RTIH presents this week’s coolest tech plays – Retail Technology Innovation Hub

Walmart

Walmart plans to expand its DroneUp delivery network to 34 locations by the end of the year, which has the potential to reach four million US homes in six states – Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

The move offers the opportunity to deliver over a million packages by drone in one year.

Between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., customers can order tens of thousands of eligible items by air freight in just 30 minutes. The total delivery weight is up to 10 pounds and the fee is $3.99.

Walmart also plans to scale its drone infrastructure and offer aerial drone solutions to local businesses and communities in areas like insurance, emergency response and real estate.

net

Netto is testing a shopping cart from Imagr that scans items and processes payment, allowing shoppers to skip checkout lines.

This is currently live on Kirkegårdsvej in Copenhagen and will soon also be found on Kongelundsvej in Copenhagen, Runevej in Aarhus, Bybuen in Skovlunde and Virum.

The shopper’s smartphone is connected to the shopping cart via the Netto+ app. When the shopping cart is filled with goods, they are automatically registered and the user receives a digital receipt.

The process is expected to run until July.

galp

Sensei offers an autonomous retail experience for gas station customers after a collaboration with Galp in the Iberian Peninsula.

Sensei has created a 323-square-foot convenience store with no checkout at a Galp location in Lisbon.

It offers customers a range of non-perishable goods, groceries, snacks and beverages, and includes a network of ceiling-mounted cameras and sensors on shelves to detect the items being removed or left behind by people.

The autonomous software creates and tracks each person’s virtual shopping bag and automatically charges them via an app, credit card payments will soon follow as they leave the store.

The store is open to customers from 8am to midnight every day and will be accessible 24 hours a day for the next month.

Zapp

On Demand Delivery Big hitter Zapp has announced a new Period Store selling organic tampons and pads, menstrual cups and pads along with treats like a hot water bottle, magnesium products and chocolate to boost oxytocin and ease menstrual cramps.

This will be introduced on Saturday for National Period Hygiene Day in London.

For every hot water bottle sold, Zapp will donate £2 to Period Poverty UK, a charity aiming to end period poverty in the UK’s most disadvantaged communities by 2025.