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IKEA will use more drones in its stores

Swedish furniture giant IKEA is increasing the number of drones it uses in its stores to provide more efficient inventory tracking. According to a blog post on the company's website, there are a total of 100 drones in Ikea's warehouses that count inventory outside of working hours.

Drones help ensure that products are tracked accurately and also support the creation of a more ergonomic workplace by eliminating the need for manual inventory counting by employees. Drones not only count inventory, but also help employees determine if something is missing or in the wrong place.

Tolga ?ncü, the head of retail for Ingka Group, which is responsible for 367 IKEA stores, says that offering drones and other advanced tools increases workplace welfare, reduces operating costs, and makes it more affordable for customers, creating a win-win situation for everyone.

By 2025, more jobs are expected to be handed over to robots

According to the 2023 Retail Experience Study conducted by Incisiv and Verizon Business, which involved 107 retail managers, retailers predict that 70% of routine in-store tasks will be automated by 2025. The study also shows that the use of artificial intelligence in retail operations will increase ninefold by 2025 to streamline business operations. The use of robots for tasks such as in-store cleaning and inventory control is expected to double, especially in large stores.

As robotic use becomes more widespread in options such as mobile sales points and car delivery, some large retailers have started using robots in-store to simplify inventory tracking. Shopify introduced the POS Go system last October, allowing businesses to accept payments anywhere using a mobile sales point.

Improving operational efficiency is crucial for retailers in today's competitive environment, and small businesses are also expected to adopt robots.

Walmart is laying off hundreds of workers who work in its e-commerce facilities.

Walmart, which has been making billions of dollars in profit every year with its focus on physical stores in the US, stated that customer expectations have changed, and they are rapidly moving to meet customer needs. They have also stated that they have maximized their store and fulfillment center networks to deliver products to customers who shop from their e-commerce channels whenever and however they want. However, Walmart has not yet disclosed whether it reduced its fulfillment center capacity because it plans to fulfill more orders from its physical stores or because it expects fewer online orders from customers.

Retaildive reports that e-commerce sales have slowed down due to consumers returning to physical stores for shopping and purchases slowing down in the high-inflation environment, despite the growth in e-commerce sales at the peak of the pandemic.

Levi's is preparing to test models produced by artificial intelligence (AI).

The models to be produced with AI will help customers see how the products will look on different body types, skin tones, ages, and body sizes. This provides customers with the opportunity to see the product they are considering buying on someone with a body type similar to their own. Levi's stated that diversity, equality, and inclusivity are their top priorities for their brand, and this will provide a more personalized shopping experience. Additionally, as AI requires fewer resources, it is also part of Levi's sustainability efforts.

In a press release, Amy Gershkoff Bolles stated, "While AI will likely never replace human models for us, we are excited about the potential gains it can provide for the consumer experience, and we are thrilled to partner with Lalaland.io." The AI-generated models are planned to be tested later this year.

Instacart launches its B2B service

Instacart, which provides fast delivery service, has announced a new application that enables businesses to order goods and meals from retailers. Instacart emphasized its partnerships with retailers such as Costco Business Center, Staples, Restaurant Depot, BJ's Wholesale Club, and Gordon Food Service when announcing the new service.

The announcement stated that small businesses tend to have less order volume compared to larger companies when it comes to purchasing office supplies, often leading to higher prices and minimum orders. Instacart said that it works with multiple vendors to obtain the lowest prices for smaller businesses as well.

Instacart Business aims to help businesses, especially small and local ones, save time, money, and resources. It also offers businesses a variety of delivery options, such as same-day delivery, discounted delivery, and long-distance delivery. Businesses have access to over 1.5 million products, including bulk purchases and essential items. While it is officially a new service, Instacart emphasized that it is not new to B2B, having fulfilled "millions" of orders in three months in 2022.

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