Joachim Pinhammer

DIY chain Hagebau guides customers at its Neumünster location via smartphone app to the desired product. Technology from start-up company Locandis enables in-store navigation by intelligently linking different sensor systems.

Dutch grocery retailer Jumbo is developing a new distribution centre for fresh foods at its Nieuwegein site with automation technology from Witron. The facility is scheduled to start operations in early 2024.

Drugstore chain Müller has implemented automated replenishment at its four central logistic hubs. It thus expands deployment of the Relex Living Retail Platform, which the company is already using for forecasting and replenishment of its stores.

Instacart wants to make home delivery picking more efficient at its retail partners such as Walmart. The company will promote that retail companies build micro fulfilment centres with automation provider Fabric at their stores and warehouses.

UK multichannel retailer Next is expanding logistics capabilities for its fast-growing online business. The company is automating its new fulfilment centre with technology from Austrian specialist Knapp.

Online shopping club Brands4friends has automated pricing for its entire product range with AIR Dynamic Pricing from Prudsys. The AI-based solution from the GK Software Group company has improved the retailer's margin by three percentage points.

After last Friday's cyber-attack, Coop Sweden had to close almost all its stores. With the help of its Scan&Pay app and by updating POS systems, outlets can reopen step by step.

The grocery retail industry sees an massive increase in number of companies offering self-scanning with mobile devices. According to a study by Retail Banking Research (RBR), retailers already offer their customers in 32,000 sales outlets worldwide to scan items as they shop. In 80 percent of those stores, shoppers can scan with their own smartphones.

Since January 2020, retailers and restaurants in Germany have been legally obliged to issue receipts, a major annoyance for the industry. Digital receipts are a way to avoid the additional burden on the environment.

Edeka Nordbayern offers its members a customised self-checkout solution. The compact systems come from Pyramid and work with software from GK.