EuroCIS 2024: shaping the future of retail in Düsseldorf

The vibrant city of Düsseldorf, divided in two by the River Rhine, hosted the EuroCIS event from 27 to 29 February. During these three days of exhibitions, we had the opportunity to explore retail and technology trends and innovations together with Cristiano.

Key highlights from EuroCIS 2024

Here are some of the solutions that caught our eye thanks to their strong presence:

• Self-checkout systems: the abundance of exhibitors showcasing self-checkout solutions suggests that the role of cashier may soon “disappear” as a profession in the form we know it today. These systems offer customers a fast and seamless payment experience, allowing them to manage the purchase process independently.
• Electronic labels: available in a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes, electronic labels have evolved into true interactive video walls. This approach to customer engagement can be a real differentiator for retailers.
• Payment systems: the payments market is buzzing. For decades it was dominated by just a couple of global operators who imposed the use of specific software and hardware. Today, the situation has completely changed. The fair was full of stands presenting payment solutions: every retailer in the world now seems able to have its own system, and the keyword is frictionless checkout. Money must flow quickly and securely from the customer’s account to the merchant’s, without causing inconvenience or effort for the person paying.

Moreover, we explored Demand Forecasting Systems for intelligent replenishment. The answer to the question of which data are needed for these forecasts always turns out to be the same: when data are missing, artificial intelligence comes into play!

Artificial intelligence in Düsseldorf

Artificial intelligence is being used like a digital magic wand: companies are embracing it with enthusiasm, adding the acronym “AI” to their names and promising revolutionary solutions. Yet, more often than not, it is a mix of tried-and-tested algorithms and closely guarded secrets – not unlike Coca-Cola’s formula.

And while Düsseldorf gave us an intriguing glimpse into the future of retail and technology, we also noticed a massive presence of till systems, many of which offered very similar functions. To avoid disappearing into the crowd, some exhibitors tried to stand out through unusual, flowing designs. But is that really the only way to differentiate?

Even the robots roaming the fair – much like those we’ve grown used to seeing in sushi restaurants – and holograms reminiscent of Instagram reels from Asian metropolises were not always enough to shift this perception. It seems that the “golden vein of creativity” may be in need of fresh inspiration.

Finally, RFID technology might now appear almost obvious, but it should not be underestimated. It is like a loyal companion working quietly behind the scenes: thanks to it, objects come to life, communicate with one another and move with precision. So even if it feels familiar, let’s not forget to appreciate its subtle presence.

EuroCIS: the evolution of visual systems and image analysis in retail

In recent years, systems based on vision and image interpretation have gained significant ground in the retail sector. These technologies offer innovative solutions to improve the customer experience, optimise stock management and increase operational efficiency.

Here are some of the areas where these solutions are revolutionising the sector:

• Product image analysis at checkout: vision systems analyse product images during the checkout process. This reduces the need for manual barcode scanning while also preventing losses or fraud. Customers can therefore complete payment quickly and seamlessly.
• Shelf monitoring through images: product images on shelves are analysed to detect stock-outs or predict when they might occur. This helps category managers and visual merchandising experts to optimise shelf space allocation and ensure products are always available to customers.
• People recognition: vision systems can identify people during the shopping journey or at checkout. This makes it possible to classify them into specific clusters and propose targeted offers through proximity marketing. Remember the old Bluetooth beacons? They were the forerunners of these new solutions!

We will continue to follow these trends at Paris Retail Week in September: it will be an opportunity to explore further innovations and developments in the world of retail, which we look forward to sharing with you!