Joachim Pinhammer

Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd are using WhatsApp for digital customer communication. Both discounters send out their leaflets every Sunday via the short message service. Unlike Rewe, they do not yet plan to completely abandon printed flyers.

Colruyt is testing the use of autonomous vehicles for its online business. In a two-month trial, a compact driverless van from Estonian manufacturer Clevon transports customer orders to a Click&Collect pick-up station at the Londerzeel store in Belgium.

Colruyt makes it easier for employees to restock shelves with its new Product Finder app. This communicates with ESLs, which signal the correct shelf position by means of a built-in LED display.

Albert Heijn is constructing an automated logistics hub for grocery home deliveries in Barendrecht near Rotterdam. The new site will use technology from Swisslog and is scheduled to start operations in autumn 2023.

Sainsbury's wants to handle all payment processes on the platform of services provider Checkout.com in future. In a first step, the cloud-based solution will enable payments via the retailer's SmartShop app.

Albert Heijn uses AI-based software for dynamic pricing in its shops equipped with ESLs. The self-developed solution is designed to help fully selling off fresh produce that is approaching its best-before date over the course of the day.

At Rewe Dugonjic in Unterschleissheim, Amazon’s voice system Alexa greets customers and explains the way to the desired goods. The solution has been provided by specialist for instore advertising Online Software with its software Prestige Enterprise.

After slumping in the previous year, the global market für POS hardware grew by 18 per cent in 2021, reports market research firm RBR. In the highly fragmented market, HP remains the strongest supplier. Challengers, especially from China and Taiwan are also gaining ground in Europe.

Kwik Trip will optimise space and shelf planning as well as replenishment of its convenience stores in the USA with a consistent platform. The solution comes from the Finnish specialist Relex.

Walmart is rolling out an AI-based out-of-stocks prevention system from Focal Systems in Canada. The US-based start-up's solution analyses camera images to alert employees to existing or imminent out-of-stock situations.