Retail Tech: Staud Livestreams on Whatnot for NYFW, Manhattan Associates Launches Returns Optimization
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The weekly Retail Tech Roundup compiles technology news across the supply chain, manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, logistics and fulfillment sectors.
Returns
Manhattan Associates
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Supply chain and omnichannel commerce software provider Manhattan Associates has debuted enhanced Returns Management capabilities to streamline and optimize the returns process, and deliver a frictionless experience for consumers and retailers.
The new returns features aim to increase store traffic and cross-selling opportunities.
Manhattan’s product launch comes after it released the 2023 Unified Commerce Benchmark report, which found that 41 percent of shoppers find the returns process very time consuming. With Manhattan’s new capabilities, consumers can choose to return in-store or online, which also includes printer-less options. Refunds or exchanges will be processed as soon as carriers scan the package, which is three-to-five days faster than most retailers, Manhattan said.
These new capabilities aim to reduce shipping costs and improve the sustainability of a return by optimizing a product’s return path and inventory placement based on assortment and current stock levels.
The additions improve returns processes across the Manhattan Active Omni solution suite, extending from the contact center all the way to the store applications. They are automatically available to all subscribers of Manhattan Active Omni as part of the quarterly upgrade cycle.
Merchandising
Bata/Blue Yonder
To achieve accurate product placement, footwear brand Bata has chosen to digitally upgrade its merchandising and replenishment planning with supply chain solutions provider Blue Yonder. The company will implement Blue Yonder’s SaaS-based Allocation & Replenishment solution to meet diverse customer demand and business goals.
Bata sells more than 150 million pairs of footwear every year and has a retail network of over 5,300 stores. The company’s shoes are found in 70-plus countries across five continents. Bata was struggling with how to best allocate its products whether in its individual stores or commerce channels, incentivizing the team to turn to Blue Yonder. The solution will be implemented by Blue Yonder’s Global Professional Services division.
With Blue Yonder, Bata will be able to improve the distribution of products according to customer need; optimize its processes, streamline operations and deliver products more efficiently; and ensure fulfillment locations, whether via stores or commerce channels, are proactively restocked.
“At Bata, we have always been dedicated to providing quality footwear, and this collaboration with Blue Yonder aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence. Together with Blue Yonder, we will redefine our landscape, setting new standards in innovation, sustainability and customer satisfaction,” said Barbara Franceschetto, global chief product officer, Bata.
With Blue Yonder assisting in these merchandising strategies and inventory plans, Bata said it will be able to more accurately distribute merchandise, better connect with seasonal assortment plans and build a more intelligent distribution plan over time.
Artificial intelligence
Marks & Spencer/SymphonyAI
U.K.-based high street retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) is leveraging the SymphonyAI Retail CPG technology for computer-vision and AI-based SymphonyAI Store Intelligence capabilities across more than 500 stores.
Through SymphonyAI Store Intelligence, M&S will deploy AI-based technology on handheld devices that compares images captured of products in stores to store-specific planograms, providing an instant view of compliance on store shelves. The real-time insights generated by SymphonyAI Store Intelligence can create a connected-store environment, giving store colleagues prioritized tasks to quickly bring shelves into full planogram compliance.
“As we reshape M&S for growth, we’re investing in technology that will create greater efficiencies and a more connected in-store experience for our customers,” said Rob Barnes, chief technology officer, in a statement. “Through our partnership with SymphonyAI Retail CPG, our colleagues will be able to leverage AI-based technology to help them deliver an exceptional service to our customers.”
SymphonyAI Retail CPG’s prescriptive technology and generative AI spans the retail value chain, and is designed to help retailers highlight problems and take swift action to bring the intelligent, connected store of the future to reality.
Transportation management
Flock Freight/E2open
Flock Freight, a freight tech business built to pool freight in a shared truckload at scale, has entered a strategic partnership with supply chain software platform E2open. This collaboration combines the knowledge and capabilities of both organizations to reimagine how freight shippers transform through digital optimization.
The partnership provides E2open Transportation Management (TMS) users with an integration of FlockDirect, a terminal-free shared truckload solution. E2open users can access real-time, dynamic quoting and booking capabilities to ship via FlockDirect and enjoy truckload-level service and terminal-free reliability—all while saving costs with less-than-truckload (LTL) pricing. This newly expanded integration can significantly enrich the capacity choices available to shippers, serving as an extension to their current network relationships.
E2open Transportation Management users can instantly access FlockDirect rates within their TMS platform through a quick integration setup process. The API connection enables real-time communication between the two software platforms to expedite and streamline the process for shippers to book FlockDirect.
Flock Freight’s software can match locations, schedules and compatible shipments, and is designed to find the best options to pool freight at scale among billions of possible combinations. A certified B Corporation, Flock Freight offers solutions for moving fuller trucks on optimized routes that can cut carbon emissions by up to 40 percent compared to traditional shipping methods, according to the company.
On the other hand, E2open connects more than 420,000 manufacturing, logistics, channel and distribution partners as one multi-enterprise network tracking over 14 billion transactions annually. The platform anticipates disruptions and opportunities to help companies improve supply chain efficiency, reduce waste and operate more sustainably.
Shipping
Passport Shipping/Extensiv
Passport Shipping, a provider of international shipping solutions, and Extensiv, a provider of warehouse, order and inventory management software to third-party logistics (3PL) companies, have partnered to offer a suite of global shipping solutions to 3PLs and their customers. The new partnership gives Extensiv customers more options to ship globally than ever before.
With Passport’s shipping solutions, brands and the 3PLs that support them can calculate duties and taxes associated with global parcel shipments. Integrating Passport Shipping’s shipping options into the Extensiv Small Parcel Suite gives 3PLs access to these global shipping options.
Both companies said they are committed to providing exceptional service to the 3PL community. Passport Shipping offers a wide range of global shipping solutions, while Extensiv provides 3PLs with modern cloud-based WMS, OMS, and inventory management software to help them manage operations more efficiently and scale for growth.
Passport Shipping and Extensiv plan to enable the carrier option in time for the fourth quarter.
Autonomous trucking
Stack AV
The founders of shuttered self-driving car startup Argo AI, which formerly had partnerships with Walmart, Ford and Volkswagen, are starting a new autonomous trucking business with $1 billion in backing from Japan’s SoftBank Group.
The newly founded company, Stack AV, leverages its self-driving technology to improve efficiency and enhance safety in the trucking industry, while tackling supply chain challenges for partners and their consumers.
Stack AV wants to revolutionize the way businesses transport goods, designing solutions to alleviate long-standing issues that have plagued the trucking industry including driver shortages, lagging efficiency in uptime per vehicle, overarching safety concerns, high operating costs and elevated emission levels. By building safer and more efficient autonomous trucking solutions, Stack AV said it can create better and smarter supply chains for its partners, improve business outcomes for its customers and deliver goods to end users faster.
Stack AV is backed by SoftBank Group, which is supporting the company with capital, resources, and expertise in AI to help accelerate its growth and technological developments.
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., Stack AV is led by CEO Bryan Salesky, president Peter Rander and chief technology officer Brett Browning. Stack AV has 150 employees across its headquarters and in 15 states.
The launch comes during a downturn for autonomous trucking. Embark Technology, once considered a leader in the emerging sector, ran out of money and retired its fleet of 24 trucks before going private. Google parent Alphabet reduced its investment in Waymo and refocused its business on ride-hailing instead of its Waymo Via trucking operations. And TuSimple is considering leaving the U.S. market to focus on China and Japan.
Livestreaming
Staud/Whatnot
Staud, a Los Angeles-based lifestyle fashion brand, is making its livestream shopping debut through a new partnership with livestream shopping platform Whatnot. The partnership will kick off during Staud’s Spring 2024 Runway Show at New York Fashion Week, with a series of the brand’s sample sales to follow on Whatnot later this fall.
On Sunday, Sept. 10, at 7:45 p.m., consumers will experience behind-the-scenes access to Staud’s NYFW show, where viewers can watch the runway show live and purchase the limited-run Black Polished Leather Micro Moon Bag, available exclusively on Whatnot for $150.
The livestream will be followed by an auction and giveaway of exclusive Staud archives including unreleased versions of the celebrity-favorite Tommy Bag, items from limited collaborations with New Balance and Wrangler, novelty pieces, best-sellers like the Ying-Yang bag, and popular apparel from previous runway shows.
“We’re excited to partner with Whatnot to give customers an immersive livestream experience as we explore new ways to connect with our consumer,” said Staud president, Jon Zeiders, in a statement. “We are thrilled to open the doors to our runway show and invite fashion enthusiasts everywhere to participate in the show and purchase our exclusive Micro Moon Bag.”
Firework
Video commerce and engagement platform Firework announced the general availability release of its One-to-one Video Chat product, a new virtual shopping solution that brings the connectivity, convenience, and personalization of in-store shopping to the digital customer experience. Firework 1:1 Video Chat modules can be added to any page on the open web and enable customers to initiate live, one-to-one video calls with dedicated sales associates or brand representatives with a single click.
The technology aims to reshape today’s e-commerce landscape by combining the convenience of online shopping with the personalization, interactivity and support of the in-store customer experience. By providing one-to-one access to knowledgeable product experts, One-to-one Video Chat can offer customers a safer and better-informed shopping experience suited to their unique preferences and needs.
Firework One-to-one Video Chat offers a variety of features such as one-way video chats intended for consumer privacy, proactive assistance alerts, guided shopping and “co-browsing” to help customers assess apparel for fit or better examine product details.
The video chat solution also boasts device- and location-agnostic functionality, meaning consumers and experts can connect from anywhere and on any internet-connected device.
Last-mile delivery
Descartes/Gusto
Logistics technology platform provider Descartes Systems Group has expanded the Descartes GroundCloud final-mile logistics platform with new, integrated payroll management services from Gusto. The combined solution offers delivery service providers a more configurable, cost-effective and streamlined alternative to outsourcing payroll or internally using a non-integrated third-party payroll solution.
The Descartes GroundCloud solution combines final-mile logistics automation with operations, safety and compliance in an integrated platform. Final-mile carriers leverage the platform to receive customer delivery orders, plan and execute routes against those orders, train and monitor drivers on safety and performance, manage assets and resources, and analyze the operating efficiency of their business. The Descartes GroundCloud platform also incorporates video telematics to provide driving event detection and verification, combined with reactive coaching solutions designed to improve safety.
Supply chain financing
Wayflyer
Wayflyer, a revenue-based financing platform for e-commerce businesses, has secured a $1 billion financing deal from funds managed by investment management firm Neuberger Berman.
The financing will help Wayflyer continue offering capital to customers on more competitive terms, while growing its offering to meet the huge demand from U.S. e-commerce businesses.
This news comes shortly after Wayflyer announced a renewed $300 million debt line from J.P. Morgan in June. The debt line was secured to fuel its growth by providing access to fair, flexible and fast funding for its e-commerce customers. This enables Wayflyer to continue to grow and serve an increasing number of customers ahead of its goal of reaching profitability, the company said.
Wayflyer reported experiencing significant growth, recording a 100 percent increase in capital deployed between 2021 and 2022. Over 80 percent of Wayflyer’s customers return for additional financing after completing their initial funding deals.
Wayflyer specializes in providing funding to online retailers in an effort to help them solve working capital problems that can constrain growth. By improving cash flow, its customers can seize new opportunities such as acquiring additional stock, hiring new talent or improving the profitability and resilience of their business.
