Retail Tech Weekly: From AI Assistants to Automated Logistics

In the United States, Kwik Fill is overhauling its loyalty program by partnering with PAR Retail to leverage AI-driven customer insights, while Tapestry has integrated its Coach and Kate Spade brands into Google’s AI shopping ecosystem. This move allows shoppers to purchase items directly through Gemini or AI Mode, bypassing traditional website redirects. Similarly, The Entertainer has tapped THG Commerce to overhaul its digital presence by 2027, focusing on AI-enabled search and conversational discovery to personalize the toy shopping journey.

Automation remains a critical pillar for operational efficiency. Søstrene Grene has invested 380 million DKK in robotic logistics to streamline its distribution centers, and Guess is utilizing GXO Logistics' new Exotec Skypod system at its Venlo facility to boost throughput. In the restaurant sector, Flipdish is scaling its AI Phone Agent, which has already processed over 10,000 orders to mitigate the impact of missed calls during peak service hours. Meanwhile, Tesco continues its push toward sustainability, marking the arrival of its 2,000th electric delivery van in West Yorkshire as part of its goal to reach net-zero operations by 2035.