Retail of the future: Stora Enso-Atos partnership to commercialize RFID e-kiosks

14 Nov 2019 --- Finnish-based Stora Enso is teaming up with digital transformation company Atos to bring new automated retail solutions to the market. Stora Enso is providing paper-based radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, which will be paired with Atos’ digital services. The retail solution is based on the concept of “Intelligent Cabinets,” which are RFID-enabled e-kiosks designed for on-the-go purchasing using smartphones or standard card payment. The global partnership will see the commercialization of the new retail as a service solution, combining Stora Enso’s technologies and the service delivery experience and methodology of Atos.

“The area of ‘New Retail’ is part of the transformation of many retail segments, driven by the same global trends. It has a very high market potential, which is why we are entering this space,” Martin Ros, Head of Intelligent Packaging Solutions at Stora Enso, tells PackagingInsights. “The solution is responding to a number of megatrends, but specifically, the need for retailers to add further convenience to consumers while at the same time enabling a more efficient and digital supply chain.” 

Stora Enso’s solution merges in-store and online shopping and uses sustainable RFID tags to track and trace stored items. The tags are a plastic-free and recyclable solution for packaging authentication. The RFID tags allow consumers to open the kiosk, remove products they wish to purchase and be charged via a compatible payment app or payment card when the kiosk is closed. It was first launched back in May and is globally available with a current focus on European and Asian countries.

“While retail is aiming at convenience and efficiency all at once, we drive innovations to combine the localization of brick and mortar with digitalization. With our partnership with Atos, we are entering the automated new retail market, where our sustainable RFID technology can bring the unstaffed consumer experience to the next level,” notes Ros. 

The tags are integrated into the consumer product in a way that is dependent on the retailer’s supply chain. The tags are integrated into the consumer product in a way that is dependent on the retailer’s supply chain. This could be at various points in the supply chain or when being prepared for the replenishment cycle.

“The main technical challenge boils down to creating a new digital retail channel, with the right cost-to-value structure. Our partnership with Atos allows us to do this and leverage their expertise, experience and global network to enter this market with a competitive offer,” he continues. 

Atos’ digital services for retail and manufacturing enhance the new retail solution. They are based on Codex for Retail, a modular portfolio of solutions and services for connected retail services with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. They are also underpinned by end-to-end services. The company further highlights that this establishes a full new set of digital business services for retail with a strong capability for scaling, driving clear business value and bringing clients out of the “pilot trap.”

“For any retail company and consumer goods brand, the topics of sustainability, product control and consumer experience are key values for their point of sales. Combining the Stora Enso smart tracking solutions with Atos’ Codex enablement and end-to-end service management, we jointly ensure that customers experience these values every time,” explains Philippe Miltin, Group SVP, Head of Manufacturing, Retail and Transport Market at Atos.

“The solution addresses a number of sustainability challenges for retailers. Due to its inherent set-up – digital and close to the consumer – the solution enables live product inventory and digital best-before dates, which in turn limits food waste and promotes efficient fresh food distribution,” concludes Ros. 

By Katherine Durrell