I just got back from the NRF’s big show in New York a little jet-lagged and a lot excited. I haven’t quite got back onto UK time yet but I couldn’t wait to get to work today to write about the good, the bad and the ugly bits of the show (and yes, to rub it in everyone’s face that I just spent five days in NYC!)
This year was my first time at NRF and it was also a record turnout for the show, with over 27,000 people in attendance despite the fact that Monday was a public holiday in America celebrating the life of Dr Martin Luther-King. It’s possible that all those people turned up because they were desperate to see the latest PoS innovations - however it’s more likely that keynote speaker - Bill Clinton, heard of him? - knows how to draw a crowd.
I went to see his keynote address; nothing to do with retail. It hardly mattered though, the man is so charismastic he could probably make accountancy seem exciting. Former President Clinton mostly spoke about ‘our common humanity’ and how globalisation means we all have to live together, support each other and lead by example - in business ethics, environmental committments and financial reform.
Oh sorry, I tell a lie, his speech had a tiny bit of retail in there - we found out what he bought Hillary and Chelsea for Christmas (jewellery) and that he buys his books at an independent book store in New York.
The show itself was vast, it took a good 15 minutes to walk from one end of the Javits Centre to the other, and that’s without stopping to checkout the hundreds of stalls. There was a huge mix of vendors on display, it was a veritable who’s who of the retail technology world - Oracle, Microsoft, HP, SAP, VeriFone, PayPal, Wipro, Fujitsu, Motorola, JDA, Verizon, Intel, NCR, Wincor Nixdorf, Retalix - anyone and everyone you could think of.
On the whole the new technology on display was impressive and really pushed the idea of a seamless customer experience. The in thing now is not cross-channel or multi-channel or even omni-channel - it’s no-channel - there’s just one seamless customer experience.
Digital signage was much lauded at NRF’s big show this week. Anyone who was anyone is hardware was pushing the idea of interactive, multi-touch screens inside and outside shops. The window signage boasted facial recognition technology which could determine the age and gender of a window shopper and then display tailored advertising and deals.
In-store the multi-touch, multi-user high-def screens were used as surfaces which customers could create shopping carts on while the compare and order items. There were also virtual fitting rooms where you could use a computer programme to try on clothes in 3D - it is thought that eventually this technology would be used by consumers at home on their own TVs.
All this was very impressive and readers will be able to see a full review of the expo in the next issue of Retail Systems, but there was one disappointing and crucial flaw at NRF. The free WiFi didn’t work! I mean, come on - it’s a technology show that can’t supply WiFi to visitors, how embarrassing!
Let’s get it fixed for next year guys, please.