Immersive commerce and checkout-free store firsts: RTIH runs through May’s coolest retail technology plays

RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his stand out ‘future of retail’ systems deployments from May, including Superdrug, Walmart, Jisp, Emperia, Zippin, Polytag, M&S, REWE Group, Sainsbury’s and Microsoft.

Superdrug

Superdrug says it has become the first health and beauty retailer to launch in Roblox, with its new Superdrug Obby obstacle game going live in May to celebrate its 60th birthday.

This is available to play for a limited time and will be made up of three games themed around some of Superdrug’s own brand ranges, ProCare, Fruity and Solait.

Exclusive obbies will see players battle spinning electric toothbrushes, bounce across ProCare toothpaste tubes and fly across floss highwire, before moving onto the Fruity game.

The latter will challenge players with fruity shaped obstacles before they go onto vote for their favourite Fruity flavour. The final game is a Solait summer and travel themed obstacle game which quizzes players on their suncare knowledge.

On completing all three games, users will enter a virtual Superdrug store, where the 60th birthday celebrations will begin.

Players can explore the concept store, listen to the in-store DJ and get the chance to win Superdrug branded UGCs to dress their avatar.

Those who complete all games will receive a code to redeem a free Fruity shower gel of their choice in any Superdrug store nationwide. 

Tastemade

Tastemade is launching a new shoppable TV experience for its US audience, powered by ShopSense AI.

This made its debut with Tastemade’s new original series, Kitchen Glow Up, hosted by Ellen Marie Bennett, Founder and Chief Brand Officer at Hedley & Bennett, with viewers able to shop items for their kitchens, pantries, and cooking spaces in real-time from every episode.

“As innovators in shoppable streaming, Shopsense AI provides Tastemade the opportunity to create interactive experiences that redefine the way our audience engages with our programming,” says Evan Bregman, General Manager, Streaming at Tastemade.

“Shopping plays a vital role in transforming our viewers into doers, and brings us closer to our audience in ways that fill their lives with great taste. We’re looking forward to seeing how audiences and brands can interact on this unique platform.”

L’Occitane en Provence

L’Occitane en Provence is launching a new virtual experience, The L’Occitane Greenhouse, spotlighting the brand’s range of summer fragrances, drawing inspiration from the Provence region.

A collaborative effort with Emperia, this highlights offerings for both men and women, including the scents of Neroli and Orchidée, the 86 Collection and Cedrat.

Placed in a greenhouse, amidst the summer fields of Provence, the virtual world is comprised of three rooms; Main hall which features the brand’s women collections, on its rose, cherry blossom and lavenders scents; a woodsy Men Collection room, in a forest like atmosphere; and a Middle East Oasis, a regional lounge like room, featuring local scents including Ambre and the 86 Scents collection.

“Our new virtual experience is dedicated to L’Occitane’s world of natural fragrance creations, inviting guests to immerse themselves in a sensory journey of Provence through exquisite fragrances and exploration, while learning about the brand’s deep roots in the region” says Mariana Rodrigues, Marketing Director at L’Occitane Middle East.

Walmart

Walmart Realm has gone live, pitched as a first of its kind immersive commerce marketplace featuring influencer driven virtual shops.

This leverages technology from Emperia and gamifies the shopping journey, transporting customers into fantastical realms where they can interact with products and play nostalgic online games.

In a LinkedIn post, Justin Breton, Director of Brand Experiences & Strategic Partnerships, said: “Introducing Walmart Realm, the first ever immersive commerce experience curated by creators and inspired by social trends. Trust me when I say… You’ve never experienced online shopping like this before.”

“Walmart Realm embraces the limitless possibilities of virtual technologies, creating stunning shoppable environments to inspire our customers. Said differently, it’s not just a replica of a store or structure.”

“We’re continuing to shorten the distance between inspiration and commerce, highlighting the best fashion, beauty, and home products as selected by our creator partners, in each virtual shop.”

LEGOLAND Windsor Resort

Zippin and Aramark UK have partnered with LEGOLAND Windsor Resort to launch Europe’s first checkout-free store in a theme park. The store, which recently opened for the 2024 season, lets resort guests grab items without having to join a queue.

DUPLO Coffee Co, located in DUPLO Valley, sells a variety of sandwiches, snacks, coffee, and other drinks.

It was converted into a Zippin powered store where guests can enter with a credit card or mobile wallet, take what they want, and exit.

There are no checkout lines and no stopping to scan purchases. Guests are automatically billed for what they take as they exit.

Polytag and Marks and Spencer

Polytag has announced M&S as a founding member of its Ecotrace Programme, an initiative focused on the tracing and recycling of single-use plastic packaging in the UK.

This will deploy a network of Polytag’s Invisible UV Tag detection equipment in strategically chosen recycling centres that handle high volumes of waste.

FMCG brands, retailers, and waste management businesses are invited to get involved in the programme to unlock granular data on over 50% of the UK’s household waste recycling stream.

As a founding member of the programme, M&S, will gain real-time insights into where, when, and how much of its single-use plastic packaging is collected and sorted at recycling centres across the UK.

This data – at barcode level – will provide a verified benchmark for understanding recycling rates of its used plastic packaging.

Sainsbury’s and Microsoft

Sainsbury’s and Microsoft have announced a new five-year strategic partnership, using the latter’s artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities and Sainsbury's datasets to help accelerate the retailer's recently announced Next Level Sainsbury’s strategy.

The tie up aims to improve store operations, drive greater efficiency for colleagues and provide customers with more efficient and effective service, delivering stronger returns for shareholders under Sainsbury's Save and Invest To Win programme.

Jisp and HELL Energy

Jisp has announced a new partnership with FMCG brand HELL Energy.

The tie up brings a direct to store buying and distribution service to retailers, utilising Jisp’s app-based technology, in a move that aims to build closer working relationships with retailers for HELL.

Retailers can order its products through the Jisp app direct from the brand’s Walsall depot, with a delivery area initially covering the East and West Midlands, Derbyshire and west into the Bristol area.

The service will reward retailers with special pricing and loyalty rewards, with promotions from HELL then extending into the shopper app to complete the engagement with the end consumer.

REWE Group

EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg has opened a NextLevel Ladepark EV charging station in Chemnitz, Germany.

This includes a Reckon AI powered REWE Ready microstore.

In a LinkedIn post, Francisco Vasconcelos, COO at Reckon.ai, said: “Another state-of-the-art microstore, powered by Reckon.ai.”

“Last week was the official opening of EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg NextLevel Ladepark in Chemnitz. This EV charging station has 24 high power charging points and is the first of many.”

He added: “With game changing developments to address different aspects of sustainability, the customers of this charging station have a 24/7 fully autonomous microstore from REWE Ready with approximately 200 products.”

Conad

Sensei, a Portugal-based provider of autonomous store technology, has announced a deal in the Italian market with the opening of the country’s second autonomous supermarket.

Located in the historic centre of Trento, Conad’s new neighbourhood store TuDay Prendi & Vai promises a faster and more convenient shopping experience without the need to queue or scan products.

Sensei, which has autonomous stores across Europe and South America, has teamed up with the DAO cooperative that manages Conad in the provinces of Trento, Bolzano, Vicenza and Verona. 

The opening comes six months after the launch of a first store, located in Verona, for the same client. This has so far pulled in more than 90,000 people.

Pio

Pio, a plug and play automated warehouse system leveraging cube storage technology by AutoStore, is now available to all small and midsize e-commerce businesses (SMBs) in the United States.  

AutoStore is a warehouse automation company with over 1,500 installations worldwide for the likes of Macy’s, Ikea, and Puma.

Its proprietary cube storage technology is said to offer the densest product and inventory storage solution on the market.

AutoStore says it created Pio as part of its mission to make cube storage technology accessible to all.

Now, Pio’s P100 automated warehouse system has launched in the US with five new customers: Privada Cigar Club, Sunday Swagger, Souko, Barnes 4WD, and AI Stone.  

Marvel Stadium

Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia has installed Mashgin's AI powered self-checkout kiosks.

With 26 new kiosks positioned around the stadium, Mashgin's second location in Australia, fans can now experience quicker service and spend more time enjoying the game.

Marvel Stadium, known for its retractable roof and modern facilities, opened in 2000.

Home to five Australian Football League (AFL) teams, including the Essendon Bombers and the St Kilda Saints, it also serves as the headquarters for the AFL.

With a seating capacity of over 56,000, it hosts a variety of other events, ranging from cricket matches to concerts.

Gander and SPAR

Gander is laying claim to a major milestone in its journey towards reducing food waste and fostering sustainability within Australia's grocery retail industry.

Since making its debut in Australia in July 2023, the SaaS company has launched with independently owned SPAR Chevron in the Gold Coast.

Operated by Managing Director Nash Attwal, it is the first store within the SPAR Australia network to partner with Gander.

In 2021, SPAR International, the world’s largest food retail voluntary chain with over 13,900 stores in 48 countries, embarked on a global partnership with Gander to provide its worldwide network with the tools to tackle food waste head on.

After a tie up in Northern Ireland with the Henderson Group, Gander has continued to expand out into the wider UK market. The milestone in Australia sets the stage for wider implementation across all SPAR markets.