The New Look of Retail

As more and more people shop online, the retail environment is changing to attract more brick and mortar customers.

As we reported last week, a number of companies exhibited at the National Retail Federation's (NRF) convention in New York City. It was evident at the convention that retailers are making positive changes.

Ignoring technology can be a very expensive mistake, and retailers are addressing this by introducing interactive technology into the store environment combined with a more personal shopping experience.

Expect to see the introduction of digital checkout, health/wellness centers and cozy environments...think Starbucks.

There's also a clear sign that Big Box is on its way out.

 

What's Up With Microsoft At Retail?

The latest on retail is happening in New York this week at the National Retail Federation Annual Conference and EXPO (NRF) where Microsoft will discuss details of its retail strategy. The strategy centers on the transformation of one-off applications, devices and databases into an end-to-end retail solution.

The retail market is clearly changing and the objective of this strategy is to help retailers respond to market changes with greater efficiency as they provide customers with a seamless and personalized shopping experiences. The integration of Microsoft's intelligent systems will provide retailers with a way to maximize the data so that it can be translated into strategic insight and business decisions.

For more information, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2012/jan12/01-16NRFEmbedded.mspx