Gap thinks about the future: these are RTIH's most read retail technology articles from last week
Check out our most clicked retail technology articles from last week, including eBay, Tesco, Peoplesoft, M&S, Wonder, Walmart, OpenAI, Instacart, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, JD.com, Currys, and the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.
Here's why eBay must stop playing it safe and embrace AI and recommerce to power its reinvention
eBay must embrace AI across its business so that it powers the e-commerce giant's much needed reinvention. So says Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive.
Ladd was speaking as eBay celebrated its 30th anniversary.
"This is an important milestone we share with our global community of buyers and sellers, who've been with us every step of the way," said Jamie Iannone, Chief Executive Officer at eBay. "Looking ahead, we'll continue to leverage innovation and AI to make eBay simpler and more trusted, while building a stronger marketplace for the decades to come."
In a LinkedIn post, Ladd said: "eBay is a really challenging company to write about. Instead of making big moves like acquiring DAT freight and analytics, KAYAK, or any other number of companies over the years, it plays it safe."
"Without making a big move, its growth remains stagnant and underwhelming. it is at a crossroads. Once the pioneering force of online marketplaces, today it faces a choice: continue incremental change - or go bold and redefine itself for the next decade."
Final call for entries: 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards
There are now just five days left to get your entries in for the seventh edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, sponsored by Vista Technology Support, 3D Cloud, EdTech Innovation Hub, and Retail Technology Show.
Deadline for submissions is Friday, 19th September.
The awards celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world. Check out our 2024 winners here.
It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories here.
Our latest winners will be revealed at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Thursday, 16th October.
Key dates
Friday, 19th September: Award entry deadline
Tuesday, 23rd September: 2025 finalists revealed
Wednesday, 24th September - Wednesday, 8th October: Judging days
Thursday, 16th October: Winners announced at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Thursday, 16th October.
Chief Digital and Technology Officer Rachel Higham departs M&S in wake of devastating cyber attack
M&S Chief Digital and Technology Officer Rachel Higham is leaving the retailer months after a cyber attack hit its systems at a cost of hundreds of millions of pounds.
Conducted by a group called Scattered Spider, this brought its online operations to a halt and resulted in empty shelves in stores.
A former WPP and BT Group executive, Higham was appointed by M&S in 2014. In an internal memo, it said she was "stepping back from her role…Rachel has been a steady hand and calm head at an extraordinary time for the business, and we wish her well for the future.”
At the time of the appointment, Stuart Machine, M&S Chief Executive, pictured below, said that Higham joining the business, along with Mark Lemming becoming International Managing Director, “reflected the importance of Digital & Technology and capital light International growth to the next phase of our transformation. As I set out at our recent Capital Markets Day, we have more to do in both of these areas and so much opportunity.”
Manesh Nana departs Unilever to join Marc Lore's food delivery platform Wonder as VP of Strategic Finance
Manesh Nana has left Unilever (where he served as CFO - Foods North America) to join Wonder, a food delivery and technology startup founded in 2018 and fronted by former Walmart U.S. eCommerce executive, Marc Lore.
He is taking on the role of VP of Strategic Finance, having spent almost four years at Unilever. Nana’s CV also includes stints at Mars and PepsiCo.
“I’m grateful for the last four years at Unilever. I’ve had the opportunity to learn, lead fantastic teams, and drive impactful change, all while creating strong friendships. I am thrilled to announce that I will be starting a new chapter at Wonder, where I look forward to tackling fresh challenges,” he says.
Currys connects with Solum and Vestcom for electronic shelf edge labelling roll-out in its UK&I stores
Currys is investing in the roll-out of electronic shelf edge labels (ESEL) in its stores across the UK and Ireland.
Delivered in partnership with ESEL solution supplier Solum and Vestcom for data integration and software, the move forms part of Currys’ push to support colleagues in their day-to-day roles, while making it easier for its customers to shop.
The new ESELs replace traditional paper price tags with dynamic digital displays, offering customers real-time pricing, clearer product information and easy-to-scan QR codes for more information.
Behind the scenes, a centralised system enables pricing accuracy and consistency across all channels. This is currently available in over 150 stores, with full roll-out expected by 13th November. The investment was inspired by Elkjop3 in the Nordics, which already uses ESEL technology.
Walmart connects with OpenAI to bring AI training directly to frontline and office associates
Walmart has been announced as a launch partner for OpenAI's new Jobs Platform and OpenAI Certifications initiatives, alongside John Deere, BCG, Accenture, Indeed, Texas Association of Business, and Bay Area Council & State of Delaware.
Beginning next year, US frontline and office-based associates will be able to tap into AI training. Through the Walmart Academy programme, employees will have free access to a tailored version of the aforementioned certification.
"We know the future of retail won’t be defined by technology alone - it will be defined by people who know how to use it. By bringing AI training directly to our associates, we’re putting the most powerful technology of our time in their hands - giving them the skills to rewrite the playbook and shape the future of retail," says John Furner, CEO at Walmart US.
Instacart and Morrisons partner to bring AI powered Caper Cart smart trolleys to UK for first time
Instacart and Morrisons are teaming up to bring the former’s AI powered Caper Cart smart trolleys to the UK for the first time. These will become available starting in early 2026 at one initial Morrisons store, with the potential for a further roll-out.
Caper Carts let customers scan items as they shop, track their running total in real-time, and check-out.
The trolleys feature interactive screens, built-in scales, and AI powered sensors that guide customers through scanning and placing items directly into the basket, including weighing fresh produce directly in the trolley.
As items are scanned, it identifies them instantly, helping customers keep track of their spending and move through the store at their own pace. To complete their purchase, shoppers scan the barcode displayed on the trolley’s screen at the store’s self-checkout area.
For Morrisons customers, the smart trolleys will be integrated with the More Card loyalty programme.
Gap brings tech leaders and partners together for summit as it looks to build future of retail
In a LinkedIn post, Sven Gerjets, EVP, Chief Technology Officer at Gap, said: "The event was packed with energy, ideas, and future shaping conversations. Together, we dug into our key initiatives and explored what’s possible when great people and great platforms come together."
"To our partners: thank you for investing the time and leaning into this collaboration. To our Gap teams: thank you for the preparation, the content, and the hospitality that made this day special. The future of retail doesn’t get built in silos - it gets built in rooms like this."
Gerjets joined Gap last year, bringing experience from spells at T&T, DIRECTV, Time Warner and Mattel, migrating legacy platforms to digital first environments, modernising direct-to-consumer technology to support front-end order management, warehouse management and PoS solutions.
A Gap spokesperson said at the time: "The adoption of the right technologies can help us push the boundaries of operational efficiency, product creation and customer engagement. We have just started the journey with data science, and I am confident that Sven’s expertise and leadership will put us on the right path to success."
Sainsbury's says JD.com brings 'world class' retail, tech, logistics expertise to Argos
Sainsbury's has confirmed media reports that it is in talks with Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com over the sale of Argos, which it bought for £1.1 billion in 2016.
Argos is the UK’s second largest general merchandise retailer, with the third most visited retail website in the UK and over 1,100 collection points.
Sainsbury's, which is Britain’s second largest supermarket after Tesco, has been ramping up its focus on groceries since Simon Roberts became CEO in 2020.
In a statement posted online, it said: “We are committed to delivering the strongest and most successful future for Argos customers and colleagues and the group’s ‘More Argos, more often’ transformation strategy is delivering solid progress.”
It added: “A transaction with JD.com would accelerate Argos’ transformation. JD.com would bring world class retail, technology and logistics expertise and invest to drive Argos’ growth and further transform the customer experience. The terms of any possible transaction would include commitments from JD.com in relation to Argos for the benefit of customers, colleagues and partners.”
It concluded: “No agreement has been reached and there is no certainty at this stage that any transaction will proceed. A further announcement will be made if and when appropriate.”
Tesco announces roll out of Peoplesafe app to support employees on their journey to and from work
Tesco is giving all its UK colleagues free access to a Peoplesafe app that can track their journeys and help them to raise the alarm if they don’t feel safe.
This follows feedback from employees who said they sometimes felt unsafe travelling to and from work. It helps address situations such as walking in an unfamiliar area late at night, facing aggression on the night bus or tube after a night out or using a private taxi alone.
By setting their destination and mode of transport before travelling, the app can automate welfare checks on their mobile to ensure they feel safe and allow them to raise an SOS alert if needed.
If they don’t arrive at their destination on time or fail to respond to messages asking if they feel safe, then the folks at Peoplesafe's control room will call to check they’re safe and can raise an alarm directly with local police if necessary. Once they arrive at their destination, the app automatically closes the tracing process.
Tesco does not receive any personal information about any colleague’s use of the app or any alarms raised. And it’s up to them if they want to sign up for it or not. They will have the option to allow their location to be tracked using GPS during journeys, which would enable help to be sent to the exact location quickly, in the event of an emergency, and would only be visible to the Peoplesafe control room.
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