eSELs and RFID milestones for Asda and Sainsbury's; last week's most read retail technology articles
Check out our most clicked retail systems articles from last week, including Vusion, Everseen, Hanshow, OpenAI, M&S, Walmart, Dunkin', The Home Depot, Ingenico, and the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
Sainsbury's deploys RFID technology for Tu clothing range across 400 of its stores
Sainsbury's is rolling out radio frequency identification (RFID) technology across its TU clothing departments in approximately 400 stores, with the project set for completion by early September.
This follows a pilot earlier this year, which enabled the retailer to improve its stock level visibility, speed up replenishment and manage stock more efficiently.
“Really proud of my team and the role they’ve played in deploying this project across our stores. A huge amount of work, collaboration and energy behind the scenes to bring this to life,” says Gillian Ekin, Head of Transformation and Operational Development at Sainsbury’s.
Everseen, Hanshow and OpenAI top first ever RTIH Retail Technology Hot 100 List
In partnership with 3D Cloud, RTIH is pleased to launch its first ever Retail Technology Hot 100 List. We’re bringing you the hottest companies whose solutions and systems are helping drive the retail sector forward.
These companies operate across the omnichannel retail landscape (stores, online, mobile, supply chain, payments etc).
Our judging panel, including Vineta Bajaj, Group CFO, Holland & Barrett, Dan McGrath, JD Group Customer Operations, JD Sports, Dr. Astha Purohit, Director of Product Management, Customer Data and Identity, Walmart, and Paula Bobbett, Chief Data and Digital Officer, Boots, provided feedback on those who have the most innovative, forward thinking technology offerings and are also best addressing retailers' current challenges, painpoints, and opportunities.
The judges used the following framework when making their picks:
1. Retailer problem fit - how meaningful, strategic, and widely felt the retailer pain being addressed is.
2. Production traction in retail (2025–2026) - real named retailer deployments, pilots.
3. Innovation and defensibility - genuine technical novelty paired with a defensible competitive position.
And there was also a public vote, with thousands of members of our community of retail tech enthusiasts getting involved. Thanks to all those who took part! Based on the judging panel's feedback and the public vote, we then drew up our first ever RTIH Retail Technology Hot 100.
So, without further ado, here are the 100 hottest global retail technology ventures right now. Drum roll, please…
Step change for customers and staff as Asda wraps Vusion ESELs roll-out at convenience stores
Asda has completed the roll-out of eSELs across its Asda Express petrol stations, Asda Express locations and Asda petrol station estate, with the deployment covering over 550 stores.
In a LinkedIn post, Anthony McCarron, Projects, Propostions & Comms Manager at Asda, said: "This is a massive achievement across so many internal and external stakeholders, so thank you - big shout to Daniel Pelissier for leading this project from start to finish on time and on budget."
"Our Vusion eSELs, installed by our delivery partner Renovotec, are delivering a real step change for customers and colleagues. Thank you to Elecomm, MADIC UK, and Evolve for the infrastructure support in achieving this huge milestone for our convenience stores."
The clock is ticking: there are now just four weeks left to get your entries in for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
The eighth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards is now up and running with the deadline for entries being Friday, 2nd October. That’s just five weeks away, so don’t delay, start working on your submissions today!
The awards, sponsored by 3D Cloud, Business France, and Retail Technology Show 2027, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world. Our latest winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC (Prince Consort Rooms) in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Click here for FAQs, categories, and information on our judging panel.
Sign up for an account and submit your entry or entries here.
Please email our awards team if you have any questions or need further information: awards@retailtechinnovationhub.com
The Home Depot has bagged the Holy Grail of omnichannel retail with its latest AI shopping assistant move
The Home Depot has announced the US wide roll-out of new in-store capabilities for Magic Apron, its Al powered shopping assistant. Customers can open it in the retailer’s mobile app or scan a QR code on in-store signage.
"Customers come to The Home Depot for expert guidance, and we know they want their shopping experience to be easy and efficient," says Jordan Broggi, EVP of Interconnected Retail. "Magic Apron takes the best of our digital expertise and brings it into the physical store, creating a more connected shopping experience that helps customers find products, get project guidance and make decisions faster. Our associates remain at the centre of the shopping experience, and Magic Apron gives customers another way to access guidance and support while they're in our stores."
This is the Holy Grail of omnichannel retail, according to Michael Guzzetta, Retail Innovation & Strategy Leader at Cookie Plug San Antonio, and a former H-E-B executive.
In a LinkedIn post, he said: “It's moments like these when an AI assistant stops being just another digital feature and starts making physical promises a reality. Customers can ask questions by text, voice, or image. Then, Magic Apron can provide project guidance, check local availability, and even point someone to a specific aisle and bay. The model is the visible part for the customer, but the harder job will be for the back end teams to keep several operating systems honest at the same time: Local inventory; Aisle and bay mapping; Product compatibility; Store specific knowledge; The handoff to an associate when the answer is incomplete or wrong.”
He added: “Anyone who has worked around store systems knows that “aisle 14, bay 6” isn’t just a helpful customer answer... It’s a promise built on receiving, stocking, planogram changes, shrink, inventory accuracy, and whatever happened on the floor ten minutes ago. Now zoom out to a nationwide scale and the important questions change."
"How quickly does local reality reach the assistant? How does an associate correct a bad answer? Who owns the recovery when the guidance is technically sound but the product isn’t actually there?”
Magic Apron is compelling because it connects advice to the physical store, Guzzetta argues. Its biggest test will be how often the store can keep the promise its digital friend just made.
Payments big hitter Ingenico boosts global leadership team following reset of its capital structure
Ingenico has announced the following additions to its executive leadership team: Maria Parpou as Chief Product Officer (CPO), Paul Gardiner as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Ieuan Owen as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), and Oliver Moore as Chief Customer Excellence Officer (CXO).
This follow the payments giant’s recent announcement of a reset of its capital structure, anchored by a €150 million investment from a PIMCO led group of global investors.
"We have been clear about our priorities: accelerating innovation, building the best products, and delivering exceptional experiences for our customers and partners. Our new executives bring world class expertise across product, technology, and customer excellence. Together, they strengthen every critical capability we need to deliver on our strategy,” says Floris de Kort, Chief Executive Officer, Ingenico.
Parpou joins from Mastercard, where she led the company's global gateway business serving more than 200 acquiring banks worldwide. She has also held senior leadership positions at Paysafe and Barclays. Gardiner brings more than 25 years of experience spanning software engineering, payments infrastructure and technology transformation. Most recently, as Chief Information Technology Officer at NCR Atleos, he led the company's separation from NCR and the modernisation of its service operations platforms.
Owen most recently served as Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Director at Xplor Technologies' Fitness & Wellbeing business. Prior to that, he held senior leadership roles in strategy, transformation, and corporate development, including at Worldpay. Moore brings experience in senior customer and service leadership roles at Colt Technology Services, Deltek and Sitecore. Most recently, he led Sitecore's global Customer Support and Operations organisation.
Walmart locks horns with DoorDash and Uber Eats as it adds Dunkin' to restaurant delivery business
Building on its entry into this space during the summer, the retailer is adding restaurants available through its app, including some located beyond its stores. Dunkin’ will launch first via its 150 in-store tenant locations, with plans to expand to the majority of its 10,000 locations outside of Walmart stores nationwide.
“The future of retail is about meeting customers wherever they are and simplifying their lives. By expanding restaurant delivery beyond our stores, we are offering a value and convenience proposition that is unmatched. Walmart is built to support real life, and together with Dunkin’, we’re enabling customers to order their beverages, donut or sandwich alongside their paper towels, milk and household essentials, all through a delivery experience they already know and love,” says Greg Cathey, Senior Vice President, eCommerce Fulfillment Transformation, Walmart.
“Our goal is simple: make it even easier for guests to enjoy Dunkin’ whenever and wherever they want it. By bringing Dunkin’ into the Walmart shopping experience, we’re creating another convenient way for guests to get their favorite beverages and meals at the speed of Dunkin’,” says Dunkin’ Brand President and Inspire Chief Brand Officer Scott Murphy. “By combining the strength of Walmart’s delivery platform with the appeal of our Dunkin’ menu, we can reach more guests in more moments, creating an experience that fits naturally into everyday life.”
M&S Love That campaign starring Gillian Anderson hits 29 million views on social media
M&S Marketing Director for Fashion, Home and Beauty Sharry Cramond, said at the time: “Welcoming Gillian Anderson as our first ever Chief Compliments Officer is a major moment for us. She’s here to showcase our brilliant womenswear, spark joy and champion the power of a great compliment - and we couldn’t be more excited. With this campaign, we are reinforcing our new fashion, home and beauty brand line - Love That!”
Six months on and the retailer has provided an update on the Love That campaign. In a LinkedIn post, Anderson said: “Back at my desk after time away over summer and one of the first things I've been doing is reviewing the performance of the Love That campaign over the last six months. What started with two simple words has become something so much more, and the results on our style/confidence index speak for themselves. Love That. A campaign built on something we could all do a little more of: giving compliments.”
Highlights include: 29 million views on social media; Millions of compliments sparked; Various interactions generated; 99% positive sentiment.
Anderson added: “They say a compliment goes a long way. But who knew a "Love that" could travel quite so far? And the metric I'm most proud of isn't on this list, it's the fact that we've helped create millions of moments where someone felt appreciated, praised, admired. Love your dress. Love how that blazer elevates your whole outfit. Love those heels with that skirt. Love this whole look.”
“A compliment is never just a compliment. It's a confidence boost. A conversation starter. A little nudge to try something new. And it's always a gateway to hearing:
"Thanks, it's M&S." Together, we've sparked millions of compliments, inspired thousands of those moments and turned more heads than we could possibly count. Love that for us.”
