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Lowe’s Deploys First At-Scale AI Assistant for Retail Associates

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Lowe’s has launched Mylow Companion, an AI tool aimed at improving customer service and speeding associate onboarding. Purpose-built for associate sales floor devices, the app provides fast access to product details, project advice and inventory information. The launch to all associates across Lowe’s more than 1,700 stores marks the first time a retailer has successfully implemented this kind of technology at scale. Associate expertise is uniquely valuable for home improvement retailers, as customers ask daily about a variety of complex projects and thousands of different products. Mylow …

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NewsProduct Spotlightrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendors

Toast Launches AI-Powered Intelligence for Restaurants

by Katie Lee

Boston — Toast has introduced ToastIQ, an intelligence engine delivering timely prompts, personalized recommendations and automated workflows designed to transform daily restaurant operations. Built natively into Toast’s end-to-end platform, ToastIQ draws on insights from millions of transactions and interactions across 130,000+ locations and fuses Toast’s deep hospitality expertise and integrated platform with AI, historical patterns and proprietary insights. As it evolves, ToastIQ will enable every role — from server to general manager to chef — to operate faster, smarter and more efficiently. Key features include: For servers: • Menu Upsells: …

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construction and designNewsretailerssoftware/technologyvendors

Walmart, Alquist 3D Complete Second 3D-Concrete Build in Alabama

by Katie Lee

Huntsville, Ala. — Walmart Inc. and Alquist 3D LLC, in partnership with FMGI, Inc., have completed the team’s second groundbreaking 3D concrete printing (3DCP) build that sets a new industry record for speed of commercial construction. The walls of the 5,000-square-foot expansion at Walmart Supercenter #5197 outside Huntsville, Ala., were “printed” in just 75 hours, significantly faster than traditional CMU (cement masonry unit) building methods. “In a commercial construction world that pays so much attention to project timelines and costs, our work with Walmart shows that 3D printing isn’t just …

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HVAC/RIndustry VoicesProduct Spotlightretailerssoftware/technologysupply chainvendors

Storage of the Future

by Katie Lee

— By Dana Krug — The future of retail: technology-forward, customer-centric and efficient. For years, consumer behavior has been the driving force behind the rapid growth of omnichannel retail. Today, this trend has become more pronounced than ever, with 73% of shoppers regularly engaging with multiple channels throughout their buying journey. The pandemic further accelerated this shift, making curbside pickup and other omnichannel conveniences a standard expectation rather than a luxury. Now, the future of retail is being shaped by the evolving preferences of Gen Z and millennial shoppers, who …

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Industry Voicesretailerssoftware/technologyvendors

Human Connection

by Katie Lee

— By Jaime Bettencourt — The human side of ‘smart stores’ in 2025. Technology is powering personalized store experiences that outperform e-commerce convenience. Capital One research reports that brick-and-mortar stores capture 80% of impulse purchases, a clear signal that physical retail remains unmatched for discovery and engagement. 2025’s winning retailers won’t just add screens and apps. Instead, they’ll enhance what algorithms can’t replicate: personalized discovery, human connection and sensory engagement. By focusing on these uniquely human elements, tomorrow’s retail innovations will make shopping more intuitive and digital. Making “Chance” Encounters …

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green newskitchen exhaust/grease controlNewsrestaurantssoftware/technologyvendorswaste management/recycling

Restaurant Technologies Surpasses Sustainability Goals

by Katie Lee

Minneapolis — Restaurant Technologies recycled over 363 million pounds of used cooking oil in 2024, exceeding its own record of 314 million pounds set in 2023 by over 15%.  Restaurant Technologies partners with renewable energy partners, such as Chevron Renewable Energy Group and Phillips 66, to convert used cooking oil (UCO) into renewable diesel or biodiesel for vehicles to use on the road. At Sheetz, a regional convenience store located in seven states, Restaurant Technologies and Sheetz have created a closed loop economy where fresh oil is delivered, used, then …

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fire protectionIndustry Voiceskitchen exhaust/grease controlrestaurantsroofingvendorswaste management/recycling

Mission Critical

by Katie Lee

— By Brian Smith — The critical role of rooftop grease containment system in protecting life, property and business viability. In the retail and restaurant industries, facility management extends far beyond interior upkeep. One of the most overlooked yet essential components of operational safety and compliance is rooftop grease containment. From the perspectives of life safety, property protection, environmental responsibility and overall business health, implementing the right grease containment system is not just a best practice — it’s a necessity. Why Rooftop Grease Containment Matters Grease discharge from commercial kitchen …

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facilities managementNewsProduct Spotlightsoftware/technologyvendors

ServiceChannel Launches New Partner Ecosystem for the FM Industry

by Katie Lee

Greenville, S.C. — ServiceChannel, a leading platform for the procurement and delivery of facilities services, has introduced a new online ecosystem that offers multi-site customers and service providers access to a network of facilities management tools, services and solution providers. The ServiceChannel Partner Ecosystem contains a vetted directory of the company’s strategic partners and their offerings. Current members of the ecosystem include partners in key areas such as remote monitoring (IoT), field service management, asset collection, facilities management consulting, payment solutions and technology implementation. “We’re deeply committed to investing in …

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construction and designIndustry Voicesjan/sanProduct Spotlightremodelsrestroom cleaningsoftware/technologyvendors

Rest & Recharge

by Katie Lee

— By Cassie Keeler — Case study: How The Battery Atlanta™ renovated its restrooms to be more durable and well-functioning. The Battery Atlanta™ is a bustling and unprecedented entertainment experience situated alongside Truist Park — a haven for baseball fans. Spanning 2.25 million square feet, The Battery Atlanta combines numerous restaurants, stores, parks and entertainment venues and is open to the public 365 days a year, not just on game days. The Challenge The design team was tasked with transforming a parking manager’s office and two unisex restrooms into a …

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Industry Contentsecurity/loss preventionsoftware/technologyVendor Spotlightvendors

Salto North America: Signature Vendor Spotlight

by Katie Lee

— Interview with John Wright — R&R: Where are you based, and how long has Salto been operating? John Wright: Salto, along with Gantner and Vintia, comprise SALTO WECOSYSTEM. Salto develops world-class hardware and networked, cloud and mobile access control platforms. With global headquarters in Spain, and North America headquarters in the Atlanta area, Salto is used daily by 40 million users in over 40,000 installations via 8.1 million access points. Salto has been providing access control solutions since 2001. R&R: What is your name and title? How long have …

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