What a year for retail tech!
See how retail leaders have innovated this year.
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
- Walmart launched a driverless truck pilot
- Amazon ordered autonomous truck-driving systems
- Kroger and Google recently invested in self-driving car maker Nuro
E-COMMERCE AS ENTERTAINMENT
- Amazon bought MGM Studios
- Walmart and Shopify partnered with Netflix
- Livestreaming goes mainstream (Amazon Live & Twitch; Walmart on TikTok; Estée Lauder, L’Oréal, Sephora and Ulta Beauty; Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom; Facebook and YouTube)
VIRTUAL TRY-ONS
- Beauty brands embraced augmented reality (Ulta, L’Oréal, MAC Cosmetics, Lancôme and YSL)
- Amazon offers virtual try-ons for hair care (Amazon Salon) and apparel (Made For You)
- Gucci lets users virtually try on rings; David’s Bridal offers AR-driven wedding dresses
CONTACTLESS PAY
- Starbucks and Amazon Go just opened a cashierless store
- Amazon is adding its Just Walk Out tech to Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh stores
- UK grocer Sainbury’s is testing Just Walk Out tech in one of its stores
ROBOTIC FULFILLMENT
- Amazon automated its fulfillment centers, including mobile robots
- Kroger is using AI and robots in its warehouses
- Instacart is building automated fulfillment centers and will use robots
- Walmart is investing in robotic fulfillment
E-GROCERY MATURES
- Most of these tech trends support online grocery
- Rapid-grocery delivery is exploding (Instacart, Gorillas, JOKR and more)
- Watch this thrilling space in 2022
What would you add?
Related:
Ravenous for E-Grocery
Ultra-Fast Food
Virtual Try-Ons: Try Before You Buy
