Intel discloses the future of retail store

Have you ever imagined walking into a D-Mart store in the middle of the night, selecting an item, paying and leaving without any human interaction?

Still, there’s a detailed data footprint of the transaction from which actionable insights can be drawn. The store is equipped with a responsive technology suite that includes smart shelves, intelligent cameras, gateways and sensors, smart counters for frictionless checkout, and smart digital signage.

Across the globe, retailers are modernising by embracing technologies such as IoT, AI and analytics to personalise the customer experience and reshape the supply chain. One example is JD, one of the online retailers in China. It has opened its first staff-free store called D-Mart at its company headquarters. Staff-free stores are a growing international trend bringing the conveniences of online retailing into the physical shop.

JD’s staff-free store leverages a suite of Intel responsive technologies that range from edge computing to digital signage to point of sale (POS) solutions. The two companies will continue to collaborate on developing IoT solutions that reimagine the future of brick-and-mortar stores to help over 6.8 million mom-and-pop retailers throughout China meet customers’ expectations and remove existing sales barriers.

Intel-powered solutions help retailers transform their supply chains. G-Star has plans to scale globally to an additional 100 stores. Used in tandem with RIOT insight software for analytics, the Intel-based solution provides data-driven insights into what’s selling and what’s not and which items need to be replenished so the retailer can make informed inventory management decisions.

Lolli & Pops, a retailer of gourmet candies, uses computer vision and AI to provide the next generation of personalised customer experience. Through computer vision, Lolli & Pops “Magic Makers” recognise loyalty members in real time as they enter the store. Using AI-enhanced analytics, the retailer accesses members’ preferences and makes personalised product recommendations — giving shoppers the sweet VIP treatment, while ensuring they keep coming back.

Point of sale equipment can lower the cost of doing business while simultaneously improving productivity. These innovative solutions will also enable transactions at the point of conversion and give customers the power to decide when, where and how they purchase.

At NRF 2018, over 30 Intel partners will feature Intel-based solutions designed to help solve retail’s biggest challenges.