NRF Big Show 2011: Breakthrough Technologies For Retailing

By Doug Henschen 01/14/2011 The National Retail Federation's "Big Show" in New York highlighted scores of cutting-edge retail technologies, from mobile devices and digital signage to point-of-sale systems and store-management applications. Tablet computers were everywhere, of course, though more often featured as a raffle prize designed to draw booth visitors and gather business card leads. Several exhibitors demonstrated iPad-native "clienteling" apps designed to help salespeople demonstrate and explain complicated (or out-of-stock) products. There were plenty of conventional point-of-sale terminals on display, but with smart phones quickly gaining broad use, many retailers and retail technology suppliers are developing apps and peripherals designed to work with iPhones, Android devices, and other mobile platforms.

Retailing's Big Four Technology Power Players

What's the foundation of big retail? As in so many other industries, the answer is technology. The Retail Big Show's top sponsors were the usual suspects: IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP. IBM offers business consulting and "smarter" shopping and merchandising systems, while Microsoft, Oracle and SAP offer retailing apps.

Among the keynotes at NRF's Big Show, Disney highlighted a tech-driven revamp of its retail store format, with animated displays, a digital "Disney Princess" encounter, in-store high-def theaters and state-of-the-art point-of-sale technology aimed at creating a "magical" shopping experience. Several "concept vehicles" were seen on the show floor. Fujitsu demonstrated a high-speed-scanning prototype that promises the throughput of two to three conventional checkout lines. Kraft Foods demoed an interactive touch-screen end-cap display, developed in cooperation with Intel, that lets customers browse meal plans and recipes, download personalized shopping lists and coupons, and even dispense product samples. It's a hint at what's to come in your local stores.

Google Prepping Retail Mobile Payment Service

JCPenney Sets Up Shop In Facebook

Walmart Extends Teradata Mega Deal

Fake Amazon Receipt Generator Targets Unsuspecting Online Merchants

Zeus Botnet Targeting Retailer Credit Cards

Amazon EC2 Achieves Payment Industry Certification

Credit Card Transactions Likely In Future Public Clouds