A2Z Smart Technologies (NASDAQ: AZ), a prominent player in the realm of cutting-edge technology solutions, has garnered the attention of investors with surges peaking ~130% earlier this year. Intrigued by their recent developments, we decided to delve into the company’s core offerings.
They’ve had a number of noteworthy announcements scaling their smart technology globally, with yet another announcement this morning. One of Israel’s leading home design and household chains has now doubled their initial order. With 40 stores across the country, this is no small feat. Nonetheless in comparison to other announcements, this is but a small piece of the puzzle.
Let’s delve into their technology, explore their latest advancements, and assess analyst ratings to uncover the potential future prospects for this innovative tech company.
Background:
A2Z has introduced an intriguing technology called Cust2Mate that transforms traditional shopping carts into a smart cart platform solution. Their goal is to deliver an enhanced customer experience driven by data and to offer a cutting-edge platform for digital value-added services and retail media. Their aim is to solve 4 pain points in retail:
- Increase revenue & profit
- Improve customer satisfaction & loyalty
- Reduce shrinkage
- Enhance in-store operational efficiencies
Application:
Their cart has the potential to revolutionize the shopping experience in several tangible ways, one in particular we find very interesting. Their technology allows customers to enjoy a seamless shopping journey, giving them the ability to process payments directly on the cart and simply go, effectively eliminating the need for long checkout queues and the self-checkout hassle.
To illustrate, let’s consider a retail giant like Costco. It’s no secret that this discount grocer is often plagued by notoriously lengthy lines that can take more time to navigate than the actual shopping itself. Now, just think about what securing a contract with a retail giant like Costco would mean for the company, that alone would be groundbreaking, and that’s just one of the many benefits this technology brings to the table.
Another tangible example:
The technology also unlocks a realm of personalization through a plethora of promotions, coupons, and deals. These smart carts are designed to track shoppers’ purchase history and deliver real-time, personalized offers and recommendations based on their in-store location. The result is a shopping experience tailored to individual preferences, offering a level of satisfaction that’s hard to match.
Traditionally, shoppers are made aware of discounts through physical coupons sent in the mail or by stumbling upon a product randomly marked down on the shelf. Now, imagine the convenience of having all these tailored deals right in front of you, driven by your unique shopping history. Such a system could also capture a wealth of data that can help retailers gain deep insights into customer behavior, including product preferences and shopping patterns. It’s a game-changer in terms of understanding and serving the needs of the customer.
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New CEO & Latest Developments:
In recent months, A2Z has undergone a transformative journey. With each passing day, the path ahead becomes clearer, particularly after the appointment of a new CEO, Guy Mordoch in March of 2023. Since this pivotal change, the company has steadily gathered momentum, securing several noteworthy victories in Israel. The latest news this week has undoubtedly expanded the horizon, making the future appear even more promising and bright. But before we cover the release, let’s review Mordoch’s background.
The arrival of the new CEO has significantly altered the perspective of industry observers when compared to his predecessor, Rafi Yam. While Rafi was a well-regarded figure within the industry, known for his pursuit of an aggressive expansion strategy, Guy brings a different background into the equation. With experience in both public and private companies, Guy’s forte lies in building teams for more established operations. This has led analysts to believe that a major success may be just around the corner under his leadership.
One key aspect of Guy’s strategy appears to be utilizing the Israeli market as a showcase and a funding hub for global operations. This is evident in the surge of orders from Yochanonof, the initial order from HaStok in May, and another order from HaStok today that doubled their amount of carts. Anticipation is running high for further wins and additional orders from Israel, signifying a promising trajectory for the company.
Agreements in Europe & Asia:
Outside of Israel, AZ is also making significant strides in expanding its smart shopping cart business globally. The company has recently entered into two groundbreaking agreements that promise to revolutionize the retail landscape.
In a landmark agreement, A2Z partnered with IR2S, a renowned integrator of advanced retail technologies in France, to deploy 30,000 smart carts across esteemed retail chains in France between 2023 and 2026. IR2S, already providing integration and services to prestigious retailers like Monoprix and the Casino Group, will take charge of the integration, installation, support, and maintenance of Cust2Mate’s smart carts. The first delivery of these smart carts is expected within 45 days at Monoprix’s Monop Malakoff store near the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
In another pivotal move, A2Z has also forged an agreement with HEX 1011, a leading integrator of technological solutions for retail chains, to deploy 20,000 smart carts across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region from 2023 through 2025. The first delivery of these smart carts is scheduled for November, and HEX 1011 will oversee their efficient rollout and maintenance for elite retail chains in Thailand and Malaysia.
These agreements mark a significant leap in A2Z’s journey to reshape the retail landscape, delivering enhanced shopping experiences to consumers and increased efficiency for retailers on a global scale.
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Deal With Carrefour France:
On October 25th, 2023 the company announced its selection to supply smart shopping carts for Carrefour’s Connected Cart project, a significant venture within Carrefour’s newly merged Hypermarket and Supermarket division in France. The initial phase involves the delivery of 2,000 smart shopping carts, specifically designed to meet Carrefour’s requirements, with an expected delivery in the first half of 2024 at two Carrefour hypermarket locations in France.
Carrefour, the seventh largest global grocery retailer by revenue, operates 13,650 retail locations worldwide, encompassing hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, cash and carry outlets, and soft discount stores. Their Hypermarket and Supermarket division in France, consisting of approximately 1,300 stores equipped with around 600,000 carts, boasts aggregate sales exceeding €30 billion.
Guy Mordoch, CEO of Cust2Mate, expressed enthusiasm over this partnership, highlighting their commitment to delivering excellence and growing their collaboration with Carrefour in the Hypermarket and Supermarket division rollout. As a leading provider of smart cart solutions, A2Z is well-positioned to meet Carrefour’s unique specifications with their Gen3 smart shopping carts.
Analyst Ratings:
Before we wrap up, it’s worth mentioning that A2Z has garnered attention from seven analysts, and you can find some of their coverage on the company’s website for further insight. What’s particularly noteworthy is that the price targets set by these analysts significantly surpass the current trading value, with an average price target of $13.98. The highest price target was set at $18.00 on June 9th, 2023. This would represent an exponential upside of approximately ~1100% from the current stock price of $1.48. Not to mention, a number of high value milestones have already occurred since this coverage.
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What’s next:
As detailed on AZ’s website, here’s what lies ahead:
- Continued investment in research and development to introduce additional features and functions, enhancing the personalized shopping experience and fostering greater customer engagement.
- The pursuit of strategic partnerships with retailers, both at the regional and international levels, with the aim of broadening their customer base and extending their market presence.
- The utilization of advanced technologies, such as big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, to equip retailers with profound insights into customer behavior and preferences. This will empower retailers to make data-driven decisions, ultimately elevating their overall business performance.
Conclusion:
It’s evident that A2Z is at a pivotal juncture, having successfully integrated its solution with major global retailers. While it has gained increased traction online, there hasn’t been a corresponding significant change in its market valuation. This could be attributed to the fact that the full potential of its revenue has yet to be realized.
Considering the prevailing market conditions, it’s likely that investors are currently inclined towards more established and secure investment options with robust fundamentals. A2Z, on the other hand, is positioned in a high-growth stage, which can impact its bottom line. However, moments like these present a compelling opportunity to be part of a disruptive technology that is clearly innovating within a space that’s witnessed minimal change in decades.
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