RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail systems’ deployments from the past week, including sustainable online deliveries, shoppable recipes, automated warehouses, and virtual beer in the metaverse.

Doodles and Shopify

Skechers USA

Skechers has announced a push into the metaverse with the signing of a lease in the Fashion District of Decentraland. 

It has also filed trademark applications throughout the world to sell virtual goods such as footwear and apparel.

The company has leased the equivalent of a 5,000-square-foot space on virtual land owned by Metaverse Group to build an experiential store on the Fashion Street Estate located in the Decentraland metaverse.

“Our Decentraland agreement is an investment in our future,” says Michael Greenberg, President at Skechers. 

“We look forward to embarking on this virtual era, and exploring creative ways for our brand to engage with new customers and audiences as we launch the new Skechers experience.”

Ocado Solutions and Auchan Retail Poland

Ocado Solutions has announced a partnership with Auchan Retail Poland which will see the latter’s online business using the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP).

This agreement marks the second Auchan business to partner with Ocado Solutions.

The pair will initially build a customer fulfilment centre (CFC) to serve the Warsaw region, beginning in 2024, with additional CFCs to follow.

Auchan Poland will also leverage Ocado's In-Store Fulfilment (ISF) software across its hypermarkets nationwide. The tie up will cover both its food and non-food business.

Currys

Omnichannel technology retailer Currys has launched what is pitched as the UK’s first ever recycling scheme that gives monetary reward for old tech, even if customers think it’s worthless.

Called Cash for Trash, this runs from 16th March to 15th April and calls on Brits to bring in any old, broken, or unused electronics to their nearest Currys store in exchange for a voucher worth at least £5. 

Tech like TVs and small domestic appliances can also be traded in for new products.

Instacart

Instacart has launched Shoppable Recipes, which will allow food creators to link Instacart shopping lists into their content through integrations on TikTok and Tasty, as well on Hearst properties like Delish and Good Housekeeping.

Cleveron

Heineken

Heineken has launched its first virtual beer, Heineken Silver, available exclusively in its virtual brewery within the Decentraland platform.

Jisp

UK-based Jisp has launched Jisp Media, a new platform to help brands attract and engage more effectively with retailers and customers through the independent convenience channel.

This provides a solution across in-store, online and via mobile, from digital vouchering, social media, in-app media and one-to-one personalisation, through to broader mass reach campaigns.

Boots UK

Walgreens owned Boots UK has launched its first ever IT Stores Day.

On Thursday, the retailer’s IT team visited over 350 stores across the UK.

“By 17:30 on the 18th we will have created a ‘store centric' 12 month IT plan and by Monday morning we will be out there implementing IT,” Rich Corbridge, Chief Information Officer at Boots UK & Ireland, said in a LinkedIn post.

The move is, he added, “a chance for IT professionals throughout Walgreens Boots Alliance to reconnect with the engine of this amazing business and chance for our colleagues and friends scattered across the county to understand a little bit about what IT can do for every part of the retail estate.”

He continued: “We will make a difference, we will untangle IT.”

“So excited to share with you the outcomes of this as the day goes on. Follow #TechAtBoots to see what happens from Lands End to John O Groats and beyond.” 

MediaMarkt

Electronics retailer MediaMarkt is set to deliver its online orders in a CO2 neutral way and on the same day via the Bringly platform. 

Orders will be processed and delivered by bicycle or electric cars from stores and various MediaMarkt hubs.

Bringly and MediaMarkt have launched the service in the Netherlands (49 stores). Belgium (24 stores) is expected to follow later this year.