Joachim Pinhammer

Aeon Stores Hong Kong is installing cash recycling systems from Glory. At its Aeon Style supermarket in the Whampoa shopping centre, the company has both automated cash payments at self-checkout as well as the cash office. More stores are planned to follow.

Aldi Süd is continuing its rollout of self-checkouts at great speed. Each week, about 50 newly opened or renovated stores in Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Australia and the USA deploy an average of three of the systems each. The technology comes from Diebold Nixdorf.

Officeworks optimises planning processes along the supply chain with software from Relex. With the move, the Australian office supplies retailer aims to achieve better availability of inventory and reduce operating costs.

Netto is testing an AI-based system from Checklens to reduce shrinkage at self-checkouts. Edeka Group’s discount subsidiary has equipped two stores in Regensburg with technology from the Austrian specialist.

Schnucks has equipped 22 of its grocery stores in the US with smart salad bars from Swedish specialist supplier Picadeli. Digital technologies and AI automate replenishment, optimise inventory and enable produce traceability.

Swedish grocery retail group Axfood has developed a new assortment planning software together with SAP. The application features above all an improved modern user interface. SAP is marketing the new solution as a standard product.

Rewe is expanding the reach of its delivery service to 1.6 million households in the Ruhr region with a new Food Fulfilment Centre (FFC) in the city of Bochum. The distribution centre, which relies largely on manual processing, supports employees with pick-to-light technology during order picking.

Codè Crai Ovest has started to deploy an app called `Last minute sotto casa' by start-up LMSC to minimise food waste. The Italian cooperative uses it to inform shoppers on items to be bought at lower prices shortly before they reach their expiry date.

Colruyt is testing the use of cameras and AI to identify goods at a supermarket in Halle, Belgium. The solution, developed by its in-house technology team, is designed to reduce workload of checkout staff and speed up the process by a fifth.

Currys is piloting the use of robots in customer service. In four of the British retailer's electronics stores, KettyBots from Pudu Robotics help visitors find the goods they want.