FINERY — Launched in October 2017, Finery allows consumers to outsource much of their fashion retail. The app syncs to an email account and automatically adds fashion purchases to a ‘wardrobe’, organized by designer, color and type. Meanwhile, users can save items to a wishlist and receive notifications of price changes, discount sales and more. Before the app launched, the online service saved shoppers USD 209,000 through sale notifications.

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AMAZON, TABAO, HYPERCITY — Another powerful take on A-COMMERCE? The emergence of staffless, smartphone-fueled physical stores. While Amazon’s cashierless store in Seattle still hasn’t opened to the public, in July 2017 Chinese etail giant Taobao debuted the Tao Cafe: users scan their smartphone at the door, grab what they need and go – they receive the bill via their phone. Meanwhile leading Indian supermarket chain HyperCity launched two cashier-free stores in Hyderabad.

WESWAP — Consumers will also turn to A-COMMERCE to help them plan their spending. UK-based travel community WeSwap’s new AI-powered service, launched in September 2017, provides an estimate of how much a user will spend in specific location, based on what other WeSwap members spent there. WeSwap say spending estimates will become more accurate as the tool learns about a user’s spending habits.

KFC — ‘I can pay with my face on my phone – so why not in physical stores?’ In September 2017 a ‘Smile to Pay' terminal was installed at a KFC-branded eatery. Alibaba-developed Alipay technology employed a 3D camera, and facial analysis to verify a diner’s identity and allow them to pay via face recognition. To complete checkout, customers then enter their mobile number.

Loftium — The cost of urban living is spiralling out of reach for many. Loftium’s innovative new business model loans home buyers a deposit of as much as USD 50,000, in return for them continuously listing a bedroom on Airbnb for up to three years. Launched in September 2017, the company also offers hosting support services such as pricing guidance, a digital lock, and hosting supplies.

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BuzzFeed & GE — Shipping in November 2017, the Tasty One Top is a smart cooking appliance from BuzzFeed, in partnership with GE. Priced from USD 149, the Bluetooth-enabled multi-function induction cooktop is aimed at aspiring cooks. It also integrates with the Tasty mobile app, meaning video recipes sync with the cooktop, auto-adjusting the function and temperature at each stage of the recipe. Holy smokes...or not?!

SK-II — A July 2017 campaign by Japanese beauty brand SK-II, explores the heavy social pressure on Asian women to marry before age 30. Supported by South Korean singer Minzy, and actress Cate Blanchett, the campaign encourages women – and the wider Asian society – to think again.

Selfridges — In March 2017, Selfridges hosted free in-store homemaking classes. A Home For All activities included spice-grinding, bread-making and loom-weaving, for example. When entering the London department store’s space, people were asked to switch off all cellphones and electronic devices in order to immerse themselves in the experience.

Replika — What does true VIRTUAL COMPANIONSHIP look like? Replika is an AI chatbot intended to become a mirror image of the user’s personality. The bot learns about users through questions about their values, aspirations and more, and over time it becomes an ever-closer approximation of the user’s deep self. Replika was created by US-based technology firm Luka. Launched in March 2017, the app reached 100,000 sessions in May.

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KLM — Where does this trend start? With innovations that have one foot firmly planted in functionality and assistance, but offer an innovative short of brand companionship, too. In September 2017 Dutch airline KLM introduced the KLM Care Tag for visitors to Amsterdam. The GPS-enabled tag works without an internet connection to deliver location-based city tips from KLM crew members on restaurants, navigation and more.

au by KDDI — Here’s an early signal of where all this is leading. In July 2017 The Blue Leaf Café in Sendai, Japan partnered with telecoms company au by KDDI to host an experience with well-known virtual popstar Hatsune Miku. Each table had a Lenovo Phab 2 Pro cellphone; the device used augmented reality technology to make Hatsune Miku appear and interact with diners.

Credit Suisse — This bank has reimagined a traditional aspect of childhood via a VIRTUAL COMPANION. Launched in August 2017, the Digipigi is a smart money box from Credit Suisse. The box responds with sounds and facial expressions when cash is dropped into it. It can also be synced to current accounts and will respond to activity across those accounts.

Curve and Mastercard — One way to be forgiving? Let consumers travel back in time and change past decisions. July 2017 saw UK-based financial tool Curve partner with Mastercard to allow customers to switch the credit or debit card used for transactions up to two weeks after the event.

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Visit Oslo — Offer forgiveness via a playful alternative to a previous purchase. After a couple posted online about crowds blocking their view of the Mona Lisa, tourist association Visit Oslo ‘rescued’ them with an all-expenses-paid trip to Oslo, Norway. Over 48 hours in September 2017, the travelers toured the city, met with Norway’s prime minister and viewed Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’. The video received over 1 million views.

Tesla — Is this the ultimate example of this trend? Hurricane? No problem; we’ll adapt your car ;) Tesla helped people in Florida flee Hurricane Irma by pushing a free software that unlocked full battery range for all its cars in the storm-affected area. The upgrade adds 30 to 40 miles to the range, and typically costs up to USD 9,500.

RYU — Sometimes a simple pricing tactic is all it takes to turn a product into a forgiving service. January 2017 saw RYU offer discounts on fitness garments to customers who either lost weight or gained muscle mass over the previous year. Shoppers who fulfilled the criteria could bring items they had bought from the Canadian apparel brand back to stores and repurchase the same or similar items for half price.

Uber & Google — In 2017, no industry felt the emergence of a glass box world more intensely than big tech. Two glimpses? Uber’s culture of sexism and bullying was exposed when employee Susan Fowler’s blog post went viral; CEO Travis Kalanick subsequently left the business. Meanwhile an ‘anti-diversity manifesto’ by a Google employee shone new light on the issue of gender diversity in tech companies.

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#MeToo — One powerful signal of this watershed moment for transparency? In October 2017 the New York Times revealed multiple sexual abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein. Soon women around the world began to share their own stories of harassment and abuse under the #MeToo hashtag, sparking a global conversation about patriarchy, gender and a new culture of transparency.

State Street Corporation — In a glass box world, expect hypocrisy to get found out. In October 2017 financial services firm State Street Corporation agreed to pay USD 5 million to settle claims that it underpaid female staff. The business had previously won plaudits when it installed the Fearless Girl statue opposite Wall Street’s iconic Charging Bull. State Street said Fearless Girl was a symbol of female empowerment.

Thinx — More proof that internal culture must align with – indeed is becoming part of – public-facing brand. In March 2017 CEO of period underwear brand Thinx, Miki Agrawal, was accused by employees of sexual harassment and bullying of female staff. Agrawal had positioned built the Thinx brand around female empowerment. Agrawal called the accusations ‘false’. She confirmed in a Medium post that she was stepping down as CEO.