morning I received an email from Asos to inform me they were closing my account. I was pretty gobsmacked as I am die hard, loyal fan and have been a regular customer for years. It’s my go to for holidays, weddings, parties and I bloody love Topshop!!"
"Yes, I’m a big shopper so yes as a result I probably do send a fair amount of returns (which I pay for!) but isn’t that the nature of online shopping? Isn’t that what happens when you can’t feel the material/see the quality/check the sizing/try on the clothes to see how a style suits your figure. And as a curvy girl - NOT easy! Clothes unfortunately do not fit me like a glove…"
She added: “I spend hundreds of pounds year with Asos, in the last month alone I’ve purchased 12 items and spent £350+. I know quite a few other friends this has happened to who have complained for several months to Asos with no real clarity or solution. Is this really how retailers should be treating their best customers? Is this what loyalty should feel like?"
"Very disappointing. Working in fashion retail myself I know how important it is to protect and reward your most frequent, loyal shoppers so I’m pretty disappointed (hence the post!) Please engage with my post if you agree and let me know what you think?"
2. Edward Salmon takes on Director role at Veloq, Rohlik Group's AI fulfillment platform spin out
Edward Salmon has been appointed Director by Veloq, which was recently launched by Rohlik Group, a European online grocer and tech specialist founded in 2014 in the Czech Republic, and offers an AI driven grocery fulfillment platform that has powered the firm’s growth across five markets.
Salmon has 12+ years of experience leading global expansion and strategy across the consumer retail and technology sectors. He specialises in scaling VC backed startups to transformation and innovation at global multinationals, with a track record in AI, robotics, and automation. His CV includes stints at Takeoff Technologies and Ocado Group.
Veloq has launched as an independent company, bringing Rohlik Group’s technology to grocers worldwide. Built on a proprietary software stack and robotics, it 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.
3. EDEKA Beckesepp store taps Diebold Nixdorf retail technology for AI powered self-service checkouts
Diebold Nixdorf has equipped a new EDEKA Beckesepp store in Waltershofen, Germany with self-service checkouts featuring its Smart Vision technology-based solutions for automated fruit and vegetable recognition and age verification.
With Vynamic Smart Vision | Fresh Produce Recognition, customers can capture products without barcodes, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, directly at the self-service checkout. A camera placed on top of the scale, combined with algorithms, identifies items and their quantities, which is then shown on the display. This eliminates the manual selection of fresh produce for customers or weighing and affixing a price label in the fresh produce section.
The Vynamic Smart Vision I Age Verification solution allows customers to automatically check their age.
When an age restricted item is scanned, customers are given the option to opt for automatic age recognition. Once consent is given, a camera installed in the system analyses the customer's facial characteristics using AI algorithms to determine their age.
The transaction can be continued if the customer’s age is above a predefined threshold. The attendants in the store during daytime operations can check customers who fall below this age limit or opt out of automatic age recognition. This system is GDPR compliant as the process does not involve facial recognition, nor does it store images or other customer information.
If customers wish to purchase age restricted items outside of the daytime opening hours, access to the store happens via an ID card, which then authorises them to make the purchase.
The new EDEKA Beckesepp #store is equipped with DN #SCOs featuring Smart Vision technology-based solutions for automated fruit and vegetable recognition and age verification.
— Diebold Nixdorf (@DieboldNixdorf) June 24, 2025
Learn more about the faster, more intuitive shopping experience here: https://t.co/v5RsVJzZsA pic.twitter.com/mkXTswrmWl
4. Debenhams Group partners with InPost to boost delivery options for customers across the UK
Debenhams Group, an online retailer behind brands including Debenhams, boohoo, boohooMAN, Karen Millen, and PrettyLittleThing, is adding to its UK delivery service through a new partnership with InPost.
Customers will now gain access to InPost’s network of 10,000 lockers and 6,000 parcel shops nationwide.
InPost is now live as a primary delivery option on brands including Dorothy Perkins, Coast and Warehouse, as well as on boohoo and Nasty Gal. Since launching at the end of May, thousands of customers have selected it as their preferred method, according to those involved.
Debenhams Group also plans to implement a next-day delivery option in the future, to support customers with its last minute purchases and time sensitive orders. InPost will also be live across the Group’s other brands - boohooMAN, Karen Millen and PrettyLittleThing later this year.
5. Sainsbury’s Tech Con 2025 wraps as CX focused UK grocery giant hails its biggest and best event yet
Sainsbury’s Tech Con 2025 took place this week. with the one day event focusing on the UK grocery giant’s three-year Next Level strategy.
Tech partners including StrongPoint, VusionGroup, and Zebra Technologies were in attendance.
Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s Chief Executive, said earlier this year: “We launched our Next Level Strategy almost a year ago and are totally focused on making good food joyful, accessible and affordable for everyone, every day.”
“As a result, we’re seeing real momentum across our business, with a best ever value position, leading quality and increasing market share. As we accelerate into year two and beyond of our strategy, we are facing into a particularly challenging cost environment which means we have had to make tough choices about where we can afford to invest and where we need to do things differently to make our business more efficient and effective.”
6. Co-op onboard as Just Eat announces full UK launch of JET Go delivery-as-a-service platform
Just Eat has announced the full UK launch of its delivery-as-a-service platform, JET Go.
This enables partner brands to receive customer orders through their own channels while tapping into Just Eat’s technology infrastructure and network of independent couriers to offer on-demand, same-day and scheduled deliveries.
As the official launch partner, Co-op has rolled out the service across hundreds of stores. Customers within a five-mile radius can shop through its online shop or the Just Eat app. People can purchase everything from a full shop to forgotten or top-up ingredients for a midweek meal, or treats for evenings at home.
Delivery-as-a-service is also live on Just Eat’s platforms in 15 countries including Canada, Australia, Bulgaria and Spain and more big UK brands are set to come online across in the coming months.
7. Don't miss your chance to enter the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, deadline for submissions 18th July
Time is running out to enter the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, with deadline for submissions being Friday, 18th July.
As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.
With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.
Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.
Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September.
This will kick off with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room hosted by the rather excellent actress, writer, presenter, and comedian Lucy Porter.
Time is running out to enter the RTIH AI in Retail Awards. Deadline for submissions is Friday, 18th July. Our 2025 winners will be announced at an evening event at @BarbicanCentre in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September #ai https://t.co/YnOwZgTVOc pic.twitter.com/CnEx2ZKQHb
— Retail Technology Innovation Hub (@RTIH_RetailTech) June 23, 2025
8. Smart data capture firm Scandit announces renewal of Walmart tie up across retailer's US stores
Scandit has announced the renewal of its relationship with Walmart.
Since first being deployed in 2022, Scandit’s Smart Data Capture software has been integrated into several Walmart associate apps, helping to optimise operational tasks like order fulfillment, stock replenishment, out-of-stock detection, product information look up and receipt checks for self-checkout customers.
Scandit CEO and Co-founder Samuel Mueller, comments: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Walmart. Empowering associates by putting best-in-class technology in their hands is how retailers can drive meaningful change.”
The user interface of the MyWalmart app, designed by Walmart with input from Scandit, streamlines associate onboarding and helps make associates’ day-to-day tasks easier, regardless of role, tenure, and workflow.
9. Currys Brand and Marketing Director Dan Rubel puts case for retailers' employees working from home
Dan Rubel, Brand & Marketing Director at Currys, has taken to LinkedIn to address reports that Ikea and Ocado are cutting working from home days as increasing numbers of people return to offices on a full or part time basis.
Ikea has told head office staff that from September they will be required to work 12 days per month on-site, up from its previous policy of just eight. Ocado, meanwhile, has updated its hybrid working policy for head office staff from one day in the office a week to at least three days.
"Love to see headlines like this one. More retailers regressing to more enforced work from office = more competitive advantage for Currys IMHO - especially in terms of snapping up and retaining the very best talent," Rubel said.
He added: "I have a team of c.100. For nearly all of us, some weeks we don't go to the office at all. Some weeks we're there three or four times. The minimum is very low (two times per month in the office). Our people are grown ups and we treat them like that.”
“As individuals and as teams, they work things out for themselves including making sure we are face to face when needed (e.g. with the right regularity to stay connected or ad hoc to tackle something particularly gnarly). To be fair, for must of us in HQ roles, our favourite "office" is closer to where the action is... e.g. to be in our stores, around colleagues and customers. That said, the space we have in WeWork Waterloo is pretty special too."
10. Habitat and Pinterest launch short films showing how small changes in homes make big impacts
Habitat and Pinterest are teaming up to invite the nation to see homeware differently with ‘The Home of Attention’, a storytelling series that shows how to transform everyday spaces with just a few well chosen pieces.
For the first time ever on Pinterest, the tie up will centre around a series of short films launched exclusively on the platform. These focus on different moments in the home and how things in it can reflect our moods and reshape our interior needs.
Each film will be brought to life by a series of interactive and immersive Pinterest experiences. These include a 360-degree, shoppable set and film inspired creator content, as well as curated collages - an ad format giving users a new way to interact with Habitat products.
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