IRL – Innovative Retail Laboratory

The Innovative Retail Laboratory (IRL) is part of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence. It is an applied research laboratory located in the head offices of GLOBUS SB-Warenhaus Holding in St. Wendel.

Researchers work closely with Globus industry experts, which means that individual projects are geared towards the concrete demands and potential of future self-service stores. This also means the results of research can swiftly be put into practice.

This allows the shopping of the future to be displayed by different demonstrators in this “Living Lab”.

IRL areas of research

• Intelligent Shopping Consultants, such as virtual allergy and diet assistants, digital sommeliers, personalised cross- and up-selling, etc.
• Smart Items with digital product memories as a further development of RFID technology, indoor positioning and navigation
• New logistics concepts
• Route planning through stores according to an electronic shopping list
• Development of new forms of interaction with customers
• Pre- and post-shopping preparation for customers while at home