Robot delivery dogs and smart cart firsts: check out 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 Just Eat Takeaway, M&S, Hobbycraft, Pair Eyewear, Jollyes Pets, Uber Eats, Lowe's, Serve Robotics, Checkers, East of England Co-op, Gopuff, Disco, Lidl GB, Pennies, and Pinterest.
Just Eat Takeaway
Just Eat Takeaway.com is partnering with Swiss company RIVR to pilot doorstep delivery of food products with autonomous ground robots.
It lays claim to being the first on-demand delivery service to test out wheeled legged hybrid robotics equipped with physical AI in Europe. The robot combines wheels for travel with legs for climbing stairs and curbs.
It operates at approximately 15 km per hour. The design allows it to operate reliably in diverse weather conditions, including rain, snow, high heat, and wind. With a 40-litre capacity and an internal wall to prevent spillage, the robot can handle large orders.
The handover process is similar to a courier delivery. A secure locking mechanism enables the safe delivery of the order for both the partner and the user. The partner secures the order inside the robot, and the customer unlocks the cargo bin after being notified of its arrival.
The robot has been manufactured to cover long distances safely, and every delivery is monitored real-time from a monitoring centre. It is programmed to instantly stop in emergencies, either automatically or via remote command, and is equipped with lights and a flag to stay noticeable during day and night.
EDEKA Paschmann
EDEKA Paschmann in Düsseldorf has become the first supermarket in Germany to use Diebold Nixdorf's Vynamic Smart Vision I Shrink Reduction solution at its self-service checkouts.
The AI enabled technology addresses errors at the self-service checkout - both unintentional and deliberate. In addition, the systems are equipped with Diebold Nixdorf's automatic, AI powered age verification.
Vynamic Smart Vision I Shrink Reduction uses cameras to analyse customer behaviour and activities at the self-service checkout in real-time. If the system detects a missed scan or incorrect operation, customers receive a nudge via a message on the checkout display informing that an item has not been scanned correctly.
Once the shopper self-rectifies and scans the product which was missed, the transaction continues without major interruption to the checkout process. Employees are only informed if the system displays another error message, so they can provide support to complete the checkout process correctly.
Short, real-time video sequences of the anomaly detected by the system help to better illustrate the process to customers and explain how certain operating errors can be avoided in future.
M&S
Marks & Spencer has announced a £340 million investment in its food supply chain - the largest in its history. This will fund the development of an automated national distribution centre (NDC) in Northamptonshire - a key part of plans to double the size of the M&S Food business.
Alex Freudmann, MD at M&S Food, comments: “We’re transforming M&S into a destination for the weekly shop and modernising our supply chain is central to that ambition. This investment will boost capacity for future growth, lower our cost to serve over the long-term, and improve product availability – ensuring customers find the right products in the right place at the right time.”
“Our new site will strengthen our network and help us get ahead of the volume curve as we build a bigger, better Food business. By using the latest, proven automation, we are future-proofing both our business and UK retail logistics, as well as creating 1,000 jobs permanently on site and 2,000 during the construction phase.”
Spanning 1.3 million square feet, the new facility will be based at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, and is expected to open in 2029. The move follows an announcement earlier in the year to open a new 390k square foot distribution centre at Avonmouth in Bristol, serving stores in the Midlands, South-west England and South Wales.
Checkers
South Africa's Checkers tests out Xpress Trolley with built in scanner and automated checkout
Checkers is laying claim to South Africa’s first smart shopping trolley.
Called the Xpress Trolley, this allows shoppers to scan and bag items as they go, track a live running total, and pay directly on the trolley without needing to stand in a queue or bag products at a traditional till point.
Built by the ShopriteX innovation team, the Xpress Trolley features a screen that guides shoppers through their journey, displaying real-time product details, personalised promotions, and a running total that helps them keep tabs on their spending as they go.
The screen also assists with in-store navigation by indicating where products are located within the store.
Gopuff
Gopuff’s order status page is now exclusively powered by Disco’s AI powered real-time, personalised offers.
As part of the partnership, Disco will also handle ad decisioning for Gopuff’s own advertisers post-purchase.
"Integrating Disco's AI powered recommendations into our platform unlocks additional value for our customers with highly relevant, personalised offers," says Michael Peroutka, Gopuff's Head of Ads & Agency Partnerships. "It's a win win that enhances our advertiser offerings while delivering a post-purchase experience that delights."
Teddy Kolva, Head of BD & Partnerships at Disco, says: “Gopuff’d some champagne to celebrate this one…Our advertisers unlock premium scale, Gopuff users get bespoke deals from 1,000+ DTC brands - and monetisation comes without sacrificing user relevance.”
He adds: “Together we’re pushing the boundaries of retail media, and this partnership has been a perfect cultural match. Both teams share a restlessness with the status quo. Big thanks to Gopuff’s JR Crosby, Michael Peroutka, and Nathaniel Bertram and team for being great collaborators and even better people. It’s just day one.”
Pinterest is launching Thrift Shop, a new shopping experience that makes vintage and secondhand items available to purchase directly on the platform.
Available from 20th August to 26th September, Thrift Shop is the first experience of its kind on Pinterest. It will partner with vintage and thrift retailers from across the world, creating weekly closet drops on the site.
The move comes as the company says more than half of its users are now members of Gen Z, with 66% of these turning to it for shopping. It also says clicks to advertisers from its platform have nearly quadrupled in the past two years.
Lidl GB
The move followed a regional trial and allows customers to donate up to 30p per transaction at the card reader.
And now the discount retailer reports that more than £545,000 was raised over a six week period. Between 12th May and 30th June, it activated Pennies in stores to support the NSPCC Childhood Day 2025 campaign.
With each store live for one month during the campaign window, customers were invited to round up their purchases and donate up to 30p via the card reader at checkout. The £545,000 raised was the highest amount the NSPCC has ever received from an activation of this kind.
In a LinkedIn post, Lidl GB said: “These microdonations may seem small individually, but together, they’re creating real impact – and bringing us closer to our goal of raising and additional £5 million by 2030, building on the £10 million already raised since our partnership began with the NSPCC in 2017.”
It added: “They also complement our long running in-store NSPCC cash donation tins, giving customers more ways to support in the way that suits them. A huge thank you to every customer who chose to donate. Your small acts are changing lives.”
Jollyes Pets and Uber Eats
Jollyes Pets has launched an exclusive trial with Uber Eats. Zoomies is launching across 13 trial stores and will offer rapid delivery via Uber.
Over 2,000 lines are available for customers.
CEO Joe Wykes says: “We’re so excited to launch our trial with Uber Eats and become their first national pet partner. The new service will allow us to reach more shoppers than ever before, more quickly than we ever have.”
Pair Eyewear
Pair Eyewear, a direct-to-consumer brand, has launched Veero’s EyeSize solution. The tie up adds Veero’s digital measurement and fit accuracy to the online retailer’s shopping experience.
This uses AI and computer-vision technology to capture facial measurements down to the millimetre.
“Pair Eyewear’s vibrant brand and digital first DNA make them the perfect partner for EyeSize,” says Sam Mahoney, CEO at Veero. “Together, we’re empowering more customers to shop with confidence online.”
Hobbycraft
Hobbycraft is marking its 30th year of operations with the launch of a shoppable TV channel.
The new media platform offers daily, demonstration led content from expert crafters, with the aim of making it easier for viewers to learn new skills and access all the materials needed. It will offer people more than 100 new brands.
They can tune in from 7.30am on Thursday 4th September on Freeview Channel 97, hobbycraft.co.uk/tv, Youtube.com/hobbycraft or via the red button on connected TV’s.
“This is such an exciting moment and opportunity for the crafting industry and community,” says Steven Hubbard, Board Advisor at Hobbycraft.
“After all the significant efforts of the team and our partners over the last few months, we are only a couple of weeks away from launching a whole new innovative channel that will certainly enhance all our customers’ experience.”
East of England Co-op
Ben Grover has left Klipspringer to join East of England Co-op as Business Development Manager.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “The end of my first week at East of England Co-op. A huge thank you to all my new colleagues for making me feel so welcome and for sharing their experience and knowledge with me. Some of what I’ve heard and learnt this week has been eye-opening, but one really stood out.”
He added: “In just one 24-hour period, Co-op Secure Response’s AI integrations cleared 117,000 alarms across various sites. That’s over 4,000 alarms every hour. Each of those cleared alarms removed the need for human intervention and with it, the potential for: Wasted resources; Operational downtime; Unnecessary hassle.”
“And that’s just one small example of how we’re proactively helping our partners prevent loss, reduce risk, and increase compliance. If you think there’s an opportunity to improve your security systems and streamline your operations, let’s have a chat.”
Lowe's
This month, members enrolled in the Lowe’s MyLowe’s Rewards programme were able to pick up a free soccer ball at Lowe’s along with a QR code that activated an instructional skills clinic with Lionel Messi. This was a part of the retailer’s free member gift offering.
In a LinkedIn post, Jennifer Wilson, Chief Marketing Officer at Lowe’s, said: “We sold out in hours and have held weekend clinics in our store parking lots - also sold out - to further bolster the activation.”
“As we seek to build lasting connections with younger generations, it’s been exciting to see how our brand influencers like Messi…and recently our partnership with Mr Beast…have really resonated (and even transcended generations) in ways we could only hope they would.”
Iona University
Gallery has launched an Amazon Just Walk Out technology powered store at Iona University in the US, in time for the return of students to campus following the summer break.
In a LinkedIn post, Garett Buchholz, Account Executive at Gallery, said: “Keeping the foot on the gas pedal. Proud to announce the launch of another Amazon JWO store at Iona University.”
He added: “Big thanks to Andrew Goodman (Project Manager at Gallery), Peter L. Bonacci (Regional Vice President at Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services), Francis Spiegel (Senior Programme Manager at Amazon Web Services), and everyone else who helped bring this project to life right before the school year kicked off.”
“Students are now returning to campus with a renovated building - and inside it, a brand new JWO store designed to maximise throughput and create a smoother, more convenient experience.”
Iona University is a private Catholic university with a main campus in New Rochelle, New York, United States. It was founded in 1940 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers and occupies a campus of 45 acres in New Rochelle and a campus of 28 acres in Bronxville, New York.
Serve Robotics
Serve Robotics, an autonomous sidewalk delivery company that was spun off from Uber in 2021, has acquired Vayu Robotics, a specialist in urban robot navigation using large scale AI models.
This will see Serve’s autonomy stack and real‑world sidewalk dataset combined with Vayu’s expertise in AI foundation models and its scalable simulation powered data engine.
“With this acquisition, Serve solidifies its leadership position, not just in current robotic delivery operations, but in shaping the future of autonomous robotic navigation. This step marks a significant milestone in our roadmap toward wide scale deployment of autonomous robots on sidewalks across the US, aligning with industry predictions of rapid robot adoption,” says Dr. Ali Kashani, CEO and Co-founder at Serve Robotics.
“Autonomy is critical to our long-term goal of bringing delivery costs down to $1, and these new capabilities will help us move faster.”
Currys
Currys has teamed up with McAfee to roll-out a new QR gamification experience in stores, helping customers put their AI spotting skills to the test.
In a LinkedIn post, Naveen Sarvananthan, CI Technology Support Manager at Currys, said: "Can you tell if it’s AI… or not? It’s a fun, fast, interactive way to show how convincing AI generated content can be and why tools like McAfee Scam Detector are more important than ever. A big shoutout to MyPlayer for helping us bring this idea to life."
"The experience is live in-store now - go scan the code (or click the link in my post), play the game, and see if you can really tell what’s real."
Saks Global
Saks Global reports a milestone in its personalisation strategy with the release of a new homepage as part of the Saks Fifth Avenue online and mobile app experience.
The experience is unique to each individual customer and tailored to their preferences using machine learning algorithms that leverage real-time customer behaviour. The retailer says that the move "reinforces our commitment to promoting fashion discovery at every touchpoint while serving extremely relevant and inspiring content to every customer."
It adds: "With our scaled personalisation efforts, combined with our expertly curated assortments, high-touch service and best-in-class technology, we are continuing to optimise the shopping experience for the full continuum of luxury consumers. This is one step in our larger personalisation journey in support of our mission to reinvent luxury shopping so that each customer’s experience is unmistakably their own."
Penn Gaming, Amazon and Gallery
An Amazon Just Walk Out technology powered store has gone live at a new Penn Gaming Casino in Joliet, Illinois, USA.
Penn Entertainment last week reopened the location, nearly six months ahead of schedule. The $185 million, 189,000 square foot venue features approximately 1,000 slots and 43 live table games, as well as a baccarat room and an ESPN BET retail sportsbook. It will employ around 600 members of staff.
In a LInkedIn post, Garett Buchholz, Account Executive at Gallery, said: "Penn Gaming + Amazon + Gallery = Experiences 🎰📦✨ Excited to announce the completion of a brand new Just Walk Out store at the stunning new Penn Gaming Casino in Joliet, Illinois."
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