Retail Technology Developments
The retail technology landscape continues to evolve with several significant developments across various sectors. Here’s a roundup of key stories and statistics from the past week:
OnBuy Reports Significant Sales Growth
UK-based online marketplace OnBuy has seen over £33 million in UK sales between January 20 and April 28, representing a 50% year-on-year revenue growth during typically quiet months. This surge follows a record-breaking year in 2024 with over £150 million in sales. The growth is attributed to shifting consumer sentiment away from US-based marketplaces like Amazon, potentially influenced by recent political developments.
Walmart Launches Gamified Shopping Experience
Walmart cycled back to its gamified mini-series, Walmart Unlimited, with a second chapter. This immersive commerce experience, developed in collaboration with Unity, Spatial, and animation studios, aims to engage the next generation of consumers through VR, 3D visualizations, and gamification.
Breakthrough in Recycling Technology
Polytag and Citeo have achieved 100% detection of UV-tagged single-use plastic bottles at a busy materials recycling facility in France. This innovation enables brands and retailers to track packaging through the recycling process, potentially improving recycling rates and sustainability.
Solda.AI Raises $4 Million for AI-Powered Sales Agents
Solda.AI has secured $4 million in seed funding to develop its multimodal AI voice agents capable of autonomously closing deals. The technology aims to revolutionize the phone sales process across various industries, including retail and finance.
Mashgin’s AI-Powered Checkouts Reach 1 Billion Transactions
Mashgin’s AI-powered checkout technology has processed over one billion transactions since its inception. The company has seen significant growth, with monthly transactions increasing by 1,233% between March 2022 and March 2025.
Merkle Reveals UK Consumers’ Engagement with Connected Technologies
New research from Merkle indicates that 84% of UK consumers have engaged with connected technologies like QR codes, visual search, and augmented reality in the past month. The data suggests that these technologies are becoming increasingly important for bridging the gap between digital and physical brand touchpoints.
IXI Raises $36.5 Million for Autofocus Glasses
Finnish startup IXI has secured $36.5 million in Series A funding to develop its autofocus glasses, reimagined as tech-enhanced lifestyle accessories. The investment will support product development and commercial operations.
Morrisons Trials Simbe’s In-Store Shelf Scanning Robot
Morrisons is testing Simbe’s Tally robot to improve price accuracy, stock availability, and the overall shopping experience. This marks the first deployment of Tally in the UK.
Cleveron Installs 100th Parcel Solution for ICA Gruppen
Cleveron has installed its 100th parcel solution for Swedish retailer ICA Gruppen, enhancing customer convenience through faster and more sustainable parcel pickup.
Zippin Launches 15 Autonomous Stores in 10 Weeks
Autonomous stores specialist Zippin has launched 15 new locations over a 10-week period, showcasing the rapid deployment and performance of its technology.
Ridelogix Expands Partnership with Holland & Barrett
Ridelogix has expanded its partnership with health retailer Holland & Barrett to 100 stores, improving inventory management and reducing emissions through the use of zero-emissions e-cargo bikes.
Fluent Commerce Releases Retail Resilience Study
Fluent Commerce’s survey of retail professionals found that the cost-of-living crisis is the biggest challenge facing 56% of retailers. The study highlights the need for innovation and agility in the current retail environment.
UK Online Spending Reaches £8.8 Billion in March
Adobe’s data shows that UK online spending hit £8.8 billion in March, a 3.5% increase from the previous year. The growth is attributed to warmer weather and lower prices for essential items.
These developments highlight the ongoing innovation and challenges in the retail technology sector, from e-commerce and sustainability to AI-powered solutions and changing consumer behaviors.
