The Retail Technology Innovation of the Week is a series presented by RTIH and sponsored by 3D Cloud, which highlights notable deployments, launches, and initiatives from retailers and technology suppliers. Each week, we will showcase innovative technology implementations that have impressed our Editor and the judging panel of the Retail Technology Innovations Report, alongside the release of the 2024 report. We have featured impressive work from companies like Ocado Retail, Decathlon, Lacoste, Downtown Spirits, TalkShopLive, and many more.
One of the companies we are focusing on this week is Walmart. In April, we announced that the US retail giant had started selling physical goods directly to users within the virtual platform Roblox. Users of Walmart Discovered can purchase real-life items that will be shipped to their homes. They are presented with a virtual storefront that displays virtual versions of items available in physical Walmart stores. This feature is available for users aged 13 or older in the United States.
Walmart is also launching a new AR experience called Walmart Discovered AR, which was developed in partnership with Sawhorse Productions and Metavertising. This new feature allows users to interact with virtual products in an augmented reality setting, enhancing their shopping experience with Walmart.