Joachim Pinhammer

Rewe Group in Austria is testing Bizerba's Smart Shelf technology in the bakeries of three Merkur stores, which will soon be renamed to Billa Plus. With the help of intelligent weighing technology, the retailer aims to reduce food waste and to ensure product availability for customers.

Walmart is equipping dozens of its stores with so-called local fulfilment centres (LFC). With semi-automation, the US retail giant aims to process customer orders faster and more efficiently. At different locations, Walmart is working with diverse technology providers, such as Alert Innovation, Dematic and Fabric.

Edeka group has added essential functions to its app and thus created a uniform solution for its regional entities. Customers can now use the app to collect points, pay and register their purchases via Scan & Go function in selected stores.

Kroger is testing smart shopping carts from New York start-up Caper. Retailers around the world are increasingly testing computerised shopping carts, from a wide variety of providers.

Lenta has implemented Blue Yonder software to automatically create store-specific planograms. Accenture supports the implementation of the solution.

Magnit implements Relex software for automated replenishment in all of its stores and distribution centres. The artificial intelligence (AI)-based solution is set to optimise ordering and delivery processes.

Maxima in Lithuania has launched mobile checkout service Scan&Go. At its store in the Akropole Shopping Centre in Riga, customers can scan and pay for goods using their smartphones. Maxima is the first retailer in the Baltic States to offer this service.

Drugstore operator Müller has decided to deploy Relex software for forecasting and replenishment across its store network. The goal is to reduce inventory levels while warranting high product availability.

In partnership with delivery service Inabuggy, McEwan Fine Foods in Toronto, Canada offers customers a virtual shopping experience in 3D.

A Pyaterochka store in Moscow offers customers fully automated shopping according to Amazon Go principle. The Russian X5 Retail Group has implemented largely inhouse-developed technology based on neural networks. The Electronic Shelf Labels come from SES Imagotag.