Lidl is accelerating store automation by deploying new self-checkouts across its UK network. These units feature overhead cameras and large-format screens that display video to shoppers, requiring receipt-based gate verification upon exit. Simultaneously, Morrisons has launched a Click & Collect pilot in Skipton using StrongPoint ALS temperature-controlled lockers, integrated with VoCoVo headsets to allow direct staff assistance for customers retrieving chilled or frozen goods.
Artificial intelligence remains a focal point for the sector. The Very Group has partnered with Made With Intent to utilize behavioural signals for real-time personalisation, while Asda is working with Rokt to inject AI-driven offers into its checkout process. In the logistics space, Zalando and Ceva Logistics have deployed Sereact’s dual-arm robotic systems in Germany and Poland to autonomously handle fashion returns, marking a shift toward human-machine collaboration in fulfillment centers.
Deliveroo is expanding its operational footprint by introducing Coco delivery robots in several UK locations, including Canary Wharf and Milton Keynes. Meanwhile, Currys has entered the social commerce race, launching a curated TikTok Shop trial supported by THG Commerce to drive engagement through live shopping events. As these technologies scale, the industry prepares for the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony on November 4 at The HAC in London, where finalists including John Lewis, H&M, and Waitrose will compete for top honors.
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