Starring Currys, Deliveroo, and Harrods: Check out our biggest retail technology articles on LinkedIn this week
We’re big fans of LinkedIn and are busy building an amazing community of retail tech enthusiasts on the social media platform. As we close on 15,000 followers, these are the articles that are currently on their radars, including Enactor, WelcoMe, Snappy Shopper, One Stop, Zitcha, Leroy Merlin, Outform, Starship Technologies, Valora, and RELEX Solutions.
Currys teams with WelcoMe to launch pilot enhancing in-store accessibility for customers with disabilities
Currys has become the first tech retailer to partner with WelcoMe, with the aim of improving the shopping experience for customers with disabilities.
The partnership launches in conjunction with Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
A purpose built web app, the aforementioned platform works by allowing shoppers with a disability to register an in-person store visit, online.
Through filling out a quick form indicating any specific disability related needs or information, and an estimated date/time of arrival, stores are then notified of the upcoming visit giving them the opportunity to prepare for and accommodate any specific requirements etc.
The tool also gives retail partners access to pointers and best practice techniques to help accommodate anybody, specific to certain disabilities.
The trial will be piloted across 20 Currys stores around the Birmingham region, including: Birmingham Castle Vale, Birmingham Highgate, Birmingham Selly Oak, Burton, Cannock, Kidderminster, Leicester Fosse, Leicester St Georges, Loughborough, Merry Hill Retail Park, Shrewsbury, Solihull, Stafford, Stoke Festival Park, Stoke Longton, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Telford, Wednesbury J9 and Wolverhampton.
2024 RTIH Innovation Awards opens for submissions, with winners to be announced in November
The sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards is now open for entries.
The awards celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world, with winners being announced during a glittering ceremony at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on Thursday, 21st November.
This year, we’re bringing you two new categories: AI Innovation and Sustainable Retail Innovation.
AI Innovation
After a barrage of hype, the retail space is now seeing many examples of artificial intelligence creating value and efficiency.
This award will highlight AI projects across the omnichannel retail landscape that have gone beyond the proof-of-concept stage, scaling and delivering results.
Sustainable Retail Innovation
Traditionally, the biggest problem with sustainable technology solutions has been in the relatively high cost of implementation, often meaning that scaling them was not viable.
Things change, however, with incentives, targets and climate pledges as well as the rapid iteration of innovative technologies driving down costs in various areas.
This award will go to a retailer or brand that has worked with technology suppliers to put sustainability at the core of its values. The winning entry will show how a company has boosted its green credentials whilst also demonstrating the tangible business benefits of sustainable practices.
British luxury department store Harrods enlists Enactor for self-checkout systems programme
Enactor has announced implementation of a self-checkout (SCO) system in luxury department store Harrods.
Mike Carrell, Founder and Managing Director at Enactor, says: “The self-checkout market is changing rapidly and we are therefore thrilled that more clients are entrusting us to provide them with a modern solution and next-generation PoS solution powered by our single platform architecture.”
“The launch of this SCO pilot programme with Harrods is not just a business venture but a testament to our shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and mutual growth.”
“We are delighted to continue our journey with Harrods and provide their customers with a shopping experience like no other.”
Swiss convenience retailer Valora looks to improve supply chain processes with RELEX Solutions technology
Valora, a convenience retailer in Switzerland with subsidiaries in Luxembourg and Germany, is working with RELEX Solutions as it looks to enhance availability, reduce waste and ultimately improve customer satisfaction.
Wysupp, a RELEX partner, is managing the implementation.
Valora has 15,000 employees, 2,400 convenience stores, 3,400 SKUs and two distribution centres across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
It will be replacing an existing space planning solution with RELEX, in concert with adding the firm’s forecasting and replenishment capabilities for a unified approach to store planning, store operations, and supply chain.
Outform research: mobile first fashion and sportswear shoppers value phone driven experiences when in-store
New research from Outform reveals that fashion and sportswear shoppers no longer identify as an online or in-store customer, 72% prefer to shop both. They now expect a consistent experience regardless of the channel; and it's the ability to touch and try-on, consider and compare that drives them into the physical store.
For 55%, the tactile experience of being able to touch and feel products is important, while a third go in-store to consider and compare options. Additionally, 69% say they find inspiration from the in-store shopping experience.
Outform’s survey covered a representative spread of 1,000 respondents across the UK, USA, France and Germany.
Smartphones play a crucial role in the in-store shopping journey for fashion and sportswear shoppers.
75% consider access to their mobile phone the most important technology when shopping in-store, for many it’s their number one shopping companion. 64% use their mobile phones when in a physical retail space.
The Rake teams with objectsource to deliver enhanced online experience in time for 15th anniversary
objectsource, an Adobe Commerce and Magento Open Source consultancy, has been appointed by luxury magazine publisher and e-commerce platform, The Rake, to boost its online presence.
The Rake’s new platform fuses Adobe Commerce Cloud with a blend of luxury content, tailored shopping experiences, and a focus on internationalisation.
Cambourne in UK to host Europe’s first wireless charging station for Starship Technologies delivery robots
Starship Technologies, a provider of autonomous delivery services, has announced the installation of the first wireless charging station for its robots in Europe.
Thanks to a collaboration with Cambourne Town Council, a fleet of its robots will now recharge between making grocery deliveries across Cambourne in Cambridgeshire.
The service first launched in Cambourne back in May 2022, offering groceries from the Co-op store at 29 Mosquito Road in Upper Cambourne.
Starship first introduced wireless charging stations on George Mason University campus in the US over six months ago.
It now expects to further reduce emissions in Cambourne as robots will no longer need to be couriered by van between service areas. Wireless charging is more energy efficient, allowing them to charge up overnight, while they’re sleeping, on-site.
We’re sorry for the inconvenience’: Woeful weekend as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and McDonald’s suffer IT meltdowns
Kingfisher launches new Mirakl powered home improvement marketplace at Castorama France
Kingfisher has announced the launch of a home improvement e-commerce marketplace at Castorama France.
The launch follows marketplaces at B&Q in the UK, Brico Dépôt in Spain and Portugal and its Koçtaş joint venture in Turkey.
Castorama France will introduce over 500,000 new products from verified third-party merchants onto its e-commerce channels. This represents a sevenfold increase in the product choice available for the banner’s customers, complementing the c.70,000 products already available directly from Castorama.
Merchants will benefit from a presence on its website, which attracts between 10 and 15 million visitors per month. They will also be able to access retail media solutions offered by Kingfisher.
The marketplace leverages a scalable Kingfisher technology platform built in conjunction with partners at Mirakl. Kingfisher is preparing to launch a further marketplace harnessing this technology at its Castorama Poland banner later this year.
JogOn taps ZigZag returns software as it looks to stop one million running shoes from going to landfill
Returns software specialist ZigZag has partnered with JogOn on its commitment to prevent one million pairs of running shoes from going to landfill.
It is estimated that there are 18 billion pairs of running shoes sold in the world every year - the equivalent of two pairs per person on earth.
At the same time, there are millions of people globally with limited access to shoes of any kind and an estimated three million people that suffer from foot related diseases.
JogOn is implementing ZigZag's returns software to address these issues and find new homes for the 33 million running shoes discarded into landfills annually. Starting with the commitment of one million shoes, its goal is to find new owners amongst individuals who would benefit from the quality footwear being thrown out every day.
One Stop selects Snappy Shopper as home delivery partner, introducing services to 250 stores initially
After a trial period across One Stop stores last year, the convenience retailer has officially selected Snappy Shopper as one of its home delivery partners.
With over 1,000 convenience stores nationwide, One Stop will initially introduce Snappy Shopper's quick commerce services to 250 of these locations, starting from June.
Mike Callachan, CEO at Snappy Shopper, comments: “Our partnership with One Stop, marks our first national retail roll-out, and is a great milestone for us as a business.”
“One Stop choosing us shows the recognition of Snappy Shopper both in the marketplace and for our white label business. We see One Stop as a retail partner that shares our values – its business model focuses on serving customers and their communities, providing convenience and accessibility.”
Zitcha enters South African market as it teams with Leroy Merlin to launch digital retail media network
Zitcha is partnering with the world’s third largest home improvement and gardening retailer to launch a digital retail media network across South Africa.
Leroy Merlin, the French headquartered DIY chain which has outlets in Europe, Asia and South America, selected Zitcha following a competitive review.
Australian founded Zitcha has been engaged by it to manage its digital retail media ecosystem, including on-site, off-site and in-store media, using its automated platform to drive additional new revenues from brand advertisers and enhanced customer experiences through personalisation.
The move marks Zitcha’s entry into the South African retail media market.
It will enable Leroy Merlin’s brand advertisers to connect with consumers along the path to purchase across an end-to-end digital retail media network that includes on-site sponsored products, sponsored ads and banners, off-site media channels including Meta and Google and in-store retail media.
Post-purchase software provider parcelLab appoints Noel Hamill as Global Chief Marketing Officer
parcelLab, a retail, e-commerce, and post-purchase customer experience platform, has announced the appointment of Noel Hamill as Global Chief Marketing Officer.
According to a press release, Hamill will “define and execute parcelLab’s global go-to-market strategy and vision, overseeing all marketing functions and helping to transform the customer journey to fuel the company’s next stage of business growth”.
Tobias Buxhoidt, Founder and CEO at parcelLab, says: “Noel is a proven industry leader with an unmatched track record driving significant and sustained global growth through creative, data driven marketing programs.”
“His proven experience will help us expand our market share, elevate our global brand and usher in a new era of customer success as we continue to bring global brands closer to their customers.”
Deliveroo offers riders free childcare hours via Bubble app and new education programme with Lynx Educate
Deliveroo is offering 15 hours of free childcare to 1,000 riders through a new partnership with the Bubble mobile app, with the aim of enabling people to work at the times that are right for them.
Riders will also be able to choose from more than 1,500 online educational courses through Lynx Educate.
A recent survey of Deliveroo riders in the UK and Ireland found that the majority with caring responsibilities look after children (88%), and would find care support useful (81%).
Sayim Ulus, a rider and father from London, says: “This partnership shows that Deliveroo recognises the importance of family care and is actively working to support riders like me.”
“Being a father and a rider, the new free childcare hours will help balance work and family life which can sometimes be a challenge for many riders.”
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