Home Depot has acquired start-up Simpl Automation. Under the name Adaptiv ASRS, the company – founded in 2023 in Waltham, Massachusetts – developed a modular, AI-powered automated storage and retrieval system that works at case level. This technology is expected to enable the US DIY retailer’s distribution centres to operate faster and more efficiently in future.
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Both Walmart and Carrefour announced this week that they are joining Google's new standard for agentic commerce, the Universal Commerce Protocol (UPC). The technology allows consumers to purchase products directly on Google's Gemini AI platform, for example, without having to switch to the retailer's website. At the NRF conference, which took place in New York City this week, Google Cloud…
Read more >>The market for self-checkout systems is growing by 11 percent worldwide, according to market research company RBR. Biggest growth driver is the Asia-Pacific region. NCR remains the undisputed market leader, but Chinese vendors are catching up.
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