Advertorial

RFID has evolved from its deployment in pilot projects to a scalable solution in the fashion retail sector and is now being implemented in hundreds of stores. Practical examples, such as those from C&A and other international retail companies, demonstrate how the comprehensive integration of RFID leads to increased stock accuracy and consequently fewer out-of-stocks, whilst also enabling more efficient…

Netto Marken-Discount, part of Edeka Group, took an innovation-led step to make shrink measurable – without slowing the checkout experience. The discounter's deployment of AI-powered computer vision from Trigo has just earned Netto the Reta Award 2026 in the Artificial Intelligence category, with Trigo recognised as Top Supplier Retail 2026. But the award matters less than what the technology revealed…

Most retailers are planning for a future that will look very different from the one they operate in today. Stores are becoming more digital, more data-driven and more interconnected. Operations are increasingly supported by automation, real-time decision making and new forms of customer interaction.

Modern retailers are in the middle of a profound shift. The way stores operate, the way infrastructure is designed and the way IT teams are structured are all being reshaped by rising customer expectations, operational costs and a new generation of digital capabilities. Yet for many organisations, the biggest barrier to progress isn’t strategy or ambition.

Shopping trolleys are increasingly becoming digital sales assistants. With the UltimateShopper Plus, Geck demonstrates how navigation, recommendations, self-scanning and loss prevention merge into a single system and why retailers can unlock new efficiency potential as a result.

German brands such as Flink and Müller & Egerer and international retail companies, including Canada's largest book and lifestyle retailer, Indigo Books & Music., whose success story is presented below, recognised the advantages of AI-based workforce management early on and are already benefiting from simpler, data-driven and employee-centred planning.

POS-T Udo Safe from POS Tuning – a clever blend of mechanical feed technology, sensors and motor control. The system allows high-value and theft-prone products such as tobacco or razor blades to be presented safely yet attractively. This innovation can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of retail environments.

Having already proven itself in many pilot programs, Diebold Nixdorf’s AI-powered solution to combat shrink, Vynamic® Smart Vision I Shrink Reduction, is now being used live by the first German retailer. The software has recently been deployed for use at eight self-service checkouts at one of Edeka Paschmann’s supermarkets in Düsseldorf.

Smart Data Capture uses the camera on devices (typically smartphones or handheld computers) to scan barcodes, text, IDs or objects — often including multiple inputs or items simultaneously — to enable workflow automation and transform physical retail data into real-time insights.

Without a doubt, the rise in online ordering across multiple channels is resulting in greater demand for self-service kiosks. In retail, they support applications such as endless aisle, self-checkout and store returns. In hospitality, their role expands to the collection and delivery of food and beverages, acting as a cost-effective solution for restaurants and a convenient option for customers.