AI native stores reshape shopping experiences: our most read retail technology articles from last week

Check out our most clicked retail technology articles from last week, including Vusion, Qualcomm Technologies, Heineken, Uber, Manna, Vinted Go, RTS 2026, Roblox, TikTok, Ikea, WHSmith, Adyen, and the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.

Retail analyst Brendan Witcher says farewell to research and advisory firm Forrester

Brendan Witcher has announced his departure from Forrester, where he spent the past 12 years as a VP and analyst.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: "After 12 years of service, hundreds of reports, thousands of engagements (advisories, workshops, speeches, webinars, etc.), and literally tens of thousands of connections made, I was told I would no longer be on the Forrester payroll after 2nd January."

"So, for the first time in 30 years, I will be unemployed starting Monday. What's next? I'm not certain. But I've crossed "Be a top Forrester VP/Analyst and trusted asset for our clients." off my 2026 resolution list and hoping to replace it with something similar very soon."

Witcher added: "I am wildly grateful for each and every one of you, and hold precious all the laughs, intellectual conversations, ah-ha moments, personal reflections, and rants of honesty that only two people who fully trust each other would share."

"Whatever happens, next, I do hope it means engaging regularly with all of you in the coming year and beyond. If you ever feel like reaching out, please do so. I may no longer be an analyst, but I am always at your service."

2026 RTIH Innovation Awards opens for entries with deadline for submissions Friday, 11th September

The eighth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards is now open for entries. The awards celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our latest winners were revealed at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Thursday, 16th October.

Key dates for 2026

Friday, 20th February: Awards open for entries

Friday, 11th September: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 15th September: 2026 finalists revealed

Wednesday, 16th September - Wednesday, 30th September: Judging days

Thursday, 15th October: Winners announced at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London

Helen Baskeyfield departs Accenture and takes on Lead Business Analyst position at WHSmith

Helen Baskeyfield has left Accenture, where she served as Technology Associate Manager, to take on the role of Lead Business Analyst at WHSmith.

In a LinkedIn post, Baskeyfield, whose CV also includes stints at Tesco and Home Retail Group, said: “I'm excited to join the fantastic technology team at WHSmith this week as Lead Business Analyst.”

“Back to working for another great retailer with an amazing brand heritage. I'm not exactly a new joiner having been working with the team for the last five years, so should know what I'm getting myself into.”

Retail Technology Show: Roblox tops TikTok as biggest commerce channel for Gen Z shoppers

Roblox is the fastest growing Gen Z commerce channel, with order volume growth outstripping that of TikTok, according to research from Retail Technology Show 2026.

Its study of 1,000 shoppers revealed that on average Gen Z made 20 purchases on Roblox in the last 12 months, rising +54% year-on-year.  This outgrew TikTok, which experienced a +10% uptick in the number of orders placed by Gen Z consumers in the last year.

When it came to order volumes on Roblox, Gen Z were the most prolific across all age groups, making x2.4 times as many purchases. However, the number of Roblox purchases made across shoppers of all ages also surged +31% in the last year.

After exponential pandemic era growth, Roblox experienced a subsequent slowdown as consumer behaviours normalising post-Covid. But last year its growth re-ignited as it widened its audience and moved into selling physical goods, as well as the digital products and NFTs it was previously best known for.

Roblox’ daily active users in 2025 grew to more than 150 million globally, while it also reported a surge in engagement, with itscommunity spending 88.7 billion engaged hours on the platform between January and September 2025.

First for Ikea in Dundee, Scotland as omnichannel retailer opens new Plan and Order Point

Ikea will open the doors of its new Plan and Order Point in Dundee’s Kingsway West Retail Park on Thursday, 19th March, at 10am, marking its first ever presence in the city. 

Plan and Order Points are smaller stores, designed to provide customers with bespoke kitchen and storage planning services. At these locations, customers can access in-depth home furnishing advice and expertise, assisting them in planning, purchasing and installing their ideal kitchens, bedroom and living room storage.

Customers in Dundee will be able to drop-in or book an appointment online to start their design with one of the design specialists based in the store, part of the eight-strong Dundee co-worker team. Products can then be ordered from across the full Ikea range for delivery direct to the customer’s home or to the Plan and Order Point for collection.

Vinted Go opens up network of parcel lockers and shops to retailers using ZigZag platform

Post-purchase and returns network, ZigZag, has announced a partnership with Vinted Go, the logistics branch of Vinted Group.

With Vinted Go now live in its carrier library, ZigZag is expanding its European footprint and enabling retail clients to offer shoppers access to more than 14,000 out-of-home (OOH) drop-off points across France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal.

Gavin Sarjeant, Head of Network Development at ZigZag, says: “Vinted Go is an ideal option for our retailers. As more and more retailers start charging for returns, consumers will expect more from the experience.”

“That means hassle free, local options that they can use on the way to the shops, work or school. By connecting retailers to Vinted Go’s extensive parcel locker and parcel shop network, we can offer more convenient return options that meet the expectations of modern consumers and help retailers operate more efficiently.”

Andreu Mora announces departure from FinTech Adyen to build an AI company from scratch

Andreu Mora is leaving payments firm Adyen where he spent over seven years, most recently serving as SVP of Engineeing - AI, Identity and Performance.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: “Alright, big update: after seven plus years, an incredible ride, and more built than I ever imagined, I’m leaving Adyen.”

He added: “This wasn't an easy call. Adyen is a unique company, and I can't be grateful enough for the people, the learnings, the laughs, and the hard moments where we grew together. I joined just wanting to build cool stuff surrounded by great people and I am leaving being a way better engineer, leader and person. Thanks team for this lifelong gift.”

“Now I'm taking the learnings, the energy, and the connections to build a company from scratch with a great co-founder. We'll build something solving a fundamental problem at the intersection of AI and FinTech.”

Vusion and Qualcomm Technologies share their vision for stores built on BLE, EdgeSense and AI

Vusion and Qualcomm Technologies have released The AI-Native Store: The New Operating System for Physical Commerce, a jointly developed white paper which claims that BLE native infrastructure, intelligent shelves, spatial signals, and on-device AI will redefine how stores operate, how associates work, and how shoppers engage.

The pair say that AI native stores unlock value across the board for retailers, namely: Better on-shelf availability and double digit improvements in shelf condition; Faster, more accurate picking for local e-commerce; 60–90 minutes of associate time saved per shift; Clearer, more confident shopper decision-making in the aisle; Deterministic, closed-loop retail media attribution; Up to 1.5–2 points of operating margin upside.

Art Miller, VP and Global Head of Retail, Qualcomm Technologies, says: “AI at the edge will transform everyday environments and retail is leading the way. The next era of intelligent computing happens at the edge, on the devices and sensors we use every day.”

“Retail is one of the industries best positioned to benefit from this shift. Together with Vusion, we are empowering stores to run AI natively, unlocking new levels of responsiveness and enabling richer interactions between stores, associates and shoppers. BLE and on-device AI will be central to this transformation.”

Thierry Gadou, Chairman and CEO at Vusion, says: “AI native stores reshape the economics and the experience of physical commerce. They mark the next decade of retail transformation, giving associates the clarity and guidance they need, while helping shoppers make better decisions.”

“BLE connectivity, EdgeSense intelligence and on-device AI create stores that are not just more connected, but more efficient, more interactive, and more profitable. With Qualcomm, we are bringing AI into physical commerce, making the store itself intelligent, responsive, and continuously improving.”

Heineken raids Mars to brings in Romain Apert as company's new Chief Digital and Technology Officer

Heineken has appointed Romain Apert as Chief Digital & Technology Officer, and member of the executive team. Apert, currently Chief Information Officer Petcare at Mars, will succeed Ronald den Elzen, who is departing after a 31 year run with the company.

Dolf van den Brink, Chairman of the Executive Board/CEO, comments:  “I am delighted to welcome Romain to the family. He joins us with deep international experience leading large scale digital transformation, data and technology strategy, and complex change across global businesses.”

“Romain will be partnering across the executive team, advancing our EverGreen 2030 strategy through the further deployment of the company’s digital backbone, and scaling value from data and AI. He is known for combining operational rigour with practical innovation and a people centred leadership style, and is an excellent fit with the Heineken culture”.

Van den Brink adds: “Ronald retires fafter an extraordinary 31-year career across five countries in Europe and the Americas and across six distinct functions. His contributions to our success in the past three decades through his deep knowledge of the company and portfolio, his passion and incredible people skills, will be greatly missed. I wish Ronald all the best in his future endeavours.”

Ireland first as Uber connects with Manna for first European launch of drone delivery service

Uber Technologies and Manna have announced a partnership that will see Uber’s first European launch of drone deliveries.

Going live first in Ireland, the service integrates Manna’s autonomous drone delivery system with Uber’s platform and logistics experience. The pair are aiming to expand this into more European cities going forward.

“Autonomous technology is shaping the future of delivery, whether it’s on the streets or in the skies. By combining Uber’s scale with Manna’s proven aerial expertise, we’re bringing fast, efficient and sustainable delivery to consumers and merchants alike. We’re proud to launch in Europe and excited to introduce this technology to more Uber Eats customers over time,” says an Uber spokesperson.

“This partnership with Uber marks a defining moment for drone delivery,” says Eoghan Huston Chief Operating Officer at Manna Air Delivery.

“Over the past seven years, we’ve proven that autonomous aerial logistics can operate safely, reliably and at scale in real communities. Integrating with Uber’s global platform allows us to bring that capability to more consumers, merchants and independent retailers, accelerating the shift toward faster, cleaner last-mile delivery. Our focus remains simple: build the safest, fastest and most sustainable delivery infrastructure in the world.”