Microsoft

Alex Schwald will take on the position of Senior Director of IT at Takko Fashion, The Retail Optimiser learnt. He is moving from MediaMarktSaturn to the radically verticalised fashion retailer. His exact start date is not yet clear but will be in February or March 2026.

DIY retailer Obi has introduced electronic shelf price labels from VusionGroup in selected product ranges in around 200 of its German stores. The introduction is part of an extensive digitalisation project of the DIY retailer, which also includes the introduction of McKinsey's Periscope price optimisation solution.

Hagebau Connect, the e-commerce unit of Hagebau Group, relies on the AI-based Add-One software solution from Inform for the replenishment of its online product range. With the introduction of this web-based solution, the retail company has automated central procurement processes.

The Hanshow Smart Cart Solution is transforming retail by enhancing the shopping experience, boosting operational efficiency, and strengthening customer loyalty. Awarded honours a LSA Tech for Business in 2024, the Smart Cart Solution marks a significant leap in retail technology, seamlessly merging efficiency, sustainability, and innovation to enhance the shopping experience.

Canada's largest alcoholic beverage retailer, Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), has selected GK Software's Cloud4Retail solution as part of its multi-year Future State Modernisation (FSM) transformation programme.

‘Aus Aldi Süd's IT wird Aldi DX, sonst ändert sich nix’, German speakers might say, referring to the old advertising slogan of the brand manufacturer Mars. And indeed, the new brand Aldi DX for Aldi Süd's IT, together with the slogan “Driving digital value”, primarily seeks to make the discounter giant more attractive to job applicants. But that's not all:…

Boots is trialling the use of ChatGPT for its online business. Generative AI will provide Boots.com customers with recommendations when choosing beauty products. The measure is part of a larger initiative that also includes implementation of the Boost platform from Ocula Technologies.

dm Drogeriemarkt provides its own ChatGPT variant called dmGPT for employees at the company headquarters. The Retail Optimiser spoke with Andreas Gessner from dm Tech about the AI chatbot, which runs on dm's infrastructure to ensure data sovereignty. The solution is to be expanded step by step for all company divisions.

For the 16th time, EHI Retail Institute this week announced the winners of the Retail Technology Awards Reta. The eight-member international jury of the award includes Retail Optimiser editors Björn Weber and Joachim Pinhammer as well as the publisher of the British trade magazine Retail Technology, Miya Knights.

Retailer Jumbo announces that it will use electronic price labels (ESLs) from Hanshow in all its about 700 stores in the future. The second largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, which also operates stores in Belgium, will then have a total volume of over 11 million labels. Currently, the retail company is already using ESLs in 250 stores.