Tech Explained: Here’s a simplified explanation of the latest technology update around Tech Explained: our most read retail technology articles from last week — Retail Technology Innovation Hub in Simple Termsand what it means for users..
Walmart and Google Gemini team on AI discovery and shopping experiences push
Walmart and Google are gearing up to launch a new experience built by Walmart and accessible directly within Gemini using the Universal Commerce Protocol.
Gemini will automatically include Walmart and Sam’s Club in-store and online products when it’s relevant. For example, when a customer asks for advice on camping equipment for the spring season, it will return items from the retailer’s inventory of products. And since people talk back and forth with Gemini, there are more opportunities to show relevant products and services throughout the conversation.
When customers discover items in Gemini, Walmart helps them move from inspiration to purchase , all within the familiar Walmart and Sam’s environments. When customers link their accounts, the retailer will recommend complementary items based on their past online and in-store purchases, combine their order with other items they’ve put in their carts, and provide all the benefits of their Walmart+ and Sam’s Club memberships.
Customers and members can get in-store and club items delivered, with hundreds of thousands of locally curated products delivered in under three hours and as fast as 30 minutes.
JD Sports Fashion first retailer to use commercetools and Stripe AI technology
JD Sports Fashion is using commercetools’ Agentic Jumpstart solution and Stripe’s Agentic Commerce Suite (ACS), with the former’s AI Hub acting as the connective foundation for agentic workflows.
It is the first enterprise retailer to deploy the ACS, connecting LLM powered shopping to checkout and payments, without replatforming or added complexity.
Its customers in the US will be able to purchase directly through AI platforms including Copilot (Microsoft), Gemini (Google) and ChatGPT (OpenAI).
“This agreement places JD right at the forefront of AI commerce. We want to reach customers wherever shopping decisions are happening, and make it easy for them to complete a purchase,” says Regis Schultz, Group CEO at JD Sports Fashion.
“As AI becomes a real entry point for commerce, our partnership with commercetools and Stripe will allow customers using AI for searches to find and transact with JD quicker and easier, at the click of a button through those channels, without adding complexity to our operations. This strengthens our digital proposition for customers, and keeps us moving in line with the fast changing retail landscape.”
“We see AI as a real opportunity to improve our customers’ experience with JD, as well as making our own operations more efficient, and so I’m really pleased that with this big step forward we are putting our words into action.”
Zalando taps Google’s UCP offering with new online checkout feature the first use case
Zalando is getting onboard with Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), a new open source standard for agentic commerce that allows AI agents and merchant systems to work together.
As a first use case, UCP will soon power a new checkout feature, rolling out for eligible retailers in the US now.
Users will be able to discover and checkout Zalando’s products in AI Mode in Google Search and the Gemini app, allowing newbies to discover Zalando while offering existing ones a faster way to shop making the move from discovery to checkout seamless.
In a LinkedIn post, Zalanda said: “The UCP integration is centred on trust and built on two specific pillars: Seller of record: the retailer remains the seller, preserving their direct relationship with the customer and maintaining full control over fulfilment and service standards.”
“Secure checkout: shoppers can buy securely using Google Pay, leveraging payment methods and shipping info already saved in their Google Wallet to complete orders instantly. In the coming months, the protocol will also provide additional capabilities such as integration of loyalty. UCP can simplify the path from inspiration and discovery to purchase, while bringing maximum value to customers and brand partners.”
Enterprise software firm osapiens secures $100 million in funding and bags unicorn status
osapiens has entered into an agreement for Decarbonization Partners, a joint venture between BlackRock and Temasek, to lead a $100 million Series C fundraising round, subject to regulatory approvals.
Decarbonization Partners will join existing investors Goldman Sachs Alternatives, which fronted a $120 million Series B in 2024, and Armira Growth, which headed up a $27 million Series A investment in 2023.
osapiens provides software that enables companies to manage regulatory compliance, sustainability, and operational efficiency across their entire value chain on a single platform. Customers include Coca-Cola North America, Lidl, Carrefour, and OTTO.
The proceeds from the latest investment will be used to accelerate product innovation and fuel growth in existing and new international markets.
“This investment is a strong validation of our strategy and our long-term vision,” says Alberto Zamora, Co-CEO and Co-Founder at osapiens. “It demonstrates that sustainable growth and AI driven efficiency remain top priorities for global investors.”
“Decarbonization Partners is an exceptional partner for us. With a focus on sustainability and the combined global presence and investment expertise of BlackRock and Temasek, they bring exactly the perspective and scale we need for our next phase of growth to become the indisputable global category leader in sustainable growth for enterprises of all sizes.”