Ocado Group gets smart in South Korea: our most read retail technology articles from last week
Check out the articles on this here website that caught your fancy last week, including Amazon, Vypr, Burger King UK, RTS 2025, Lotte, Profitmind, Primark, Pinterest, Walmart, Sensei, MC Sonae, Heineken, Simbe, Instacart, Carrefour Belgium, and Currys.
Amazon reportedly funding team to design and build humanoid robots for various use cases
Amazon is reportedly building a team of eight individuals, which includes its own employees and members of Covariant, to design and build humanoid robots. The team will increase in size over the coming weeks.
That’s according to Brittain Ladd, a supply chain consultant and former Amazon executive, who, in a LinkedIn post, states his belief that the US online retail giant entering this market will lower the valuation of Figure and other robot manufacturers.
Citing unnamed sources, Ladd flags up use cases for the robots that include loading and unloading trailers, moving pallets, fulfilling orders, and other tasks that occur inside Amazon's warehouses. The company is also creating use cases for leveraging the robots inside of homes, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and other uses. Incorporating Alexa into the robots will be tested.
He adds: “The plan is to use simulation to assess different designs. For example, one version of a planned humanoid robot will leverage wheels, while other designs will be bipedal and able to walk. Simulation will take place by early fall if not sooner. It’s possible that one or more design prototypes “can be ready later in the year,” according to a team member.”
He observes: “I'm glad Amazon is entering the humanoid robot business. Unlike other companies in the market, it should be able to build robots that legitimately can work in warehouses and in manufacturing plants. Its robots for use in homes, hospitals and other businesses, should also be much more practical than the humanoid robots that have been created.”
There is too much nonsense surrounding this space, Ladd argues in his LinkedIn post.
“Videos of robots pouring lemonade and putting away groceries may look cool, but the robots themselves are virtually useless. Everything you see in the videos has been carefully orchestrated to create the perception that it will only be a matter of a few months or only a year before robots begin to appear everywhere. No they won’t. The hype outweighs the reality. Humanoid robots have a long way to go before they’re truly useful.”
“The videos are no different than the video of the Nikola Corporation truck that appears to be running on hydrogen when in fact, the truck wasn’t running at all - the truck was pushed down a hill and is coasting in the video. When it comes to humanoid robots, what you see isn’t reality, it’s a production, it’s a marketing ploy. Remember that.”
Amazon did not respond to our request for comment.
Omnichannel thought leaders: RTIH presents its latest Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List
Here are the people who made a splash in 2024 and are set for a barnstorming 2025.
RTIH has scoured the retail technology world to find the most influential figures for this comprehensive list of people and trends that shape the industry and help drive it forward.
We’re living in unprecedented times.
In a post-Covid world, we’re witnessing a seismic change in shopping habits. Retailers are taking innovative technologies like AR, AI, machine learning, and finding ways to use them to boost business efficiency and make customer experiences more exciting and dynamic.
Which is where the RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List comes in, presented, we should stress, in no particular order.
Such disruption requires new ways of problem solving and thought leaders who can both evangelise and execute on the likes of digital transformation and omnichannel success.
We hope you enjoy reading through it and, as always, if you would like to give feedback or believe that there are some glaring omissions, please feel free to get in touch (a contact us form can be found at the end of this article).
Many thanks to 3D Cloud, which provides 3D product visualisation software trusted by top furniture and DIY retailers, for sponsoring the report.
Buzzwords, cop outs, and new homes: ten key takeaways from an electric Retail Technology Show 2025
Retail Technology Show took place earlier this month at London Excel. And it was really rather good.
Royal Mail takes on InPost and Amazon by installing parcel lockers at Sainsbury’s stores across UK
Royal Mail lockers are being installed outside Sainsbury's supermarkets across the UK. The first six are ready to go, and plans are afoot to grow this number quickly in the coming weeks and months.
In a LinkedIn post, Jack Clarkson, Group Strategy & Transformation Director at Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS), said: “If you live in Clapham, Desborough, Kempshott, Low Hall, Kidderminster or Chislehurst, go check them out. Thank you to the teams at Sainsbury's, and well done to the Royal Mail lockers team who are working tirelessly to drive forward our business. More partnership announcements very soon.”
The Sainsbury’s deal marks the first such agreement between Royal Mail and a UK supermarket.
Prices start from £1.55 online for a small parcel that fits through the letterbox. The lockers feature label printing. Customers need to pay for postage online and print the label by scanning a QR code at the locker or request a QR code if they are returning a purchase.
Patrick Dunne, Chief Property and Procurement Officer, Sainsbury’s, says: “We’re always looking for innovative ways to deliver the best value, quality and service for our customers. That’s why we're delighted to be partnering with Royal Mail to offer this fantastic new proposition at our stores. The lockers will be available seven days a week, giving customers an easy, convenient way to drop off and collect parcels via Royal Mail as they shop.”
Royal Mail launched its parcel locker network in December. It now has 1,500 lockers, compared with around 8,000 operated by InPost and 5,000 operated by Amazon in the UK.
RTS 2025: Theo Paphitis talks Ryman’s blended approach, his love of technology, and Shein 'cop out'
“I love technology. I’m an early adopter,” said the eponymous Owner and Chairman of the Theo Paphitis Retail Group, which owns the Ryman stationer, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue brands, at Retail Technology Show 2025 in London, as he shared his trenchant views on the past UK government and future of the High Street, which is likely to rely on a blended approach where tech supports the in-store offering.
As an aside Paphitis, who is well known for the Dragon’s Den TV programme and for his Small Business Sunday (#SBS) business network that supports over 4,000 SMEs, also advised attendees at RTS 2025 to play with artificial intelligence tools in order to be an early adopter themselves of this important technology. “You ignore AI at your peril,” he warned.
More immediately, Paphitis discussed how his Ryman stationary estate of stores is using technology to drive customers back in-store after a tough time during the Covid-19 pandemic, and indeed since when more and more of its customers now work from home. They no longer regularly travel into UK city centres, where his physical Ryman stores are typically located. “We went from a £10 million profit to minus -£4 million, but returned to profit last year,” he said.
Former Ocado exec and Rohlik Group CFO Vineta Bajaj added to RTIH AI in Retail Awards judging panel
We’re hugely pleased to announce the addition of Vineta Bajaj, CFO at Rohlik Group, to the RTIH AI in Retail Awards judging panel.
This January marked two years since Bajaj joined European e-grocery retailer Rohlik Group. Her appointment followed a ten-year stint at Ocado Group.
During her tenure, she helped to transition the Ocado business from a pureplay retailer to a technology business licensing grocery technology and fulfilment globally. She also raised significant capital, led strategic M&A and supported the company’s international expansion.
Bajaj has major strategic and commercial experience in retail, tech and warehouse automation environments within large public companies. She also features in the RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List.
Burger King UK promises free fast food as it preps new flagship restaurant on The Strand in London
Burger King UK will be opening its new flagship restaurant on London’s Strand on 14th April and will be giving away 1,000 free burgers to celebrate.
This is Burger King UK’s first opening in the capital’s city centre for years, with opening hours of 8am – 11pm every day, The former Topshop on the Strand (which closed three years ago) is being taken over by a five-storey location with room for more than 100 customers..
You will have to be quick if you want to get your hands on the free treats. The deal is first come first served on the 14th. To get in on the action, you will need to order a Whopper or Plant Based Whopper at a kiosk to get the burger free of charge.
Also, the 100th customer who orders at the restaurant on 14th April will win a year’s supply of Burger King. Limited edition Burger King UK tote bags will also be given out to mark the opening, including a leaflet with exclusive offers available on the company's app – but once again you will have to be quick as there are only 250 available.
Arlene Pallares, Operations Manager at Burger King UK, Strand, says: “It’s no secret that the Strand restaurant is one of our biggest and boldest across the whole country, and it’s an amazing feeling to finally open up in such an iconic part of the city. We really believe that this restaurant will become a go to for hungry customers, whether they work nearby or they’re just visiting for the day. Me and the team can’t wait for burger lovers to set foot in here for the first time.”
Manchester based retail technology firm Vypr raises £5 million to support international expansion
Product intelligence platform, Vypr, has secured new funding to accelerate expansion into international markets and adjacent sectors while continuing to develop its consumer insights technology.
The raise includes £4 million from YFM Equity Partners and £1 million from other investors and management. It brings Vypr’s funding to date to £13.4 million with YFM’s total investment standing at £9.5 million.
Vypr, headquartered in Manchester, has developed a platform that helps global brands to rapidly understand changing consumer behaviour through insight, underpinned by behavioural science. This aids them in bringing new products to market or improving their current ranges. Customers include retailers like Aldi, Asda, and M&S, and food and drink brands and manufacturers including Brewdog, Kraft Heinz, and Red Bull.
Others involved in the investment round include Vypr Chairman and former CEO of UK tech plc GBG, Richard Law. Existing Vypr shareholders include veteran Manchester venture capitalist, Richard Young, and founder of UK food producer 2 Sisters Food Group, Ranjit Singh Boparan.
In the past year, Vypr has announced its expansion to provide consumer insight in international markets including Australia, the United States and major European countries. The investment will also fund new AI driven features.
Ocado Smart Platform goes live in South Korea as Lotte Mart Zetta grocery app launches
South Korea’s Lotte has launched a new online grocery app, Lotte Mart Zetta, powered by the Ocado Smart Platform. Users across the country can now tap Ocado’s end-to-end solutions, including webshop functionality, AI powered fulfilment software for stores, and last mile routing technology.
Kang Sung-hyun, CEO at Lotte Mart and Super, says: "Through synergy between Lotte Mart's grocery competitiveness and Ocado's cutting-edge technology, we will establish ourselves as a core brand with an overwhelming advantage in the domestic online food market and be reborn as the number one on- and offline grocery market.”
Ocado Group's first CFC (customer fulfilment centre) will go live in 2026 in Busan, the first of six such facilities planned nationwide.
Retail technology innovation round-up: immersive experiences, GenAI labs, and autonomous supermarkets
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top retail technology innovations from the first quarter of 2025, including Profitmind, Primark, Pinterest, Walmart, Sensei, MC Sonae, Heineken, Simbe, Instacart, Coles Supermarkets, Amazon, Carrefour Belgium, and Currys.
Continue reading…