software/technology

Minneapolis — Target Corporation plans to roll out a new generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tool to team members at all of its nearly 2,000 stores by August, becoming the first major retailer to share that it is bringing this technology to its store team members across the U.S. The tool, called Store Companion, is a GenAI-powered chatbot designed by Target that can answer on-the-job process questions, coach new team members, support store operations management and more. “We know technology will continue to play an outsized role in the future of …

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— By Jay Fiske — IoT & S3: How connected equipment improves restaurant safety, service and sustainability. Every restaurant facility manager is acutely aware of how critical their back-of-house equipment (cooking, refrigeration, HVAC, etc.) is as the lifeline of their operations. When these machines go down, or an issue arises, the result is often costly health or safety concerns that can force facility closures, negatively impact customer satisfaction, and harm brand perception. In addition, back-of-house equipment also drives the bulk of the very heavy energy use in restaurants — driving …

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— By Les Tomlin — How automated vending machines are churning out QSR solutions. Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) are embracing artificial intelligence platforms to boost productivity, increase security and make operations more user-friendly. On paper, things should be getting easier for restaurant owners; however, in the face of rampant labor shortages, skyrocketing minimum wage laws and exorbitant real estate costs, restaurant owners and managers have an uphill battle to face in getting a new business off the ground. Since the nineteenth century, vending machines have provided an autonomous alternative to full-service …

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Lincolnshire, Ill. — Zebra Technologies Corporation, a leading digital solution provider enabling businesses to intelligently connect data, assets and people, has been chosen by the Walgreens Boots Alliance to optimize its operations with Zebra Workcloud Actionable Intelligence software, in order to save millions of dollars by enhancing operational compliance and the company’s ability to identify and combat shrink. Walgreens, a Chicago-based international pharmacy retailer, selected Zebra’s Modern Store framework to improve asset protection, better equip employees with technology, and optimize operational visibility in its network of 8,000 locations across 50 …

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Campbell, Calif. — ChargePoint, a leading provider of networked charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), and global innovator LG Electronics (LG) have formed a strategic partnership to leverage their respective strengths for future innovations in EV charging. LG’s U.S.-made EV chargers are UL-certified for charging stability and ENERGY STAR® certified for efficiency. These chargers will be paired with ChargePoint’s cloud software. The first output of this relationship will be commercial charging solutions that encompass ChargePoint’s charger management software and LG’s EV charging hardware, with deliveries expected to begin later this …

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San Carlos, Calif. — Presto Automation Inc., one of the largest AI and automation technology providers to the restaurant industry, has been collaborating with Taco John’s® and Qu to implement a Presto Voice™ drive-thru pilot at select Taco John’s restaurants. Presto Voice enhances the drive-thru staff’s productivity by reducing the time they devote to taking orders, allowing them to focus on more critical tasks and reducing associated labor costs. It also provides customizable upsells to increase revenue and improve the guest experience with immediate, friendly service around the clock. Qu’s …

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— By Scott Thomas — Setting up your Security Operations Center (SOC): a checklist for retailers. Today, due to a combination of a changing threat environment and technology advances, more retailers are building SOCs to support store safety and investigations, and help make operational staff more efficient. Ryan Themm, corporate investigations manager at supercenter Meijer, has noted that the remote operations center (ROC) they launched to provide a complete view across all of their stores and sites has been instrumental in helping them significantly reduce budget spent on fraud mitigation. …

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— By Patrick Chown — The future of retail and restaurant facilities should embrace IoT and connectivity for smarter operations. The retail and restaurant industries are undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer expectations. In this dynamic landscape, the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced network connectivity are emerging as pivotal elements. These technologies are not just reshaping how businesses operate but are also redefining the customer experience. By integrating IoT solutions, retailers and restaurateurs are unlocking new potentials in operational efficiency, customer engagement and data-driven …

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Bentonville, Ark. — Sam’s Club® has made significant progress in its rollout of technology that resolves a key member concern: waiting in line for receipt verification to exit the club. The retailer’s first-of-its-kind application of artificial intelligence and computer vision technology has been deployed in more than 120 clubs since first unveiling it at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2024. Sam’s Club plans to deploy the exit technology to all of its clubs by the end of 2024. Sam’s Club’s rapid deployment of its exit technology represents the …

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Berkeley, Calif. — In partnership with ALDI, Grabango has launched ALDIgo checkout-free shopping at a Chicago-area grocery store. ALDI is the first major U.S. grocery retailer to deploy checkout-free technology in an existing, full-size store. The technology, which ALDI deployed at one suburban location, allows shoppers to skip the line and save time. “The launch of ALDIgo is a pivotal moment for the grocery industry,” says Will Glaser, CEO of Grabango. “Although more challenging, it was important to us to launch this technology in a typical store and not one …

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