Retail Technology News: August update
Retailers in August 2026 focused technology efforts in areas including automated kiosks, tap to pay and digital twins.
Here are some of the most noteworthy and innovative technology stories as reported by Chain Store Age in August, starting with the most recent.
•Batteries Plus launches AI tools for franchising, store customer service Batteries Plus is continuing to develop its artificial intelligence infrastructure. The rapidly-growing specialty battery retailer is releasing a platform of AI tools designed to strengthen its franchise development capabilities while improving its and in-store search and call-based customer service.
•Dollar General unifies inventory forecasting, replenishment with AI Dollar General is partnering with AI-powered supply chain platform Relex Solutions to implement forecasting, replenishment and allocation capabilities across its North American operations. Relex Solutions will manage store replenishment, ordering schedules, lead times, supplier coordination and fulfillment methods in one place. Sales patterns and other demand factors will be built directly into the planning process.
•Home Depot adds new features to 'Magic Apron' AI tool Home Depot is rolling out new in-store capabilities for its Magic Apron shopping tool, which helps customers to locate products, receive project guidance and find answers tailored to their local Home Depot stores while shopping. The expansion of Magic Apron’s capabilities builds upon the company's Store Mode feature, which helps customers shop more efficiently with barcode scanning, improved wayfinding and other store information.
•California Pizza Kitchen to deploy 1,000-plus automated pizza kiosks California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) is going big in a non-traditional format. The chain is partnering with T-Roc Global to implement and operate up to 1,000 automated retail machines nationwide over the next three years. The kiosks will bring the brand to high-traffic locations such as airports, universities, hospitals, hotels, office complexes and more where traditional dining options may be lacking.
•Walmart to roll out tap to pay option Aug. 24 Shoppers at Walmart and Sam’s Club stores have a new streamlined method for making payments. Walmart Inc. has added tap to pay using Google Pay to its payment options at select stores, with plans to roll it out to all U.S. stores by the end of 2026 and to fuel stations by mid-2027. According to Walmart, providing Google Pay tap to pay is part of a broader effort to make it easier for customers to use and manage their money
•Little Caesars enters robotic delivery partnership The world’s third-largest pizza company has partnered with Coco Robotics to bring autonomous robot deliveries to locations throughout Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami, with Little Caesars deliveries coming soon to Coco's recently-expanded operations in downtown San Jose, Calif. Orders placed through participating Little Caesars locations on DoorDash and Uber Eats may be fulfilled by Coco,
•EXCLUSIVE: Target optimizes middle mile with in-house digital twin tool In an exclusive interview with Chain Store Age, Jake Krings, VP technology, global supply chain & logistics, Target, explained how and why the discount giant developed a digital twin (interactive, AI-based virtual models that serve as digital replicas of real-life objects and/or environments) solution called Proxima to improve decision-making and performance in the “middle mile” of its supply chain, where goods travel between warehouses or from a warehouse to a “last mile” pickup point.
•On Running ensures frictionless checkout across channels On Running has built a platform with financial technology provider Adyen designed to grow with both its brick-and-mortar and e-commerce channels. The solution is designed to scale fast for global markets to comply with local preferences, regulations, and risk profiles, rather than relying on standalone solutions. The platform also includes the Adyen Uplift AI-based payment decision engine.
•Albertsons launches ChatGPT plug-in for Safeway shoppers The Safeway banner of Albertsons is offering a new plug-in designed to help customers discover products, evaluate options and complete shopping in the OpenAI generative AI model ChatGPT while remaining in control of their purchasing decisions. Using ChatGPT, shoppers can activate the Safeway plug-in and ask for what they need in natural language, including shopping from a recipe, photo or digital list.
•Ahold Delhaize USA connects recipes to digital shopping carts Through an integration with Pear Commerce technology, Ahold Delhaize USA is linking its banners to a network of CPG partners and digital touchpoints, allowing shoppers to browse recipes and add ingredients directly to their carts. The grocer will also provide shoppable product pages and store locator tools designed to help facilitate purchases online and in stores.
