RTIH rounds up the stand out retail technology deals, deployments and pilots from October.

Walmart is to use four US stores as test centres in order to find solutions that help its physical locations operate as both shopping destinations and online fulfilment centres. Two are up and running and two more are in the pipeline.

Japanese lifestyle brand MUJI is rolling out MishiPay’s Scan, Pay & Go mobile self-checkout solution across its UK stores. 

Google Cloud has released details of its work with Ikea as the retailer accelerates its digital transformation amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Russian food retailer, X5 Retail Group, has opened its first cashierless store as part of its Pyaterochka chain. 

French retailer Groupe Casino is working with Shekel Brainweigh on an automated store situated at its Monoprix HQ in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, near Paris. 

Majid Al Futtaim, which owns and operates shopping malls, retail, and leisure establishments in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, has launched a customer insight platform, powered by dunnhumby.

The aim is to help Carrefour and its suppliers in delivering better customer experiences and accelerating growth plans.

Following the introduction of Simbe Robotics’ autonomous robot Tally in select stores, US retailer Schnuck Markets is launching the technology in an additional 46 locations, taking the total to 62. 

Etsy has launched Klarna’s buy now, pay later solution, enabled by Adyen. The roll-out will begin in the US, with the e-commerce venture expecting other core markets to follow in 2021. 

Paperless receipts and digital rewards startup Flux has announced a partnership with H&M. 

The deal marks the FinTech venture’s first foray into clothing and apparel and sees its solution available at over 300 H&M UK stores.

Flux and H&M customers will also be able to use their digital receipts to return items, either by scanning a barcode embedded in the receipt or by citing an ID to the cashier.

PayTech big hitter Adyen is rolling out Giving, enabling its merchants to accept charitable donations during the online and in-store checkout process. 

It has partnered with the likes of Gap, Delivery Hero and Crocs for the launch and says that it will absorb the full cost of donations, subject to eligibility criteria. 

Co-op Group has expanded its relationship with Diebold Nixdorf to include managed services and remote monitoring of self-service and PoS systems throughout the UK. 

Amazon has introduced Amazon One, which enables people to use their palm for the likes of paying at a store, presenting a loyalty card, entering stadiums, or badging into work. Customers can now use it as an entry option at two Amazon Go locations in Seattle.

Woolworths Australia has launched its first supermarket featuring automated picking technology. 

The retailer last year announced a tie up with Takeoff Technologies covering an initial three sites. The first store is in Carrum Downs in south east Melbourne. The 2,400 sqm space uses technology to sort and move products from automated storage units directly to team members hand picking customer orders.  

These units can hold up to 10,000 of the most in-demand grocery products, while fresh fruit and vegetables and meat will continue to be picked from the shopfloor.   

Kroger has confirmed Romulus, Michigan, as the site for its first Ocado powered mini customer fulfilment centre (CFC). 

The 135,000-square-foot facility facility will set the retailer back $95 million. It is expected to become operational 18 months after the site breaks ground and will support customers in several markets, including Michigan, Northern Ohio, and Indiana.

THG Ingenuity, the technology services division of online retailer The Hut Group, has announced a five-year partnership with Hotel Chocolat. 

The tie up will see the launch of the UK brand’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) offering in the United States.

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