Waitrose gets smart and Aldi goes hybrid: presenting last week’s biggest retail technology plays at a glance

RTIH rounds up the stand out retail systems deals, launches, deployments and pilots from the past seven days. Including Shopic, Primark, VusionGroup, Scamp & Dude, Dollar Tree, Uber Eats, Ahold Delhaize USA, Instacart, Paradies Lagardère, Charles Clinkard, Boody, Yotpo, and TruRating.

Waitrose

Waitrose & Partners has gone live with a pilot involving a Shopic AI and computer vision technology powered smart trolley.

A trial is underway at the UK grocery retailer's Bracknell site.

A Waitrose spokesperson told RTIH: “This works in a similar way to our scan, pay, go handsets, with a bigger screen, that identifies every item placed into or removed from the cart, and with a real-time tally of products and prices so shoppers can keep track of purchases.”

Shoppers attach a handlebar like device to a regular Waitrose trolley. They use this to scan barcodes on products before putting them in their trolley. The smart cart then identifies the products.

People must weigh loose produce at one of the store’s in-aisle scales and scan the barcode. Bakery products need to be chosen from the device’s screen before being placed in the trolley, while reduced goods need their yellow stickers scanned.

The Waitrose spokesperson added: “We're exploring options for more frictionless payment for our customers, while still maintaining conventional checkouts for customers who value interaction with our partners”.

Aldi

Aldi is making changes to its Shop & Go checkout-free stores, moving from a tap in to a hybrid experience.

In a LinkedIn post, Lennart Hoffmann, Lead Engineer Seamless Stores at Aldi DX, said: “Since opening our first checkout-free Shop & Go store in London in 2022, we have continuously evolved the customer experience to make shopping faster, easier, and more convenient. After introducing tap in during December 2023, we are excited to announce the next big step in our journey: Shop & Go is going hybrid.”

He added: “Our new hybrid store model puts customer choice at the forefront - keeping the ease of checkout-free shopping while bringing the concept closer to the traditional Aldi shopping experience.”

As with any other Aldi store, customers can now just walk in. At the exit, they can choose how they want to pay: use the retailer’s app or tap on a fast lane, or try new self-checkout terminals. These let people manually scan their items or use an AiFi powered checkout system.

Hoffmann added: “This evolution reflects our commitment to understanding and responding to the needs of our customers. We’re offering more flexibility to suit different shopping preferences while maintaining speed and convenience. We’re proud of this milestone and look forward to welcoming customers to the new Shop & Go experience.”

Primark

Primark reports that its new job applicant tracking system - SmartRecruiters - is now up and running in the UK, following launches in the US, ROI, and Central Functions last week.

The retailer has also gone live with a a new internal careers website.

“This marks a major milestone in our journey to deliver the best possible experience for candidates - both internal and external - when applying for roles,” says Eleanor Dennehy, Technology - Business Change Manager at Primark.

“I’ve had the privilege of leading the Change Team for this implementation, and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to my amazing teammates, Matt Taylor and Elizabeth MacGregor. Their dedication, enthusiasm, and sheer determination were absolutely key to making this change a success.”

“We faced challenges, but they persevered with grace and grit. A special shout out to our In-Market Leads, Central Functions Lead, and Super Users who brought their energy, skills, and passion to this project."

VusionGroup

VusionGroup has opened a Customer Experience Centre at the GS1 Germany GmbH Knowledge Centre in Cologne.

In a LinkedIn post, it said: “Together with GS1 Germany, we have created a place where digital transformation, global standards and expertise in retail and CPGs come together – a place for the future of bricks and mortar retail.”

“What visitors can expect in the new Experience Centre: Guided tours of the connected store; Lectures and practical use cases; Exchange and networking with decision-makers from trade and technology.”

Dollar Tree and Uber Eats

Uber Technologies and Dollar Tree has announced a new US partnership that brings nearly 9,000 of the latter’s stores to the Uber Eats platform.

Customers Stateside can now get affordable everyday items, including party supplies and cosmetics, for on-demand delivery.

“Bringing Dollar Tree to the Uber Eats platform means customers can now enjoy the great value and everyday essentials they count on, plus the thrill of discovering those unexpected treasures – all with the convenience of same-day delivery,” says Brent Beebe, SVP of Retail Merchandising and Marketing at Dollar Tree.

“We’re making it easier than ever for our shoppers to access the fun, affordable finds they love, right when and where they need them.”

Scamp & Dude

Ometria has bagged Scamp & Dude as a customer.

In a LinkedIn post, the company said: “As a B Corp certified clothing brand, Scamp & Dude is on a mission to make fashion a force for good. Giving back is in their DNA, along with superpowered prints and colours designed to make people feel amazing. The brand needed a solution that would help power their next stage of growth, and Ometria was the perfect fit.”

Scamp & Dude Director and COO, Rob Sharp, commented: "Partnering with Ometria will allow us to unlock deeper customer insights from our data, gain a complete view of the end-to-end customer journey - whether in-store or online - and ultimately deliver more personalised experiences that keep customers coming back.”

“Plus with all our data easily accessible within the platform, we’ll be able to move faster and with greater clarity than ever before."

Instacart and MDI

Instacart has announced a new partnership with Merchants Distributors (MDI), a wholesale grocery distributor, to offer the former’s e-commerce solutions to the latter’s network of independent grocers.

These will be joining the Instacart app to offer customers same-day delivery and enabling Storefront Pro, the firm’s end-to-end fully-customisable e-commerce solution built specifically for grocers.

“We’ve long admired MDI and how, for over 90 years, they have supported independent grocers with essential expertise, infrastructure, and scale, so that they can thrive and grow. It’s a privilege to team up with MDI and their retailers to enhance the guest experience with the adoption of Instacart’s platform,” says Nick Nickitas, General Manager of Independent Grocery and Mid-Market Retail Partnerships at Instacart.

“Together we’ll empower leading local grocers to deliver a seamless, flexible way to shop while preserving the local connection that sets them apart in the communities they serve. We’re so proud to partner with a distributor that’s leading the way in digital transformation for independent grocers.” 

Ahold Delhaize USA

Ahold Delhaize USA has announced an expansion of its partnership with Instacart to leverage its FoodStorm order management system.

The technology will enable participating Ahold Delhaize USA brands to enhance customers’ shopping experience when requesting made to order items such as fresh bakery platters, customisable deli meat and cheese trays, dessert flights, floral arrangements and balloons.

The FoodStorm solution is now live at Food Lion, GIANT and MARTIN’S, operated by The GIANT Company.

“By expanding our partnership with Instacart to enable the FoodStorm platform, we’ve introduced a more seamless, modern way to order catering,” says Keith Nicks, Chief Digital and Commercial Officer, Ahold Delhaize USA. “This collaboration unlocks new digital capabilities for our brands and elevates the omnichannel shopping experience for their customers.”

Sony and xplace

Sony and xplace are supporting a Zukunftsraum (Future Space) concept store in Kiel, Germany with display and retail signage.

The Zukunftsraum is a pilot project by Kiel-Marketing that is subsidised by federal funds, offering traditional, bricks and mortar retailers a platform for digitalisation. Helly Hansen is using the concept and the digital infrastructure for a pop-up store - the outdoor and sailing brand's first own store in Germany.  

Sony is equipping the 220 square metre pop-up store with 11 Sony BRAVIA Professional Displays, including the 98-inch flagship model FW-98BZ53L.  

Sony partner xplace installed the BRAVIA Professional Displays and used BEECEEN, its own content management system (CMS) for digital signage, on the displays in the sales area. Sensor-based solutions such as Lift & Learn or Place & Learn technologies are also used. The displays build a visual and interactive bridge between analogue and digital retail worlds, convey brand messages and offer customers support in the store when making a purchase decision.  

Paradies Lagardère

Paradies Lagardère - a travel retailer and restaurateur operating in airports across North America - has gone live with TruRating, a consumer intelligence and analytics platform.

In a LInkedIn post, TruRating said: “With a presence in more than 100 airports, Paradies Lagardère brings travelers a best-in-class mix of specialty retail, duty free, and dining experiences. From globally recognised brands to local favourites, they’re committed to delivering convenience, quality, and care to every passenger journey.”

“Now, they’re taking the next leap forward: Capturing real-time feedback from travellers on the move; Surfacing location level insights to optimise service and operations; Making data driven decisions that elevate the airport experience.”

Charles Clinkard

British footwear retailer, Charles Clinkard, has partnered with Pulse, an AI powered review intelligence platform.

Founded in 1924, it has over 30 retail locations and an e-commerce site powered by Visualsoft.

The aforementioned platform provides sentiment analysis, instant notifications and allows its stores to reply to reviews quickly and centrally. The retailer will also use one of Pulse's most popular tools to calculate the exact number of five star reviews needed to increase a business' Google rating.

The platform also manages location data like opening hours, ensuring Charles Clinkard’s listing is accurate and up-to-date.

DHL eCommerce

DHL eCommerce, DHL Group’s e-commerce logistics spin off, has announced the opening of a new facility in the Midlands. The depot in Minworth, Birmingham will increase handling capacity by 50% and service over 80 core routes with a further 30 during peak season.

The newly refurbished 9,700 m2 site, developed by Mileway, operates solely on electricity, with 13 electric vehicle charging points to minimise delivery emissions. The facility also features an integrated rainwater harvesting system to reduce its water consumption and has achieved an EPC A rating.

Stuart Hill, CEO at DHL eCommerce UK, says: “We are thrilled to announce the opening of this new depot in Birmingham. As demand continues to grow across the UK, having a strategic location in the Midlands that connects us to even more customers is crucial. The location coupled with the sustainability credentials of the new site means we will serve more customers, more efficiently and more sustainably.”

The site forms part of DHL eCommerce’s €560 million investment in the UK announced in 2022 and follows the opening of its new 25,000 m2 parcel hub in Coventry earlier this year.

Whittard of Chelsea

Wincanton has announced the extension of its partnership with tea and coffee retailer Whittard of Chelsea.

The tie up, which began in 2012, will now support Whittard’s UK and international growth across both e-commerce and physical retail. Under the renewed contract, Wincanton will continue to manage both B2C and B2B fulfilment operations from its e-fulfilment centre, DC7, in Northampton.

Co-op

VusionGroup has ramped up its partnership with Co-op as the roll-out of electronic shelf labels continues across the UK, with the aim of making shopping smarter, more transparent, and more sustainable.

With NFC enabled shelf labels, people can now tap directly at the shelf to join Co-op's membership offering in seconds, unlocking personalised offers, exclusive pricing, and deals.

The new electronic labels (powered by VusionCloud) also: provide transparency on allergens, nutrition, and country of origin; instantly update prices, promotions, and savings; simplify in-store tasks like stock replenishment and online order picking; improve inventory management; cut paper waste by replacing traditional labels.

Currently live in 700+ stores, the roll-out will reach 1,600 by the end of 2025 and every Co-op store by 2026. It marks the UK’s largest electronic shelf-edge label deployment.

Boody

Sustainable apparel brand Boody is working with Yotpo as part of an overhaul of its The Lounge loyalty programme.

In a LinkedIn post, Rad Mitic, Head of Brand Advocacy at Yotpo, said: "Excited to share that Boody is now live with Yotpo reviews and loyalty."

"Boody is an Aussie born brand that's all about keeping things comfy, cool, and kind to the planet. The revamp of its new loyalty programme called The Lounge is a masterpiece of excellence, it’s where comfort meets rewards."