These are the RTIH articles that caught your fancy last week, including Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Wilko, Apple, Walmart, and Aldi.
Too much retail automation too soon? Examining the recent customer backlashes against M&S and Tesco
RTIH Editor Scott Thompson asks: Is the constant drive by retailers to innovate via technology deployments really delivering what their customers want and need?
UK retailer Wilko taps Virtualstock platform to reduce ‘where is my order?’ calls to its contact centre
“We’re delighted with what we’ve been able to achieve with Virtualstock,” says Ben Exall, Digital Director at Wilko, a British high street chain which sells homewares and household goods.
“We know this will result in a reduction in ‘where is my order?’ calls to the contact centre through improved clarity of the orders on their journey to the customer. We can now also better track stock levels with greater visibility in the platform.”
We’re thrilled to announce that @LoveWilko is now live on Virtualstock’s platform, increasing its product range, building relationships with partners and improving #customerexperience – all key to the home & garden retailer’s digital acceleration plan! #growth #ecommerce #retail pic.twitter.com/zKQ63sQdjS
— Virtualstock (@virtualstock) June 2, 2023
Emperia – new Apple mixed reality headset Vision Pro ‘entails a new mode of brand interaction’
Apple last week unveiled a mixed reality headset called Vision Pro – its first entirely new product in eight years.
The device blends a video feed from the outside world with a virtual world displayed on screens inside the headset.
“Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing,” says Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing.”
“Built upon decades of Apple innovation, Vision Pro is years ahead and unlike anything created before – with a revolutionary new input system and thousands of groundbreaking innovations. It unlocks incredible experiences for our users and exciting new opportunities for our developers.”
As a specialist in the field of virtual stores and immersive e-commerce, Emperia views this new announcement as a massive step into mass adoption of such technology, with tangible benefits for brands.
“Apple has always been a trailblazer for mass adoption with their emerging and brand new tech, take the iPhone for example. Vision Pro could be the catalyst for the mass adoption of XR”, says Olga Dogadkina, Co-founder and CEO at Emperia,
“in creating the new device, Apple is bringing a utility to XR beyond gaming. For the first time, XR headset has more actual functionality than other devices in the market, offering capabilities for work and entertainment.”
“Coupled with human interaction and a design that has all chances of gaining iconic status like most Apple products, the device will almost inevitably gain popularity. This means web UX/UI as we know it will become obsolete, limited by the 2D screen.”
She adds: “For retail, this entails a new mode of brand interaction, one that goes beyond the boundaries of a flat screen and physical space simultaneously. This means deeper customer connection, more intuitive user interactions, more personalisation of customer experience than was ever achievable before.”
Marks and Spencer blasted by elderly customers as it goes cashless in automated cafes
Marks and Spencer has come under fire from disgruntled elderly customers after closing traditional counters in eight digital cafes, including at two of the retailer’s megastores.
With orders placed via touchscreens, staff are now focused on making food and drinks rather than taking orders, with customers alerted when their order is ready.
Elderly shoppers have described the move, which ushers in cashless payments, as “abhorrent”, The Telegraph reports.
M&S is also testing out self-service belted checkouts alongside manned tills in two food halls.
These can be found at London Colney, near Watford, and White Rose Shopping Centre near Leeds – two of its largest stores which also have the digital cafes installed.
In a LinkedIn post, Ron Delnevo, Chair of the UK Cash Supply Alliance, said: “Really silly, thoughtless stuff from M&S. If you want to find out how to alienate your customers, just read and copy!”
Walmart incubator arm Store No8 and Outlier Ventures target startups focused on building in Web3
Store No8, Walmart’s incubation arm, and Outlier Ventures, a Web3 investor, have announced the launch of the Store No8 dCommerce Base Camp accelerator programme.
The 12-week initiative will begin in mid-August.
The aim is to help a select cohort of startups focused on building in Web3 to deliver solutions that improve the global retail and commerce experience.
The chosen teams will focus on building across areas that include decentralised infrastructure, data and growth solutions, immersive experiences and the metaverse, and the intersection of AI and blockchain technology.
The programme will provide funding to each of the selected founders, as well as access to subject matter expertise and mentorship across Outlier Ventures and Store Nº8’s team and network.
📣 Outlier Ventures are excited to announce a partnership with Store Nº8, @Walmart‘s incubation arm, for an accelerator program focused on building the next generation of dCommerce applications. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/n6ZB4tROT1
— Outlier Ventures (@OVioHQ) June 6, 2023
Papaya launches one stop shop marketplace for commercial fleets to source electric vehicles
Papaya Technologies has announced the launch of a marketplace dedicated to sourcing electric vehicles and service providers for commercial fleets.
Offering a range of vehicles – from cargo bikes to e-vans – as well as service providers, including maintenance and subscription-based EV suppliers, this is pitched as “a one stop shop providing a truly holistic view of the market”.
Ready to roll: 2023 RTIH retail technology awards are now open for submissions
After launching in 2019 and delivering hugely successful follow up events in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the RTIH Innovation Awards return in 2023 with a discussion panel and awards ceremony to be held in central London venues during December.
The fifth edition of the awards is now open for entries.
The event celebrates global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
We received a record number of submissions in 2022, with winners including Sook, B&Q, 3D Cloud by Marxent, Compass Group, AiFi, Walmart, Ribble Cycles, Obsess, HyperFinity, Red Ant, Pets at Home, and TPP Retail.
Our winners and highly commended companies were announced at a sold out event in central London on Tuesday, 6th December.
For 2023, we are introducing new categories and expanding the awards ceremony in December to accommodate more attendees (further details on that will be revealed in the near future).
Scott Thompson, Editor and Founder of RTIH, says: “Our awards celebrate the dynamic, resilient and innovative retail sector and the companies and technologies that drive it forward.”
“Competition was tougher than ever in 2022, so to emerge victorious was no mean feat.”
“Congratulations to our winners and highly commended companies. I’m excited to launch the fifth edition of the awards. The 2023 event will be the biggest and best yet.”
Deadline for 2023 submissions is Friday, 27th October, with winners being revealed at the aforementioned event in central London during November.
We’re pleased to announce that the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards are now open for submissions! It’s free to enter, with a deadline of early November and winners being announced at an awards ceremony in central London during December @AwardsRtih #retailtech https://t.co/tuEFF9gIE7
— Retail Technology Innovation Hub (@RTIH_RetailTech) May 11, 2023
Payments veterans Guy Harris and Eric M. Hoffman join chargeback management technology firm Chargebacks911
Chargebacks911 has announced the appointment of Guy Harris as its Chairman of the board, and Eric M. Hoffman as President of Interbank Solutions and board member.
Monica Eaton, CEO and Founder at Chargebacks911, comments: “I couldn’t be more excited to bring onboard Guy Harris and Eric Hoffman. It is rare to find two financial powerhouses with such acumen, leadership, talent and unparalleled success; and with such diverse backgrounds.”
“We have approached an era that is transforming at an unprecedented rate, both in terms of technology and as an industry. To continue to remain a market leader requires grit, diversity, and contagious passion. Guy and Eric deliver on all three, bringing unmatched expertise to this new era as we propel our award winning platform, to continue our mission.”
Eaton added: “As Chairman, Guy will help steer our strategic vision and global expansion efforts, and Eric is set to make his mark across the business with his hands-on experience and go-to-market prowess. I look forward to this next phase in our journey as we continue to challenge the status quo.”
Parcel delivery firm Evri cuts carbon emissions by nearly a third and steps up e-cargo bikes push
Evri says that it has reduced its operational carbon emissions by nearly a third in the parcel delivery firm’s financial year to February 2023, as part of a wider investment in its environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy.
Aldi UK teams with Polytag to gain access to real-time packaging lifecycle information
Aldi UK has partnered with recycling technology company Polytag.
It will trial the deployment of Polytag’s invisible UV tags onto its packaging, starting from July.
With the company’s unique readers installed at the Biffa Teeside recycling centre, Aldi will get insights on the quantity of its packaging that is actually recycled and be able to track an item’s journey through said process.
This previously inaccessible packaging lifecycle information will help the supermarket accurately measure and track its performance against its sustainability targets, such as halving its plastic footprint by 2025.
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