Smart carts, robot dogs, and thrift shops: RTIH presents August's coolest retail tech plays

RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his stand out ‘future of retail’ systems deployments and launches from August, including Waitrose, Shopic, ICA Gruppen, Chipotle, Zipline, Snappy Shopper, Pinterest, Selfridges, Snap, McDonald's, AllSaints, Carrefour, Walmart, M&S, Veloq, Diebold Nixdorf, Checkers, and Just Around The Corner.

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”.

ICA Gruppen

Oskar Jakobsson, Director Customer Solution at ICA Gruppen, a Swedish retailer franchise with a focus on food and health, has taken to social media to discuss how his company is increasingly integrating AI into its projects, solutions, and ways of working.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: “This not only makes us more effective but also provides us with valuable training and helps us build competence around AI. One exciting initiative is "Shop with AI" that aims to revolutionise the way our customers plan and shop.”

“We generate personalised menus and meal suggestions based on ICA's recipes, available assortment, customer data and preferences etc. Making it easier for customers to add these menus to their shopping lists. This makes the process of meal planning and grocery shopping more efficient and personalised.”

He added: “Being at the cutting-edge of AI technology is crucial for staying ahead in today's fast paced world. Our commitment to innovation ensures that we continue to provide the best possible experience for our customers. Although still in the early stages and not yet available for customers, we are actively evaluating, assessing and learning as we go.”

“This is a very interesting case with lots of potential spin-offs. We are basing this on our Google platform using Google Gemini, and we are thankful and happy for the excellent support and help from Anna Lisinsk and the team at Google. Together, we will leverage our combined expertise to enhance the shopping experience even further.”

Snappy Shopper

Snappy Shopper, a q-commerce technology platform for independent retailers, has launched 24/7 delivery capability following trials in selected stores across the UK.

It lays claim to being the first convenience led platform to bring 24/7 grocery delivery to market at scale.

Mike Callachan, CEO at Snappy Shopper, says: “This is a huge step forward for independent retail. We’ve developed and tested the technology and now we’re rolling it out to help local stores meet real, everyday needs around the clock. We’re proud to lead this innovation for the benefit of both retailers and their communities.”

Girish’s Premier Barmulloch in Glasgow made history as the first store in Scotland to offer 24-hour grocery delivery using the new technology. Since launching the service in February, store owner Girish Jeeva has says he has seen a surge in overnight orders. 

In addition, Girish’s Premier Barmulloch recently surpassed £100,000 in GMV in a 30-day period, driven in part by overnight trade. 

Chipotle

Chipotle Mexican Grill is partnering with Zipline, an autonomous delivery system, to fly digital orders to customers’ locations in greater Dallas.

A small number of Zipline users will have access to Zipotle starting today, ahead of a broader service launch in the coming weeks. Chipotle’s entire menu will be eligible for delivery.

“Zipotle is a quick and convenient source of delivery that lets guests enjoy our real food from places that are traditionally challenging to serve, including backyards and public parks,” says Curt Garner, President, Chief Strategy and Technology Officer at Chipotle.

“Zipline’s commitment to building an efficient, environmentally friendly delivery experience is synonymous with our mission to Cultivate a Better World.”

“With Zipline, you tap a button, and minutes later food magically appears - hot, fresh, and ultra-fast,” says Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, CEO and Co-Founder at Zipline. “Starting today, families in the Dallas area can have food delivered by Zipotle and served for lunch or dinner. What once felt like science fiction is soon going to become totally normal.”

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

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.

Pinterest

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. 

Selfridges

HYPERVSN has deployed its AI Hologram Human solution at Selfridges' store in London's Oxford Street.

In a LInkedIn post, CEO and Founder Kiryl Chykeyuk, said: "She doesn’t sleep. She doesn’t eat. She never forgets a single product detail. Will AI assistants replace us humans - in airports, banks, telco, healthcare? Our AI Hologram Human at Selfridges London talks to over 100 people, every single day. No lunch breaks. No burnout. Just consistent 24/7 customer service."

"Fluent in 100+ languages. Always smiling. Always on. Some talk to her more than they would to a real person - no shyness, no judgement. And it feels so human. And fun - lots of fun! She can take on what humans can’t always cope with: endless repetition; 24/7 shifts; hundreds of questions a day.”

“Freeing people to do the things only we can do - e.g. creativity, complex decisions. She might be the easiest hire we’ve ever made. Smart. Witty. Charismatic. This is just the beginning."

Snap and McDonald's

Starting this month, Snapchatters in the US can travel to McDonaldland with custom AR Lenses built by Snap's innovation studio, Arcadia, to unlock games, exclusive content, and transform their local McDonald’s restaurant.

At the heart of the experience is The McDonaldland Map Lens, a 3D map that features a user’s Bitmoji alongside McDonald’s characters. To get started, people can explore the map and tap on different characters to enter into their unique experience.

It is also possible to visit any of the nearly 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants across the US to unlock the Step Into McDonaldland Lens.

This AR experience uses geofencing technology to transform the walls, tables, and floors into the world of McDonaldland. If people are not at a restaurant, the Lens will guide them to the nearest one, showing them how far away it is.

The initiative promotes McDonald’s latest meal that pays homage to the fast food giant’s McDonaldland fictional fantasy world filled with apple pie trees and hamburger patches, and home to characters like Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Birdie, Hamburglar, Mayor McCheese and the Fry Friends. This was first introduced in commercials in the early 1970s.

Veloq

Veloq has taken to social media to give a first look at its fulfilment centre where the newest robotic arm is officially live and picking customer orders in real-time.

In June, we reported that Rohlik Group, a European online grocer and tech specialist founded in 2014 in the Czech Republic, was 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 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, 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.

In a LinkedIn post, it stated that, in under six seconds, the aforementioned fulfilment centre robotic arm “identifies the product, grips it with millimetre precision and drops it directly into the order tote. Speed and accuracy like this don’t just support same-day delivery - they’re powering later-today.”

It added: “Why this matters: Faster fulfilment = happier shoppers. Every second saved in the pick path brings the doorstep closer to the click; Reliable, 24/7 performance. With advanced vision and force-feedback, the arm handles thousands of SKUs - including delicate and irregular items - with ease; Smarter economics. Higher units per hour and always-on operation mean stronger margins for partners and lower costs per basket Our next-gen automation - purpose built for full basket grocery - is here and more innovations are on the way."

AllSaints

British fashion retailer AllSaints reports a major step towards its AI and data goals.

Alfie Meekings, Global Director of Transformation at AllSaints, said: “One of of the four pillars of our transformation vision is to create an environment where we can be data driven and powered by AI.”

“We have a lot to do to achieve this, but last week we took the first significant step as we announced the launch of Google Workspace AI tools for all teams in our offices around the globe, alongside a masterclass programme designed to equip our people with the knowledge and skills to be able to really leverage them in their day-to-day work.”

AllSaints has also announced the launch of its AI Academy, in partnership with Cambridge Spark, to give some of its team members a deeper insight into AI - from core concepts exploring its potential, to more technical skills such as prompt engineering and, also how to use AI to drive ROI.

Meekings concluded: “Our belief is that if we empower our people with the tools and knowledge to experiment with AI in a safe environment, they will find the best ways to evolve our ways of working.”

Walmart

Walmart has launched a new series of immersive online storefronts, with a focus on cultural movements inspired by and shaping Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

In a LinkedIn post, Justin Breton, Head of Brand Partnerships & Emerging Experiences, said: "Over a year ago, we launched Walmart Realm, an immersive shopping experience blending culture, content, and commerce to facilitate product discovery and brand reappraisal.

Since then, it’s connected millions of younger shoppers with creator curated products, interactive mini-games, and trend driven storytelling through this emerging medium."

He added: "We’re now introducing our boldest wave of new immersive storefronts yet, all rooted in the cultural movements inspired by and shaping Gen Z and Gen Alpha, as we redefine how they discover, connect, and shop with our brand online. We’re starting with the vibrant K-POP Era, followed by Lo-Fi Playing, Rodeo Dreams, Nature Breaks, and Group Woosah."

The move is in support of Walmart Delivers, the US retail giant's IRL mobile pop-ups bringing these social trends to cities nationwide where consumers can expect photo booths, customisable giveaways, and interactive zones that turn shopping into an event. On 2nd September, the Walmart Delivers K-POP pop-up will be at the BABYMONSTER concert in Chicago.

Carrefour

A roll-out of AI.Carrefour, the France headquartered retail giant's conversational assistant powered by Gemini, has been completed across all integrated countries.

Olivier Gibert, Global Chief Technology Officer at Carrefour, said: "125,000 employees. Eight countries. One AI assistant. Our ambition: to simplify daily work, free up operational time, and bring AI directly to the teams on the ground. Not a tech showcase - a practical tool built to meet real business needs."

He added: "Each launch - in Spain, Poland, Romania and beyond - was a chance to connect with local teams, refine use cases, and measure impact, right where it matters. First batch of feedback is unanimous: “Fast”; “Useful”; “Intuitive”. Simple words. But they say a lot. Because AI only matters if it’s adopted, understood, and used to deliver value. This is just the beginning. Huge thanks to all the teams involved in this successful global deployment."

Just Around The Corner

Miguel Murta Cardoso has launched Just Around The Corner with the aim of "simplifying your day by bringing the best of modern retail closer to you".

The Portugal-based startup specialises in autonomous mini-markets that are open 24/7 and situated in offices and condominiums, offering the likes of snacks, meals, milk and bread, frozen, fresh, drinks, hygiene and cleaning products.

"All this without queues, without complications and at fair prices. Where? Inside offices and residential condominiums. Because time is the most valuable resource we have and we deserve fast, fair and simple access to what we need," says Cardoso.

Just Around The Corner can currently be found in OutSystems and Millennium bcp offices in Portugal and also in the Torre Infinity da Vanguard Properties Portugal condominium.