3. Intel first onboard as Future Stores blends retail and digital innovation on London’s Oxford Street

A new retail store opens its doors on Oxford Street this week, ahead of its official launch on 30th October, with those behind it promising a new era that blends the latest technology powered by Intel, bricks and mortar as well as state of the art graphics.

Future Stores is laying claim to a £20 million investment in a personalised experience that, according to a press release, is “as fluid as a social media feed, featuring a rotating lineup of brand ‘showcases’ or ‘activations’ that will change every two to six weeks”.

Intel is the first brand to take on the space, and will host an interactive, immersive and technology fuelled activation. Consumers can get hands on with the firm’s newly launched AI PCs and play games live in-store from 30th October.

Upon entering the two floor space, that spans an entire Oxford Street block, shoppers are met with 400m² of high definition Micro LED displays, monumental billboards, and cameras. Here, consumers connect with brands through live demos, tutorials, and showcases led by influencers and creators.

This experience is also complemented by insight and data, that shows, dwell time, customer journey as well as traffic both inside and outside the store. Other measurements such as gender and sentiment will be quick to follow in the new year. 

4. Walmart launches nationwide same-day pharmacy delivery service with speedy option coming soon

Walmart is integrating prescription medications and general merchandise into one single order for delivery across the US.   

The new offering is now live in six states: Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Nevada, South Carolina and Wisconsin. By the end of January 2025, Walmart’s Pharmacy Delivery is expected to be available in 49 states, reaching tens of millions of customers. It is available for both new prescriptions along with medication refills.  

“Our extensive footprint across the nation combined with our deep expertise in pharmacy uniquely positions us to make a profound impact in the communities we serve,” says Kevin Host, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy at Walmart U.S.

“We understand that health care is not a one size fits all solution. It’s hyper-local. Each community has unique needs. This new offering allows us to continue serving customers while also giving more time back to our pharmacies for high touch health services.”  

5. Autonomous retail technology firm Sensei raises €15 million and preps European expansion and new store

Sensei, a Portuguese startup focused on the autonomous retail technology space, has secured €15 million in a Series A funding round.

Taking the total raised to €21 million, this will enable the company to expand across Europe, particularly in central and northern regions, while also opening what is pitched as the world’s largest autonomous store next year. 

Involving existing investors like Metro AG and Techstars Ventures, the round was led by BlueCrow Capital, with the participation of Lince Capital, Explorer Investments, and Kamay Ventures (the investment arm of Coca-Cola and Arcor Group).

Vasco Portugal, CEO and Co-founder at Sensei, says: “We are driven by a relentless obsession to deliver the ultimate store experience. Our technology operates invisibly within the store environment, yet it has a massive impact – enhancing the shopping journey for consumers and driving operational efficiency for retailers.”

Using computer vision, AI powered sensors, and real-time algorithms, Sensei creates an environment where customers can shop without waiting in queues or manually scanning items. As they do so, their cart is automatically updated, and at checkout, the system displays a ready-to-pay list of items – allowing customers to pay however they prefer, while their identity and privacy are fully protected.