Joachim Pinhammer

Deichmann is digitalising procurement on Ivalua's Unified Spend Management platform. The family business, based in the German city of Essen, wishes to optimise and automate processes and improve collaboration with suppliers.

Metro has implemented the CMS from Austrian start-up Storyblok for its online presence. The system makes it easy to edit websites even without programming knowledge and generates personalised content using AI. The wholesale company reports a 12 per cent increased click through rate.

Toom Baumarkt has opted for price optimisation software from Revionics. With the AI-based solution, DIY banner operation of Rewe Group wants to improve price perception and thus promote customer loyalty and growth.

The Estonian Coop has added a payment function to its customer app. The app, developed by local software provider Datanor, utilises Scanbot SDK’s scan engine. It allows customers to scan their purchases with their smartphone and pay directly via app at more than 100 Coop outlets.

MC Sonae has opened a large scanless supermarket in Leiria, Portugal. The 1,200-square-metre Continente Bom Dia store uses more than 1,600 cameras and 2,000 scales and AI from Sensei to track purchases, as well as refrigeration technology from Jordao.

Lekkerland has opened its first railway station store in Koblenz. The unmanned smart store works with technology from Reckon.ai. The Rewe subsidiary sees great potential for cashierless stores at railway stations and airports.

Thalia is optimising its supply chain processes with Relex software. Its AI-based solutions for forecasting and replenishment are designed to improve availability of goods in stores and distribution centres. Capgemini is implementation partner for the project.

In the highly competitive POS software market, GK was able to significantly expand its market position and achieved second place behind market leader NCR Voyix. RBR Data Services’ study Global POS Software 2024 expects a growing demand for new solutions. However, more and more retail companies rely on proprietary solutions.

Baltic Petroleum has centralised and automated its assortment planning and replenishment on the Leafio AI Retail platform. The Lithuanian petrol station and convenience store operator was thus able to reduce overstocks, as well as out-of-stocks and increase sales.

Itab has announced to acquire its French competitor HMY for 320 million Euros. The two companies, which are roughly the same size and have different regional focuses, want to strengthen their market position internationally. The Retail Optimiser spoke to Klaus Schmid, SVP at Itab Group, about expectations for the move.