RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail’ systems launches and deployments from the past week, including Astra Tech, AiFi, Cleveron, 3D Cloud by Marxent, Serve Robotics, Perfect Corp., J.Crew, and Obsess.

EE

EE has opened a new flagship store, The EE Studio, located in Westfield London, White City.

Focused on connectivity and technology solutions, the 4,230-square-foot location will also serve as a hub for the local community to work, learn and play.  

The launch forms part of EE’s new strategy, which, the company says, “seeks to reinvent the role of retail in the telco industry, putting innovation, personal experience, and community front and centre”.

Astra Tech

Astra Tech, a UAE-based technology investment and development group, has launched its first fully autonomous store in Abu Dhabi’s Sky Tower.

Powered by AiFI computer vision technology, B Store also enables shoppers to pay for their purchases by using their faces.

Astra Tech acquired UAE FinTech PayBy last year, and this location uses the firm’s FacePay PoS technology for biometric payment authentication.

Puma

no-boxx

Manchester-based startup no-boxx is launching a sustainable and reusable packaging and returns solution for e-commerce retailers, which, it claims, eliminates single-use packaging and reduces CO2 emissions by 87% on just the second use.

This is currently being used in a pilot scheme by a sustainable activewear brand, with plans for a wider roll-out later in the year.

The reusable packaging pouch has the potential to be used over 20 times with consumers encouraged to return the packaging to the retailer after every use.

It is made from recycled polyethylene (rPET) and is currently available to manufacturers and retailers in three sizes, depending on the size and quantity of items dispatched.

no-boxx has secured a partnership with parcel lockers firm, InPost, which has a UK network of 5,000+ locations. Customers receive a QR code and drop off their returned item or empty reusable packaging at any of the 24/7 InPost lockers across the UK.

no-boxx uses its proprietary web application to track the lifecycle of the packaging, allowing consumers and retailers to visualise their reduced environmental impact, and see the status of their delivery and returns, as a result of using the packaging.

Cleveron

Estonian firm Cleveron has unveiled the Cleveron 354, a battery powered outdoor parcel locker.

CEO Arti Kütt says: “Our projections show that within a decade, 80% of last mile deliveries in Europe will be conducted via parcel lockers, which will emerge as the preferred method among end customers.”

“This approach is not only more cost-effective but also significantly more sustainable. Battery powered parcel lockers will play a pivotal role in driving this revolution, as these can be installed basically on every street corner.”

“Cleveron 354 is designed to directly address this challenge, offering an intelligent solution for a more sustainable world.”

“Implementing a locker network significantly reduces the need for home deliveries which costs rise yearly. Consumers have shown a willingness to retrieve their parcels within a comfortable five-minute walking radius, making Cleveron 354 the best solution for network build outs.”

ZERO10

ZERO10 has unveiled a prototype AR store and is showing it off at Viva Technology, a startup and tech event taking place on 14th-17th June, in Paris, France.

The introduction of the firm’s AR Mirror offering  as a standalone store follows ZERO10’s recent collaborations with fashion big hitters Tommy Hilfiger and Coach, which deployed the AR Mirror and Storefront respectively.

Unlike those cases, where AR Mirror served as an additional element to existing bricks and mortar stores, the AR Store prototype presents the solution as the standalone focus, pitched as an autonomous retail agent.

JD.com

adidas

adidas Originals has teamed up with 20-year-old Web3 artist, Victor Langlois, aka FEWOCiOUS, to offer a range of physical and digital product drops.

First appearing in an official capacity with adidas /// Studio (Three Stripes Studio) for an installation during Art Basel Miami in December 2022, FEWOCiOUS says that he has long had an affinity for the brand, using adidas silhouettes as an artistic canvas when he was 16 years old.

Ushering in a collaborative partnership, adidas Originals and FEWOCiOUS have come together to launch a limited edition, product linked Trefoil Flower Mint Pass.

Launching on 22nd June, it will also unlock the opportunity for NFT holders to redeem a complimentary artist designed Campus 00’s sneaker.

bp

Automated parcel machine (APM) service provider, InPost, reports that, after a trial, its lockers will be rolled out at approximately 300 bp service stations across the UK.

Prominent locations include Wandsworth, Glasgow, Ashford and Brentwood.

As a result, consumers will be able to collect a delivery whilst filling up with fuel, or return a parcel when picking up something for dinner at a forecourt M&S Food store.

As part of the trial thousands of parcels have been processed across five locations.

Valtech, commercetools and Mars

Valtech has worked has collaborated with commercetools to launch a composable commerce accelerator for multi-brand companies, inspired by the model it created for Mars.

Known as LEAP, the accelerator presents a solution for multi-brand direct-to-consumer (DTC) and B2C commerce strategy as they modernise and differentiate their customer experiences across their brands and channels.

“LEAP is designed to empower multi-brand enterprises in a competitive marketplace driven by fast-paced technology adoption and innovation in commerce,” says Casper Aagaard Rasmussen, Group SVP of Technology at Valtech.

“As multi-brand businesses move from a siloed and inflexible organisational structure to become digital enterprises, LEAP gets them back into the race. With time of the essence, our new commerce accelerator helps companies act fast in closing the widening gap between their processes and technology that hinders growth.”

“With this gap narrowed, they no longer sacrifice on technology innovation and instead, are better positioned to leapfrog the competition through exceptional customer experiences. We’re excited to lead the way in commerce with Mars and commercetools and for other brands to take advantage of this offering.”

3D Cloud by Marxent

3D Cloud by Marxent, a specialist in 3D kitchen design and furniture planning, has announced an early access programme for its 3D Cloud Room Scanner offering.

Retailers can now sign up to be among the first to deploy the capabilities of the company's LiDAR room scan to design solution for capturing room measurements that can then be directly dropped into 3D Cloud Room Planner for designing with real, buyable products.

DPD and L Marks

DPD is partnering with L Marks to launch an EcoLab initiative focused on carbon reduction in transport, delivery, and buildings.

This will bring together experts in sustainability, technology, and innovation to develop and test new ideas that can help DPD further reduce its carbon footprint.

It is pitched as key step towards the company’s goal of reaching net zero by 2040. 

Puma India

Salesfloor, a customer engagement platform that combines immersive virtual shopping, clienteling and conversational AI, has announced a partnership with Puma India.

The aim here is to bolster Puma's customer relations by integrating and elevating its online and in-store experience with a unique personalised shopping service.

The pair have provided online shoppers with a widget that connects them to store associates or style consultants for instant shopping guidance.

They will receive personalised consultancy on sizing, styling and product recommendations via online chats, video interactions and one to one outreach. India is the first market for the sports brand to implement this solution.

Warner Bros. Pictures

Perfect Corp. has launched an interactive augmented reality (AR) experience for Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming film The Flash.

Movie filters and effects are available free to users in the AR try-on app, YouCam Makeup, and photo-editing app, YouCam Perfect.

The Flash virtual experience features an exclusive animated effect and stickers that invite users to activate their inner superhero and step into a time travel adventure powered by Perfect Corp.’s AI technology.

This will be available in the run up to the launch of the movie, in cinemas on 16th June.

Serve Robotics

J.Crew

J.Crew has announced the launch of an immersive virtual store powered by experiential e-commerce platform Obsess.

The 3D, shoppable experience celebrates the company’s 40th anniversary and takes the form of a beach house that features six rooms and a separate boathouse.

The J.Crew Virtual Beach House also offers interactive content highlighting the brand’s heritage, along with gamified elements and checkout.

“We are excited to celebrate J.Crew’s 40th anniversary with the launch of the J.Crew Virtual Beach House in partnership with Obsess,” says Derek Yarbrough, Chief Marketing Officer of J.Crew and Madewell.

“This immersive experience brings our past and present together, giving our customers a virtual passport to explore the world of J.Crew, while shopping a curated edit of summer styles in an innovative digital format.”