RTIH Newsletter

Hello everyone,

We hope you are having a great week. Here at RTIH HQ, we are receiving lots of entries for the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards. We have been very impressed with the quality and look forward to sharing the shortlist with you in the future.

This year, the awards will focus on AI, sustainability, and inclusivity. Our winners will be announced during a glittering ceremony at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on Thursday, November 21st.

To find out more, click here.

Now, on to this week's most popular stories.

LEGOLAND Windsor Resort launches Europe’s first theme park checkout-free store powered by Zippin

Zippin and Aramark UK 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.

Helen Milligan-Smith , CEO at Aramark UK, comments: "We are committed to elevating the customer experience. Partnering with Zippin to launch DUPLO Coffee Co represents an exciting milestone in entertainment hospitality.”

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FinTech giant Adyen announces pasta, pizza and payments partnership with Italian restaurant group Vapiano

Adyen has announced a partnership with Italian restaurant group Vapiano UK .

Adyen’s technology is enabling guests to customise their checkout experiences, and making it possible for them to order food on their phone using digital wallet payments for the first time.

“Our financial technology helps businesses in the hospitality industry to enhance their customer experience. Our platform empowers customers to pay using their preferred method, while also providing data on people’s purchasing preferences to offer clearer customer insights,” says Nicole Olbe , Managing Director, Adyen UK.

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OMS specialist OneStock scores $72 million investment for international expansion with particular focus on US market

OneStock , a provider of order management systems (OMS), has announced a $72 million investment from Summit Partners.

OneStock was founded in 2015 by CEO, Romulus Grigoras , and CTO, Beno?t Baccot , to help retailers and brands navigate the increasing complexity of the omnichannel landscape and enhance overall customer experience.

"Since the beginning, we have been dedicated to creating smarter and more sustainable shopping experiences, and our partnership with Summit marks a thrilling new chapter in our journey, reaffirming our long-term commitment to innovation and growth in the retail technology space,” comments Grigoras.

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Social commerce startup Haz bags $1.4m in pre-seed funding to connect people through the things that they own

London-based startup Haz , an AI social commerce app that connects friends through the things they own, has landed $1.4 million in pre-seed funding led by Speedinvest .

The cash will be used to develop its proprietary AI technology and launch the platform in the UK before expanding across Europe.?

“82% of Gen Z now think about the resale value of an item before they even buy it, yet 47% of items fit for resale remain unsold,” says Haz Co-founder Ronan Harvey-Kelly .

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Polytag announces single-use plastic packaging recycling scheme with high street giant Marks and Spencer as founding partner

Polytag has announced 马莎百货 as a founding member of its Ecotrace Programme, an initiative focused on the tracing and recycling of single-use plastic packaging in the UK.

Alice Rackley , CEO at Polytag, which is included in the latest RTIH Retail Technology Innovations Report, says: “Currently, FMCG brands have no visibility of what happens to its single-use plastic once it has been put in the bin. As Extended Producer Responsibility Legislation comes into force, brands will need to take responsibility for packaging materials.”

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UK retailer Mountain Warehouse extends partnership with e-commerce delivery technology specialist Metapack

UK outdoor clothing company Mountain Warehouse Warehouse has extended its relationship with Metapack .

Already using Metapack Delivery Manager, Mountain Warehouse has added the Delivery Options and Intelligence solutions to its operations as it invests in its shipping infrastructure with the aim of providing customers with exceptional e-commerce experiences across the UK and Canada.

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Emperia Founder and CEO Olga Dogadkina talks challenges and rewards as virtual stores firm turns five

Olga Dogadkina , Founder and CEO at Emperia , has taken to social media to discuss her company turning five years old.

Emperia has developed an immersive commerce platform at the intersection of Web2 and Web3, enabling brands and retailers to boost their online channels through virtual stores.

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Autonomous retail technology startup Pixevia raises €1.5 million and eyes DACH expansion

AI retail technology company, PIXEVIA , has raised €1.5 million in new funding.

Viktorija Trimbel at Coinvest Capital, says: “Pixevia’s demonstrable success in the last year was more than just promising.”

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