The latest from M&S, Amazon, and Walmart: presenting this week's coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail’ systems launches and deployments from the past week, including in-store virtual try-on experiences, drone delivery milestones, and new ways of engaging with customers.
Walmart
Walmart says that it completed more than 6,000 drone deliveries in 2022, in as little as 30 minutes per pop.
The top five items delivered via drone were: Great Value Cookies and Cream Ice Cream 16 oz, 2lb Bag of Lemons, Freshness Guaranteed Hot Rotisserie Chicken, Red Bull 8.4 fl. oz, and Bounty Select-a-Size Paper Towels.
Currently 85% of items in a Walmart Neighborhood Market meet the 10 lb. weight and volume requirements for drone delivery.
The retailer now operates, in partnership with its vendors, 36 drone delivery hubs across seven US states.
This marks completion of its drone hub expansion plans that it announced last year.
Vik Gopalakrishnan, Vice President, Innovation & Automation, Walmart U.S., says: “I’m incredibly proud of our team for creating the largest drone delivery footprint of any US retailer and providing customers with an incredibly fast – and innovative – option for delivery.”
“We’re encouraged by the positive response from customers and look forward to making even more progress in 2023.”
Halfords
Halfords, a UK-based provider of motoring and cycling services and products, has appointed Wunderman Thompson Commerce as its strategic commerce partner.
In a press release, Wunderman Thompson Commerce says that it will help Halfords “reduce costs, increase sales, and harness the power in its Salesforce Commerce Cloud platform, as it looks to adapt to this latest approach while accelerating digital growth, alongside the e-commerce experts”.
Ten teams and approximately 100 experts will be based both nearshore and in the UK to ensure collaboration.
Made up of management, delivery and support, they will deliver several projects over the next three years to boost customers’ online experience.
A particular focus will be on Halfords’ Motoring Club loyalty scheme with its 1.2 million members, the retailer’s core proposition and project and programme enhancements, with the aim of delivering better connected journeys for customers, as well as maximising retention and revenue.
Halfords states that it is already benefitting from the introduction of new monitoring tools to track performance and online delivery as well as a new payment system provided by ACI Worldwide to offer customers the latest in-store, online and mobile purchase options.
Amazon
Amazon reports that Buy with Prime, the e-commerce giant’s direct-to-consumer offering for merchants’ own online stores, has been shown to increase shopper conversion by an average of 25%.
Launched in April, on an invite only basis, this enables merchants to extend the benefits of Prime on their own online stores.
Amazon has also announced that Buy with Prime will be widely available to US-based merchants by 31st January.
The company is also launching Reviews from Amazon, so that merchants can display ratings and reviews from Amazon customers on their own online stores for no additional cost.
Marks & Spencer
M&S and Zyler have partnered to deliver an in-store virtual try-on experience.
The former brought the latter’s technology to its Oxford Circus and Harrogate branches, where it was trialled with clothing brand Jaeger.
Shoppers added a head and shoulders photo and basic measurements to see themselves digitally in the Jaeger collection.
Sales assistants guided customers through the process and gave style advice.
Zyler CEO, Alexander Berend, describes the partnership as “a wonderful opportunity to get customers excited about shopping in-store”.
He adds: “Shoppers could see themselves in the entire Jaeger range, including items not in stock at that location, to find the best items for them”.
“We are delighted to be working with such an iconic brand as Marks & Spencer to improve the shopping experience.”
Rent the Runway x Amazon
The Fresh Market
VoCoVo has expanded into the US market through the roll-out of its technology with food retailer The Fresh Market.
The Fresh Market has deployed VoCoVo’s wireless headsets in 44 stores, with the aim of improving both in-store and external communications.
It has also installed customisable keypad devices across six checkouts in every store to enable employees to call a manager or request a price check at the push of a button.
Out of five segments within the keypad’s button face, the food retailer has configured three of them to improve store security.
The staff can call their manager to the front of the store for assistance and discretely alert them of the arrival of an armoured vehicle to securely pick up and transport money to the bank.
The announcement follows a trial in the retailer’s Greensboro, North Carolina store in July 2022 before expanding to further 43 stores this year.
CBJ, Nationwide Arena team and Zippin
Ice hockey team The Columbus Blue Jackets, Nationwide Arena and Zippin have announced the launch of checkout-free shopping for fans this season.
Located in the "Bread Financial Boulevard" on the main concourse at section 105-106, the Bread Financial Score & Go is operated by Delaware North selling soft drinks, water, and domestic and craft beer to fans.
"The Blue Jackets are thrilled to offer our fans and guests of Nationwide Arena a new, fast paced concession experience for a fast paced game. Fans will not miss a second of the action thanks to the Bread Financial Score & Go," says Blue Jackets Chief Operating Officer Cameron Scholvin.
Walmart and Salesforce
Both Walmart Commerce Technologies’ Store Assist app and Walmart GoLocal solutions will be available through Salesforce AppExchange as a result of the tie up.
“Through this partnership, retailers can leverage the same innovative and scalable technologies that power Walmart’s pickup and delivery experiences,” says Anshu Bhardwaj, Senior Vice President, Technology Strategy and Commercialisation, Walmart Global Technology.
“The same technology that powers Store Assist has enabled Walmart to fulfill over 830 million orders across over 4,700 Walmart stores. Together with Salesforce, retailers can scale their business and deliver the personalised, convenient experiences shoppers expect.”
H&M
H&M has launched a H&M Loooptopia Experience on Roblox.
The result of a partnership with metaverse studio Dubit, this lets players experiment with materials and patterns creating the next virtual garment and wardrobe for their avatar.
"People who shop and wear H&M garments and accessories are increasingly spending time in virtual spaces and digital worlds. The H&M Loooptopia Experience on Roblox is now allowing us to explore new ways to engage with our current and new customers in the places they love to be, both online and offline," says Linda Li, Head of Customer Activation & Marketing, H&M Americas.
"In the coming years, we will continue to explore this fast growing expanse of virtual and augmented realities."
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