Retail Tech Weekly: Profound Hits $1.8bn Valuation as AI Shifts Focus

While Profound captures headlines, the sector is seeing a wave of strategic infrastructure upgrades. Ocado Retail recently crossed a significant operational threshold, processing 600,000 grocery orders in a single week. This performance highlights the ongoing scaling of online delivery, even as competitors like Tesco maintain a lead with volumes exceeding 1.2 million weekly orders.

Digital transformation remains the priority for established high-street brands. The Entertainer has tapped THG Commerce to overhaul its online experience by 2027, integrating AI-driven search to bridge the gap between digital discovery and physical stores. Similarly, Waitrose is deepening its commitment to real-time operations, extending its partnership with Trust Retail through 2031 to accelerate the deployment of advanced inventory management across its entire estate. These moves reflect a collective push to remove manual friction from the retail value chain.