Retail Technology News: May update
Retailers in May 2025 focused technology efforts in areas including robotic food service, RFID inventory tracking, and AI assistants for shoppers and employees.
Here are some of the most noteworthy and innovative technology stories as reported by Chain Store Age in May, starting with the most recent.
Donatos to open autonomous airport restaurant in June Columbus, Ohio-based Donatos Pizza and its sister company, smart kitchen technology developer Agape Automation, are partnering with robotic food tech provider Appetronix to open the pizza chain’s first robot-operated restaurant in its headquarters city.
The new fully automated Donatos Pizza restaurant will debut before security in front of Concourse B at the John Glenn Columbus International Airport in June 2025
Walmart opens high-tech centralized prescription processing facility Walmart Inc. is scaling its ability to quickly fill and deliver prescription medications with a new site in Maryland. The discount giant has opened a 102,000-sq.-ft. facility in Frederick, Md. designed to fulfill up to 100,000 prescriptions a day, supporting more than 700 stores across 16 states and Washington, D.C.
The facility uses advanced pharmacy automation with dynamic weighting systems, robotic carriers and a conveyance route designed to streamline every step of prescription fulfillment.
- Authentic Brands Group partners to deliver 'instant' refunds Global brand management company Authentic Brands Group is launching a strategic partnership with Reshop, which has become the instant refund provider for brands within the Authentic portfolio. Through the partnership, Authentic is now giving consumers immediate access to their money from refunds with the goals of enabling faster repurchases and creating a better shopping experience.
Warby Parker teams with Google to develop AI-enabled glasses Warby Parker is combining its eyewear design talents with Google’s artificial intelligence capabilities to work on the next generation of smart glasses.
The eyewear brand is launching a partnership with Google to develop AI-powered glasses intended for all-day wear. The companies are working on the development of future smart glasses and intend to launch a series of products over time.
- Kendra Scott uses AI to personalize gifting, shopping Kendra Scott is humanizing its omnichannel gifting and shopping experience at scale with artificial intelligence. The jewelry brand leveraged AI to personalize its entire omnichannel shopping journey for Mother’s Day and also leverages AI-enabled personalization year-round.
- Tilly’s in enterprise-wide RFID deployment A specialty apparel, accessories and footwear retailer is implementing cloud-based RFID technology across its retail operations. Tilly's will deploy the Nedap iD Cloud RFID solution in all its stores nationwide, aiming to enhance inventory visibility and accuracy, optimize product availability, and streamline operational efficiencies.
- Guitar Center obtains real-time inventory visibility Guitar Center is deploying an artificial intelligence-based unified supply chain and retail planning platform from Relex Solutions. Specifically, Guitar Center intends to ensure the right products are accessible in all stores by obtaining real-time visibility into inventory levels, allowing for more accurate and timely store replenishment decisions that help minimize stockouts and overstock situations.
- Amazon debuts its first-ever warehouse robot with a sense of touch Amazon has deployed its first robot equipped with a sense of touch, meaning it knows when it makes contact and how much force it’s applying, and can stop short of doing any damage. Built on advances in robotics, engineering and physical AI, the robot, called "Vulcan," is currently deployed at Amazon's distribution centers in Spokane, Wash., and Hamburg, Germany.
- eBay assists shoppers with agentic AI tool eBay is equipping customers with agentic AI capabilities to help personalize and streamline their shopping experience. The new eBay agentic AI shopping assistant delivers real-time, hyper-personalized product picks and expert guidance based on a customer’s shopping preferences as they explore the eBay site.
- Lowe’s rolls out AI assistant for store associates Lowe’s Companies Inc. is introducing Mylow Companion, an AI-enabled employee app developed in partnership with Open AI. Purpose-built for associate sales floor devices, the app provides access to product details, project advice, and inventory information and also speeds up the employee onboarding process.
