Including Simbe, Whatnot, bpost, and DoorDash: this week's biggest retail technology stories

2025 is up and running, it's nearly the weekend, 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 few days, including N Brown Group, Akeneo, Ibotta, PittaRosso, Scarpe&Scarpe, Impact Analytics, Dentsu, Differin, and Dubit.

1. N Brown wraps Akeneo PIM deployment across retailer's Simply Be, Jacamo and JD Wiliams brands

Fashion and homeware digital retailer, N Brown Group, has implemented a new product information management (PIM) system in partnership with Akeneo.

It says that the project, implemented ahead of the 2024 peak trading period, has improved customer experience across its Simply Be, Jacamo and JD Williams brands. 

With an extensive range of products covering clothing, footwear, accessories and lifestyle products across multiple brands, N Brown needed a product information solution that could unify multiple data points to create cohesive and content rich product information, helping guide customers to the right choice when shopping online. 

Additionally, it understood the impact that data has on business success and how it can act as the keystone for future growth. 

2. Simbe lays claim to retail technology company first as new Tally Spot solution enters beta phase in US stores

Simbe has announced what is pitched as the next step in its journey to power the single source of truth for store intelligence with the launch of Tally Spot.

It claims that this addition to its multimodal Store Intelligence platform, which is in beta in US stores, makes it the first and only retail technology company to combine computer vision, RFID, and now fixed sensors.

In a LinkedIn post, Brad Bogolea, Co-founder and CEO at Simbe, said: "Since launching the world’s first autonomous item scanning robot, Tally, we’ve continuously evolved to meet our retail partners’ needs. Tally Spot now complements Tally’s storewide coverage with higher frequency monitoring in select high turnover, high theft, and high value areas. It is in beta in stores nationwide."

He added: "This milestone underscores our retail partners’ drive for innovation and their trust in Simbe to design the capabilities for stores of 2035. Together, we’re improving shoppers’ and store teams’ experiences while helping retailers evolve their operating model in this modern age. To our incredible product, web, design, engineering, and commercial teams, thank you for your relentless focus and hard work in advancing our mission."

3. Multi-year partnership set to give DoorDash customers access to Ibotta catalogue of digital promotions

Ibotta, which lays claim to being the largest digital promotions network in North America, and rapid delivery giant DoorDash have announced a multi-year partnership to provide the latter's customers with access to the former's catalogue.

For CPG brands, this new partnership creates an opportunity to reach consumers across DoorDash’s footprint of over 115,000 non-restaurant stores on its Marketplace in North America.

“We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with DoorDash, expand the reach for our thousands of brand partners, and continue to advance our presence in the growing on-demand delivery space,” says Bryan Leach, Founder and CEO at Ibotta.

“DoorDash has long been an innovative leader in local commerce, and we are honored to be their provider of digital offers for grocery, beer, wine and spirits, and other general merchandise categories. This partnership is especially impactful as brands continue looking to the IPN to reach new audiences, expand their market share, and drive incremental units.”

4. Italian retailers PittaRosso and Scarpe&Scarpe deploy Impact Analytics MondaySmart generative AI solution

Impact Analytics has partnered with Italian shoe retailers, PittaRosso and Scarpe&Scarpe, to implement generative AI solutions. The two brands operate approximately 300 retail locations under both nameplates along with two e-commerce sites.

Through the tie up, they will implement MondaySmart, a GenAI solution from Impact Analytics. This provides AI native business intelligence for retail executives.

“With a combined portfolio of nearly 300 stores, it is critical that we optimise our clusters to ensure that we meet our customers’ high expectations,” says Valentina Labate, Head of Merchandise Planning & Allocation at PittaRosso and Scarpe&Scarpe. “Partnering with Impact Analytics will help us harness the power of our data and their AI and GenAI to position us for future growth.”

5. Mapp hails 'bold step forward in redefining how fashion and retail brands engage with customers' as it buys Dressipi

Marketing cloud provider Mapp has announced the acquisition of Dressipi, a specialist in fashion specific AI and machine learning technologies. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Our acquisition of Dressipi represents a bold step forward in redefining how fashion and retail brands engage with their customers,” says James Brooke, CEO at Mapp. “The integration of Dressipi’s cutting-edge product attribution and advanced machine learning models with our proven marketing platforms will enable brands to grow while closing the profitability gap, creating new value through smarter decisions and better customer experiences.”

“We are thrilled to join forces with Mapp,” says Sarah McVittie, Co-Founder at Dressipi. “Our shared vision of delivering value through AI powered insights and innovation makes this a natural fit. Together, we can empower fashion and retail brands to achieve new levels of success by combining deep product knowledge with advanced marketing technology.”

5. French retailer Groupement Mousquetaires preps roll-out of Diebold Nixdorf AI powered shrink reduction solution

Groupement Mousquetaires, a French retail group with brands like Intermarché, Netto and Bricomarché, plans to address fraud at its self-service checkouts with an AI powered solution from Diebold Nixdorf.

After piloting Vynamic Smart Vision I Shrink Reduction, designed to tackle the most common causes of loss in physical environments, Groupement Mousquetaires is preparing to implement the solution across the group’s store locations.

Maxime Canu, member of Inno Lab at Groupement Mousquetaires, says: “With this AI technology solution from our partner Diebold Nixdorf, we have designed an innovation that revolutionises self-service checkout management. It benefits everyone: customers, staff members and our retailers. The ability to reduce losses, make transactions more fluid and remove friction for consumers marks a real turning point for our sector.”

6. Live shopping specialist Whatnot bags $265 million in Series E funding with valuation hitting $4.97 billion

Whatnot, a marketplace focused on live shopping in the US, UK, and Europe, has announced $265 million in Series E funding, co-led by Greycroft, DST Global, and Avra. Joining Greycroft and Avra as new investors are Lightspeed Venture Partners and Durable Capital Partners, who participated in the round alongside returning backers Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), CapitalG, BOND, and Y Combinator.

The investment brings Whatnot’s valuation to $4.97 billion. The company has raised approximately $746 million since its founding in 2019.

“We believe there’s a better way to shop online, and it starts with creating a platform where sellers can grow thriving businesses around the things they care about most. We’ve proven this leads to the happiest experience for consumers and sellers alike,” says Grant LaFontaine, Co-founder and CEO at Whatnot.

“As we look ahead, we’ll offer even more ways for sellers to cultivate their communities and for buyers to shop and socialiwe. This capital will help us pave the way for mainstream adoption of livestream selling, and we’re grateful to welcome many new partners to the Whatnot family who share our vision that the future of shopping is live.”

7. bpost tests out parcel lockers initiative in Antwerp that offers shipping without packaging or labels

bpost, also known as the Belgian Post Group, is launching a pilot project that allows customers to send items without packaging or labels by dropping them off in a parcel locker. In an initial stage, this option will only be available through the My bpost app.

Starting this week, private customers and businesses sending items from the Antwerp region via bpost can opt for this method. The only condition is that the item is sent from and to a bpost parcel locker. The pilot project, which has been running since 6th January, involves more than 30 lockers in Antwerp and its surrounding areas. The aim is to expand this throughout Belgium in the course of 2025.

When a customer wants to send an item, they can create a digital shipping label with the recipient's address. Initially, this will only be available via the My bpost app, but later on it will also be accessible through the website.

A barcode is generated in this process. By scanning the barcode on their smartphone, customers can open the parcel locker and place the item (max. 48 x 32 x 20 cm) inside, without packaging or a paper label. The item will then be sent to the parcel locker closest to the recipient, or a locker of their choice. Once the parcel has arrived at its destination, the recipient will receive a notification through the My bpost app or by email and will be able to collect the parcel, again using their smartphone. They will be able to track its progress via Track & Trace.

8. Focus on immersive retail as Dentsu, Differin, and Dubit bring first acne care brand to Roblox

Dubit is partnering with Galderma and dentsu on an initiative that is pitched as the first ever acne care brand on Roblox.

In a LinkedIn post, Andrew Douthwaite, Chief Commercial Officer at Dubit, said: "This is redefining how brands engage with Gen Z. By creating a space where self-care meets play, we’re helping Differin reach a highly engaged audience in a way that’s authentic, meaningful, and fun."

The Level Up Lobby is an interactive space featuring an acne care education mini-game packed with Differin’s acne fighting arsenal. Participants can engage in three mini-game experiences.

By participating in Differin’s Level Up Lobby Roblox experiences, players can receive daily power-ups throughout the campaign. On their fifth visit, they have a chance to receive exclusive UGC items for their forever wear collection.

Shoppers can upload a receipt from any product purchase from any retailer where Differin is sold to receive a power-up of their choice in participating Differin Level Up Lobby Roblox experiences.

The Differin Level Up Lobby will appear across five popular Roblox experiences with over four billion plays, including NewSmith, Teamwork Puzzles 2, Carry A Friend, Paradise RP and The Floor is Lava.

9. EDEKA leverages Catch technology for AI powered retail media platform initiative in Berlin

German retailer EDEKA ZENTRALE Stiftung & Co. has chosen Catch to power its first AI enhanced retail media platform in Berlin.

In a LinkedIn post, Catch says that it "empowers retailers and advertisers with full control over in-store promotion and product suggestions, transforming the physical shopping space into a hub for personalised experiences and actionable insights."

It added: "AI takes your shopping list and transforms it into a smart assistant. You can discover products tailored to you at unbeatable prices, and seamlessly redeem savings as you shop. You also receive personalised recommendations made just for you."

10. Joe Cano departs Zappos to focus on innovation, CX and digital transformation at Lowe's

Joe Cano has left Zappos, where he held the role of CMO for almost three years, to join Lowe’s as SVP of Digital.

In a LinkedIn post, he said: "After an incredible journey at Zappos, where I had the privilege of working alongside an extraordinary team, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve joined Lowe’s."

"Zappos will always hold a special place in my heart. I’m deeply grateful to the team for their passion, creativity, and dedication. Together, we achieved amazing milestones, and I’ll forever cherish the memories and lessons learned."

He concluded: "Now, I’m excited to start this next chapter with Lowe’s, where I’ll be focusing on driving innovation, enhancing the customer experience, and leading digital transformation. The possibilities ahead are endless, and I can’t wait to collaborate with the talented team to make an impact. Here’s to building the future, one step at a time!"

Cano will report to CMO Jennifer Wilson, who has been with Lowe's for almost 19 years.