Amazon integrated Alexa voice technology into select BMW models in January.
Retailers in January 2025 focused technology efforts in areas including agentic AI, RFID, and robotics.
Here are some of the most noteworthy and innovative technology stories as reported by Chain Store Age in January, starting with the most recent.
- Temu opens platform to global retailers in new partnership Temu is providing online retailers globally a streamlined way to manage their supply chain while selling on its digital marketplace. Existing and new Temu listings can be linked to Linnworks inventory items for seamless stock and price updates.
- EXCLUSIVE Q&A: Albertsons builds on success of in-house media network Albertsons Companies Inc. continues expanding the scope and capabilities of its Albertsons Media Collective retail media arm. Executives spoke with Chain Store Age about how and why the grocery giant developed its media network, the results it has obtained and the vision for the future.
- eBay pilots agentic AI assistant eBay is participating in the research preview of Operator, a new agentic AI solution from OpenAI which interacts with users in a conversational style that mimics human interaction and uses machine learning to continually refine and improve its responses.
- McDonald’s renews AI support of finance, HR functions McDonald’s Corp. is entering a multi-year extension of its strategic partnership with Cognizant. This renewed agreement will focus on leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance staff enablement, customer experience and operational efficiency.
- 2025: The year RFID breaks through There is finally widespread industry consensus that RFID provides value, and on how and why it does so. Specific use cases include evolving tags and readers, channel diversification, and fraud deterrence.