Top Things You Missed
Upcoming Events
Click for upcoming events where IHL Analyst will be attending and speaking.
May 6, 2023
Click "Expand +" to see article summary. Click summary text to read full article.
For the first time, Avon UK products will be available on Amazon. This new omnichannel approach is part of the company’s new “Embrace your Power” branding and an effort to boost its digital footprint and modernize its market identity.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV has purchased an electric truck fleet from Swedish automotive manufacturer Scania AB, making it the latter’s first electric truck fleet in Latin America.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
How Unilever Expedites Product Innovation With AI, Automation, and Robots
From consumergoods.com »
Expand +
Robots are having a heavy hand in product innovation at Unilever, thanks in large part to the efforts being implemented at the company’s Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) in Liverpool, according to a recent blog post.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›

Ikea investing $5.58M in EV charging for delivery vehicles
From retailcustomerexperience.com »
Expand +
Ikea, the Sweden base furniture retailer, will invest £4.5 million ($5.58 million) in a nationwide EV charging infrastructure to provide charging points for electric delivery vehicles to support more emissions-free deliveries, according to a streetinsider.com report.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Linen Chest Chooses Leading-Edge AI-Powered Omni Experience Provider: Digital Wave Technology
From businesswire.com »
Expand +
Linen Chest has selected Digital Wave Technology, the market leader in AI-powered omni experience platforms for brands and retailers, to elevate the home retailer’s customer experience.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
A2Z partners with retailer HaStok to deploy 1,000 smart carts to 40 locations across Israel
From retailtechinnovationhub.com »
Expand +
A2Z Smart Technologies Corp. has announced a new customer partnership with HaStok Concept, an Israel-based home design and household essentials chain with 40 stores across the country.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
PetSmart Expands Instacart Same-Day Delivery Service to U.S. Stores
From retailtouchpoints.com »
Expand +
PetSmart will offer same-day delivery from nearly 1,500 stores across the U.S. via an expanded partnership with Instacart, following a successful launch in more than 150 PetSmart stores in Canada.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Walmart is deploying the Vusion platform, from partner SES-imagotag, within U.S. stores as part of its digital shelf strategy. The first phase will include 500 stores over the next year and a half for a total of 60 million digital shelf labels.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›

1-800-Flowers.com marks Mother’s Day with ChatGPT; livestream sale
From chainstoreage.com »
Expand +
The specialty gift retailer is launching a new online feature called “1-800-Flowers.com MomVerse,” a free artificial intelligence (AI) composer based on ChatGPT, which interacts with users in a conversational style that mimics human interaction and uses machine learning (ML) to continually refine and improve its responses.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
1-800-Flowers.com, known for curing gift-giving headaches for millions of people, has bought itself a present: the SmartGift intelligent gifting solution.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Autonomo bags Meyer, part of Edeka Group, as customer and Brookstreet Equity Partners as core investor
From retailtechinnovationhub.com »
Expand +
Autonomo, a German provider of computer vision technology for retailers, has announced a new (undisclosed) investment from Brookstreet Equity Partners and its inaugural customer in Meyer, part of the EDEKA group.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
To improve its omnichannel operations, fashion retailer Forever New has teamed with Unicommerce Tech Stack. The company will centralise its retail operations and use its end-to-end post-purchase technology stack.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
The Germany-based adhesives and sealants company has mapped out the mission with its existing partner, SAP, and the project will take the form of an interaction between its cloud-based ERP and its development platform – a symbiosis the company is calling the “Business Technology Cloud.”
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Swedish fashion retailer Lindex chooses Nedap for large-scale RFID deployment
From retaildive.com »
Expand +
Nedap has been selected by Lindex to deploy Nedap iD Cloud. Lindex aims to increase inventory accuracy, which leads to higher product availability across all channels. The roll-out involves 400+ Lindex-stores across the Nordics, the United Kingdom, and eastern Europe.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Coty – which includes brands like Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Rimmel, and Nautica in its portfolio – has partnered with 3D social platform Spatial to create an internal metaverse to train its 11,000-strong workforce.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Kroger to Upgrade In-Store Networking and Centralize Cloud Management
From retailtouchpoints.com »
Expand +
Kroger will improve networking support for in-store experiences, benefiting both shoppers and associates, by deploying the ExtremeCloud IQ cloud management and WiFi 6E access points across its brick-and-mortar fleet.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
As customers increasingly expect a seamless shopping experience across all channels, physical retailers are investing in new technologies to enable a more integrated approach to omnichannel shopping. From click-and-collect options to in-store kiosks, retailers are finding new ways to bridge the gap between digital and physical shopping.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Chain Store Age recently had a conversation with Nikki Baird, VP of strategy at POS and enterprise retail solutions provider Aptos, about how retailers need to adapt their store growth strategies to the needs of constantly connected, 21st century shoppers.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Groups360 and Choice Hotels announce Direct Booking Solution for Group Room Blocks
From hospitalitytech.com »
Expand +
Groups360 and Choice Hotels International announced the rollout of GroupSync™ Instant Booking across Choice’s global portfolio in 2023. Soon meeting and event organizers can shop and book online group guest rooms at Choice Hotel properties within GroupSync Marketplace.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Sam Edelman taps Archive retail technology for launch of peer-to-peer resale platform
From retailtechinnovationhub.com »
Expand +
Caleres owned lifestyle brand Sam Edelman has announced the launch of ReLove, a resell programme for its preloved footwear created in partnership with sustainability and technology platform Archive.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
tokenproof and adidas announce long-term partnership with CONFIRMED mobile app integration
From retailtechinnovationhub.com »
Expand +
adidas, through its adidas /// Studio initiative (aka Three Stripe Studio), has teamed up with tokenproof, to brings its brand to the latter’s Web3 community of NFT holders through a token-gated access point on the adidas CONFIRMED app.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Apparel retailer Vince 'pulls the lever' on and off to use stores to fulfill orders
From digitalcommerce360.com »
Expand +
Vince turned to NewStore, a cloud omnichannel software vendor. Over approximately the last 18 months, the retailer experienced a 7% increase in buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS) orders.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›

Carrefour chooses Pricer as exclusive electronic shelf labels partner
From retailtechinnovationhub.com »
Expand +
Carrefour has picked Pricer as its exclusive supplier of electronic shelf label (ESL) solutions for the next three years. This covers new installations and replacements as the French retail giant looks to boost its store automation and communication solution.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
How La-Z-Boy Stays Ahead of Changing Consumer Trends With Insights Ecosystem Investment
From consumergoods.com »
Expand +
By leveraging an insights platform from tech company Stravito, Calvachi says they can connect different research sources while overlaying La-Z-Boy’s own critical thinking to “make magic happen.” The goal for data acquisition is obtaining a single source of truth that could evolve and guide the company’s business decisions.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›

Keurig Dr Pepper, 3M, Coca-Cola, P&G, and More Double Down on Digital Investments
From consumergoods.com »
Expand +
From expansion in digitalization to supply chain transformations and centralization and automation approaches, companies like Keurig Dr Pepper, Coca-Cola, P&G, and more are focusing on long-term, sustainable growth that will help them continue navigating these rough waters to stay ahead of the competition.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Oracle Cloud to Help Grocers Better Manage Fresh, Prepared Food
From progressivegrocer.com »
Expand +
Technology company Oracle is making it easier for grocers to offer compelling fresh and grab-and-go options while better managing inventory, costs and waste. The Austin, Texas-based company has revealed a series of new APIs and extensions for Oracle Retail Merchandising Cloud Services.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Cendyn is excited to announce that Carlton City Hotel Singapore has selected Cendyn’s eInsight CRM to help them consolidate their data, streamline their guest communication efforts and provide them with a true 360-degree view of each guest.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
S Group and Starship Technologies team up to launch robot grocery deliveries in Finland
From retailtechinnovationhub.com »
Expand +
S-kaupat, the online grocery store of Finnish firm S Group, will start express deliveries with delivery robots during the spring and summer, in partnership with Starship Technologies.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
TBInternational will partner with supply chain software solution provider o9 to spearhead the effort, which the company says will enable more data-driven demand planning within a centralized, enterprise-wide platform. This platform will also optimize decision-making on stock building and the buy-plan creation within a single system.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Telpo, a China-based self-service kiosk manufacturer, has deployed its Telpo K7 kiosk in Aeon supermarkets throughout China, according to a press release.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Gervasi Vineyard Uncorks Exceptional Guest Experiences with Oracle Cloud
From hospitalitytech.com »
Expand +
Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, a luxury destination in Canton, Ohio is expanding its business with Oracle Cloud. Using Oracle Hospitality OPERA Cloud Property Management System (PMS) and MICROS Simphony Cloud Point-of-Sale (POS), Gervasi has consolidated its operations on a single cloud platform.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›

How a major KFC franchisee is bolstering its marketing strategy with SMS
From digiday.com »
Expand +
In partnership with Vibes, a SMS and mobile digital wallet marketing program, the KFC franchise brand sends out weekly messages, whether that be a product offer, deals or other company news. The SMS effort targets regional and local people.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
“Retailers need to have a single view of their inventory across channels and then that data has to be up-to-date and accurate,” said Greg Buzek, President of IHL Group. “RFID is the killer app for this for most products and this can be augmented by the use of computer-vision. Retailers who were already using RFID saw 83% higher sales growth and 80% higher profits in 2022 in our research.”
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Redner’s Markets is deploying the MessageWrap conveyor belt advertising solution at checkouts across all of its 44 grocery stores in the mid-Atlantic region. The MessageWraps antimicrobial, color checkout conveyor belt coversfeature P&G’s brands Tide, Bounty, Febreze, Dawn, Charmin, and Cascade, with product images scrolling across as the conveyor belt rolls.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›

Windsor offers AI-powered automated styling, product recommendations
From chainstoreage.com »
Expand +
The young women’s fashion and accessories retailer has partnered with Stylitics to help shoppers find the perfect dress, matching shoes, and accessories while also giving them outfitting suggestions to maximize their selection.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
In an email to Chain Store Age, Amazon said the new Citi Flex Pay on Amazon Pay solution gives eligible Citi credit card members the option to pay over time when using the Amazon Pay digital wallet application at thousands of participating online retail sites.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Aramark launches first artificial intelligence powered Quick Eats checkout-free store in Scotland
From retailtechinnovationhub.com »
Expand +
Aramark has launched the first artificial intelligence (AI) powered Quick Eats store in Scotland. This has gone live at Aegon’s offices in Edinburgh to serve its 1,300 staff members.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Careem, the region’s leading multi-service platform, partners with RELEX Solutions, provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions, to optimize its grocery delivery supply chain.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
NCR Corporation today announced that Texas-based Brookshire Grocery Company (BGC) has selected NCR point of sale (POS) as the foundation of its in-store technology.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Road Runner Sports, which initially began offering proprietary 3D foot scanners in select stores in 2019, is now launching an all-new 3D foot scanner called Fit Finder. The scanner is the centerpiece of an upgraded, seamless in-store fitting experience Road Runner Sports calls Perfect Fit Zone.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Union Square Hospitality Group taps Thanx for loyalty, digital experiences
From fastcasual.com »
Expand +
Union Square Hospitality Group, a multi-brand hospitality company founded by Danny Meyer in 1985, has tapped Thanx to deliver loyalty and digital experiences for three of its brands, Daily Provisions, a neighborhood kitchen with locations in New York City; Blue Smoke, a barbecue joint and Marta, a Roman-inspired pizzeria and wood-fired grill.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
With chatbots instead of humans doing the haggling over cost and purchase terms, the retail giant is wringing more savings from contracts.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
The online home furnishings giant debuted a “digital design studio” kiosk that allows customers to create and interact with a variety of design layouts and experience products in a digital 3D room with photorealistic quality.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Axionlog selects RELEX to improve its demand forecasting and replenishment
From relexsolutions.com »
Expand +
Axionlog, a leading supply chain management company in the food sector, has partnered with RELEX Solutions, provider of unified supply chain and retail planning solutions, to improve the accuracy and efficiency of their demand forecasting and replenishment processes.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Furniture retailer DFS selects Fluent Commerce order management system
From retailtechinnovationhub.com »
Expand +
UK sofa manufacturer and retailer, DFS, has chosen Fluent Commerce’s order management system (OMS) to underpin the development of its home fulfilment programme.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
Hilton Rolls Out Technology Platform to Help Reduce the Friction of Travel
From hospitalitytech.com »
Expand +
Homewood Suites by Hilton Largo Washington DC is one of the first hotels in Hilton’s portfolio to implement PEP (Property Engagement Platform) and is a testbed for the project rollout, which is expected to reach more than 7,000 hotels worldwide over the next three years.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
I ventured to the Fayetteville Sam's Club on Thursday to see their latest technological advancements — a robot that serves hot lunch in mere minutes.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›
UK retailer Topps Tiles hooks up with TrueLayer for Open Banking powered instant payments
From retailtechinnovationhub.com »
Expand +
Topps Tiles has teamed up with TrueLayer to implement instant bank transfers to its retail and trade customers.
Full Article ›
Full Article ›