Thousands of visitors once again flocked to Europe’s leading retail solutions event, Retail Business Technology Expo (RBTE), at London Olympia last month. The two-day annual event on 8-9 May was the biggest to date, with more than 370 suppliers on show along with a stellar line-up of retailers and industry experts speaking in over 60 sessions across three theatres.
Retail key issues, challenges and innovations were discussed by inspirational retail speakers including; Dave Robinson, Head of Personalisation, Boots; Frank Muzika, UK Lead Executive, Toys R Us; Beverley Murigneux, Head of International, Boux Avenue; Sean O’Connor, Head of Product for Buy, Mobile and Customer Experience, John Lewis; Martin Goldstein, Head of Purchasing, River Island; Alexander Allen, Director of Strategy & Business Development, Maplin; Steve Moore, Director of Connected Home, Dixons Carphone and Kræn Østergaard Nielsen, CTO, COOP DENMARK.
RBTE 2017 attracted all the retail movers and shakers from across the globe, all hungry for ideas, information, products and solutions to help them run their retail organisation even more effectively. They came to do business with the wide range of exhibitors who enjoyed a hugely successful show, with many exhibitors already rebooked for the 2018 edition.
Visitors were blown away by the latest innovation and future tech in retail including robots, AI, drones and many other types of datagathering inventions on display, which allow retailers to collect data around buying needs and increase in-store customer experiences.
A big trend that came through this year was Cloud technology, which offers greater payment/omnichannel security and peace of mind for customers to make their buying journey even more streamlined.
The popular Innovation Trail & Awards, sponsored by Aptos, were back in 2017 offering visitors a great opportunity to experience first-hand exhibitors’ very best solutions, products and services that are shaping the way the retail and branding industry will evolve.
Shortlisted entries were featured in the Innovation Trail at RBTE, and were highlighted on the ‘Winners Wall’ at the event. In a very hotly contested and close competition, the judges couldn’t decide between two companies for the coveted award, so in an RBTE first, there were two winners for this year’s award. MariElla Labels Oy for its electronic price labels product, EllaFashion, and SmartPixels for its innovative product, Projected Augmented Reality.
The show offered endless networking opportunities for the retail community in attendance, from the Dilax Big Party on day one, K3 retailer lounge, the gloodoo champagne bar, happy hours, roundtables and retailer networking events.
In its aftermath, visitors and exhibitors alike have been keen to praise the show, and the quality of discussions, audience, products, innovation and networking on offer across the two days.
RBTE
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