Starring Ikea, J.Crew, Amazon, and EE: the biggest retail technology news stories of the week
It’s Friday, the weekend is almost upon us, so let’s kick back and reflect on another eventful week for the retail systems space. Here's your briefing on the most important stories from the past five days, including REWE Group, Obsess, Starship Technologies, Reckon.ai, and Jules.
1. Amazon's Doug Herrington discusses new generative AI powered shopping assistant called Rufus
Doug Herrington, CEO Worldwide at Amazon Stores, has taken to social media to discuss Rufus, a new generative AI powered conversational shopping experience.
Launching last week in beta to a small subset of customers in Amazon’s mobile app, this will roll-out to additional US customers in the coming weeks.
To use Rufus, customers in the beta can start typing or speaking their questions into the search bar in Amazon’s mobile app and a Rufus chat dialogue box will appear at the bottom of their screen.
They can expand the chat dialogue box to see answers to their questions, tap on suggested questions, and ask follow-up questions in the chat dialogue box.
Customers can dismiss Rufus to return to their traditional search results at any time by swiping down to send the chat dialogue box back to the bottom of their screen.
Rufus generates answers using relevant information from across Amazon and the web with the aim of helping customers make better, more informed shopping decisions.
In an online post, Amazon said: “It’s still early days for generative AI, and the technology won’t always get it exactly right.”
“We will keep improving our AI models and fine-tune responses to continuously make Rufus more helpful over time. Customers are encouraged to leave feedback by rating their answers with a thumbs up or thumbs down, and they have the option to provide freeform feedback as well.”
2. J.Crew brings Virtual Closet experience to Apple Vision Pro with 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards winner Obsess
J.Crew has launched a Virtual Closet app on Apple Vision Pro, the heavily hyped new spatial computer that blends digital content with the physical world and unlocks spatial experiences.
Created in partnership with Obsess, this allows users to shop J.Crew products in an interactive, ultra-high-definition 3D environment.
It utilises SharePlay, a set of features for shared experiences while on a FaceTime call, to chat with J.Crew's stylists or host group calls to get others' opinions on looks.
3. Robot delivery specialist Starship Technologies raises $90 million and reveals global expansion plans
Starship Technologies, a company that puts delivery robots on streets in the US and Europe, has raised $90 million in funding, co-led by Plural and Iconical.
The new funding, which brings the total raised by Starship to $230 million since its creation in 2014, will be used to expand globally.
Starship robots are 99% autonomous and have made six million deliveries so far including takeaway orders to groceries in residential communities and on campuses.
4. Ikea picks US market for launch of new artificial intelligence powered assistant in OpenAI GPT Store
Ikea has launched an AI powered home design, inspiration and shopping tool, available exclusively on the OpenAI GPT Store.
It says that the move marks “a significant step in democratising planning services and creating a better life for the many, by offering a tool that gives users personalised furniture and decor suggestions based on factors such as room dimensions, personal style, sustainability preferences, budget, functional requirements, and more.”
“The new Ikea AI Assistant on GPT Store is an ongoing initiative, and the continuation of a journey that looks to enrich the retail experience and explore additional avenues to interact with our customers and coworkers, as they help us improve and develop further,” says Parag Parekh, Global Chief Digital Officer at Ikea Retail (Ingka Group).
5. Jules partners with Nextail to drive enhanced replenishment across retailer’s stores in France and abroad
French menswear retailer, Jules, has selected Nextail to transform in-season merchandising processes through AI driven demand forecasting and decision automation.
Nextail will look to drive enhanced allocation and replenishment across Jules’s 550 stores in France and abroad.
6. REWE Group launches REWE Ready ‘smart shop’ at EV charging station, powered by Reckon.ai tech
REWE Group has launched a REWE Ready ‘smart shop’ at the EnBW Hypernetz EV Charging Hub in Lichtenau/Chemnitz, Germany.
Customers can buy Rewe and Go sandwiches, wraps, salads, get a beer, buy cigarettes, and enjoy a cappuccino while they are charging their cars.
In a LinkedIn post, Mehmet Tözge, Director Smart Store Development at Lekkerland SE, said: “Lekkerland SE customer preferences have changed. End consumers want to shop 24/7, fast and with as few contacts as possible.”
The store includes smart fridges from Reckon.ai.
Shoppers scan their card, open the door, take their products, close the door and leave within 30 seconds.
Tözge said: “The combination of computer vision cameras with sensor fusion enables us to offer end consumers a unique, reliable and seamless way of shopping. The time to market and the ease of implementation: smart fridges are plug and play devices. Going live is a matter of seconds.”
He added: “New products are added within a couple of minutes. All temperature zones are possible. Shopping by Tap&Go or by mobile Application and much more.”
Ana Pinto, CEOat Reckon.ai. commented: “This is our first shop at an EV charging station powered by our AI smart cabinets, creating a fully autonomous shopping experience. The future is now.”
7. EE opens new Gateshead Experience store in Metrocentre with Newcastle United legend Shay Given
EE has unveiled its latest Experience store alongside former Newcastle United player Shay Given in the Metrocentre, Gateshead, one of Europe’s largest indoor mall style shopping centres.
This is the fourth of EE’s Experience stores and the first of more than ten brand new EE Experience and Experience Local locations set to open in the UK over the next year.
It opens in the Metrocentre at 12pm today, with an exclusive appearance from Given. Throughout the day, exclusive-in store deals, offers and entertainment will be available for shoppers.
The announcement comes as EE commits to investing £6 million in the British high street in the next 12 months.
Its belief in physical retail has seen the launch of new store formats including its flagship Studio store in London, Experience stores in Manchester, Cardiff and Kent, and most recently its Experience Local stores in Derby and Guildford.
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