In-Store Technology

As retailers look to the future, they will need to re-examine how they can still provide an optimal in-store experience for customers while also taking pandemic-related factors into consideration. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI)- and machine learning (ML)-based technologies will play an increasingly larger role in facilitating this. For retailers across sectors, there’s a heightened…

We’ll address how, through proper communication and training, Sephora was able to set its employees up for success while reopening.

"Shelter in place" and "safer-at-home" orders are starting to lift in states across the country. Retailers are getting the green light to reopen their shops, but the reality they're returning to is entirely different than the one that they left. The impact of COVID-19 on the retail industry has been profound and is constantly evolving.…

Although the surge in contact-free pickup and delivery offerings has been tied to the current pandemic, it’s likely their popularity within the retail industry will remain well after the crisis passes. As such, retailers will need to figure out how to maintain these services while still keeping a tight rein on labor, operational and systems…

COVID-19 has brought lockdowns, job losses and bankruptcies. However, it has also led to tech innovations, widespread tech adoption, and changing consumer mind-sets. And the retail industry, already facing an e-commerce revolution, has had to change faster than anything else. As lockdowns ease and nonessential physical stores slowly re-emerge from dormancy, it’s a good time…

The Kroger Co. announced the launch of a contactless payments pilot across the QFC division, located in Seattle, allowing customers to use their mobile device for a more seamless checkout experience. The pilot includes the acceptance of Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, mobile banking apps and contactless chip cards, underpinned by near-field communication (NFC)…

In today’s high-tech, high-touch world, shopping in a brick-and-mortar store is as old school as it gets, right? Think again. From the nearly ubiquitous self-serve checkout stations at grocery stores to new cashier-less store technology, in-store automation technology is transforming nearly every aspect of the traditional retail experience. Retail automation isn’t a new concept, but…

The retail spaces that shoppers will return to following the COVID-19 pandemic won't be the same ones they shopped in previously. Associates and consumers will have to develop and adjust to new shopping behaviors that minimize physical touch and closeness. This period will be marked by innovation and experimentation, as retailers attempt to drive increased…

Amazon.com is launching shopping carts that track items as shoppers add them, reports CNBC. The Amazon Dash Carts automatically charge customers when they remove their grocery bags, allowing them to skip the checkout line. These smart shopping carts will roll out at Amazon’s new Los Angeles-area grocery store, which is slated to open this year, the company…

Fast. Easy. Secure. Those are the words consumers use to describe their ideal checkout experience. But in reality, how often do those expectations ring true? Truthfully, not as often as retailers may think. Despite merchants’ best efforts to provide a smooth and seamless checkout, customers have reported that the in-store experience still isn’t always up…