RTIH 25.09.24

Hello everyone,

Welcome to this week's RTIH newsletter. As we dive into the latest developments in retail technology, it's a timely reminder that there are only four weeks left to submit your entries for the RTIH Innovation Awards!

These prestigious awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the retail tech sector, recognising those who are driving transformation and creating impactful solutions.

Don't miss your chance to showcase your achievements and join a community of forward-thinkers shaping the future of retail.

In addition to this exciting news, we’re proud to announce that our LinkedIn page has recently surpassed 18,000 followers!

We’re incredibly grateful for your trust in us to deliver high-quality, authentic reporting on retail tech. Your support drives us as we continue to cover the innovations shaping the future of retail.

Now, let’s explore this week’s top stories:

Grab2Go and Selver announce autonomous outdoor store pilot at ülemiste City business park in Tallinn, Estonia

Grab2GO reports that a new autonomous outdoor store, in collaboration with Selver, has opened in ülemiste City, a business park in Tallinn, Estonia.

In a LinkedIn post, Grab2Go Founder Mart Viilipus said: “This pilot project is a significant step forward for our team and an exciting opportunity to push the boundaries of retail innovation.”

Food and coffee chain Pret A Manger taps YOOBIC tech to support frontline teams and global expansion

Pret A Manger is partnering with digital workplace specialist YOOBIC .

By deploying the company’s suite of tools across 525 shops?in 15 international markets, Pret says it is enabling its team to deliver consistently excellent brand experiences while prioritising customer and employee safety at every step of the way.

"Our customers expect the best possible?experience each and every time they shop with us, and YOOBIC helps us provide that consistently at both directly operated and franchised locations," says Mark Corney , Pret's Global Operations Development Director.

"When it comes to?food service, there's?no room for error. Providing safe, hygienic, and brand appropriate experiences requires meticulous attention to detail from every single frontline team member -?and that's the challenge that YOOBIC helps to?solve," says Fabrice Haiat , YOOBIC CEO and Co-founder.

Retail Technology Show 2025 website goes live as leading event makes move from London Olympia to ExCel

Retail Technology Show 2024, which took place at London Olympia in April, welcomed over 12,500 retail professionals to its two-day event, an increase of attendee numbers by +28% year-on-year.

Get Nourish3d CEO and founder, Melissa Snover, pointed to the sheer breadth and depth of the technologies being showcased this year, commenting: “there’s a huge amount of different people from all elements of retail, and some incredible technologies coming out.”?

Social commerce in the UK is predicted to rise from ￡7.4 billion to almost ￡16 billion by 2028, according to a report cited by Nora Zukauskaite , Integrated Marketing Director at TikTok Shop UK, during an eCommerce Expo 2024 debate on 18th September at London’s ExCel, about the future of digital commerce.

“Naturally, I agree,” said Zukauskaite. “Socials are the future.”

She explained to attendees that TikTok UK is now three years old and still growing rapidly, with tools such as its Live Showcasing video and buy presentations - the modern day digital equivalent of a Tupperware party with added data insights.

Retail technology innovation of the week: Attensi shows why AI is an ally rather than a threat to employees

Retail Technology Innovation of the Week is a series brought to you by RTIH, and sponsored by 3D Cloud , highlighting stand out deployments, launches, and initiatives by retailers and tech suppliers.

And this week we’re focusing on Attensi , which has unveiled Attensi RealTalk, pitched as the first roleplay training solution to incorporate Agentic AI1 and AI free-form dialogue with realistic, virtual humans.

Attensi RealTalk enables employees to engage in realistic and challenging conversations in roleplay scenarios, interacting with AI powered virtual humans across a wide range of disciplines including: Sales roles; Customer service; Coaching.

Trond Aas , CEO at Attensi, says: “AI is an ally rather than a threat to employees. Our human skills and EQ, particularly soft skills and interpersonal skills, are more important than ever."

FT Live : Future of Retail 2024: Tesco CTO overhauls legacy IT and shows how to maximise digital RoI

特易购公司 had an “ageing tech stack” when Guus Dekkers joined them last decade, admitted the grocer’s Chief Technology Officer at the FT Live: Future of Retail 2024 event in London this week.

He outlined how this has been overhauled, alongside seeking a return on digital investment by adopting a build and tech reselling approach.

A new micro-fulfilment in-store picking software solution was recently rolled out at Tesco as an example of this approach. It has been offered to non-core rivals in New Zealand as a way to monetise its build, not buy technology approach but a wider roll-out is imminent.

US retailer Wakefern Food Corp. ramps up use of Simbe’s AI and automation solution Tally across its stores

Simbe reports an expansion of its partnership with Wakefern Food Corp., the largest retailer owned supermarket cooperative in the US.

This involves use of the former’s AI and automation solution, Tally.

Brad Bogolea , Co-founder and CEO at Simbe, commented: “Wakefern’s success is a testament to their dedication to excellence and forward thinking innovation, using data and capabilities that only Simbe provides.”

Shopify veteran Paul Goldston joins self-service technology startup Order Editing as Head of ANZ

Paul Goldston has joined Order Editing , a startup whose tech lets customers make changes to their orders without emailing support, as Head of ANZ.

He was previously at Shopify where he held such roles as Engagement/Delivery/Partner Manager - Shopify Professional Services APAC.

In a LinkedIn post, Order Editing Co-founder, Hamish McKay , said: “You couldn't comprehend how happy I am to be announcing that Paul Goldston has officially joined our founding team.”

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