Conference Highlights
34th Annual IBM Retail User Group Conference
May 15 - 18, 2011 in Orlando, Florida
By: Tina L. Horne, Ph.D.
IBM Retail Store Solutions

Over 400 participants attended this year’s IBM Retail User Group (IRUG) 34th Conference, held in Orlando, FL on May 15 – 18, 2011, including many of retail’s leading association of U.S. and international IBM retail systems users, and IBM retail solution providers. The conference delivered the latest education and information on mobile solutions and challenges facing retailing focused on the theme, “Tools to Captivate the Connected Customer.” The conference also introduced a working IRUG mobile application to help attendees maximize their experiences at the event.

Here are just a few of the many positive comments from the Conference:

1 “This year’s conference proved to be one of the most diverse and robust conferences yet, with a variety of compelling key note presentations and comprehensive elective sessions all focused on solutions and tools to engage the increasingly mobile and tech savvy customer of the 21st century,” said Michael Sachar, President, IBM Retail User Group. “In addition, the opportunity for attendees to network with key retail executives and their peers made this conference the not-to-be missed retail event of 2011.”

2 Heidi Happy, from BJ’s Wholesale Club, puts it this way: “…of all the conferences I attend, IRUG provides the education, networking and open environment to develop peer relationships essentially important to me and BJ’s. IRUG provides a friendly atmosphere conducve for the sharing of experiences and ideas with other retailers and associate members who focus on solving common business problems.

3 Associate members were also enthusiastic. Richard Thibedeau, SVP Retail Operations, Intelligent Clearing Network, Inc. said, “having only attended for the first time in 2010, ICN realized the difference in IRUG and a typical trade show. For 2011 we were a first time exhibitor and also conducted an elective session. We found the atmosphere to be very relaxed and our experience was that of sharing and openness on the part of the retailers we met.”

The annual conference brought together an impressive group of retail professionals and featured key note presentations by leading retailers and industry experts including:

1. James Canton, Ph.D. Futurist, Author and Visionary Business Advisor — Managing Extreme Change
2. Darrell Sandefur, Technology Architect, The Kroger Co. — The importance of mobility
.3 Leo Suarez, Vice President, Marketing, IBM Retail Store Solutions — IBM’s retail strategy
4. Andrew B. Morris, CEO & Founder, Morris Advisors, Inc. — The mobilized merchant
5. Richard E. Mader, President of Mader International Consulting (MIC), Executive Director, ARTS — How retailers can shape their customers’ shopping experience
6. Daniel L. Hopping, President and CEO, Next Retail Group, Inc. —The future of consumer culture
7. Chris Schwanz, Program Manager, International Dairy Queen, — PCI compliance in franchised environments

In addition to main tent presentations, the conference offered two super sessions and 34 elective sessions.

Super Sessions
1. Customer Connectivity and Mobile Information Management are Re-shaping the Retail Industry: This Super Session focused on mobility and was moderated by Frank Riso Sr. Director Industry Solutions Group - Retail & Hospitality, Motorola Solutions, Inc. The panel included Darrell Sandefur, Technology Architect, The Kroger Co - Ravi Bagal, Vice President & Global Managing Director Retail and Distribution, Verizon - Richard Mader, Executive Director, ARTS - Andrew B. Morris, CEO & Founder, Morris Advisors, Inc. and Matthew Donegan-Ryan, SVP of Sales & Marketing, CrowdCompass.
 
2. The Store: Why it Matters and How it is Changing:
This Super Session, sponsored by IBM, focused on the store as the critical channel within a larger multi-channel strategy. It featured retail panelists Brett Bonner, Senior Director Research and Development, The Kroger Co. and Arthur Tisi, CIO, Fairway Group Holdings with IBM panelists William Noonan and Tadd Wilson from Retail Store Solutions (RSS). Bill Watson, also from RSS, moderated the session.

Elective Sessions
A total of thirty four Elective Sessions were presented by Retail Members, Associate Members, and IBM, addressing a large spectrum of topics of interest to the retail and associates membership. Topics by retail and associate members included mobility sessions on payment, marketing and strategy, store infrastructures, digital couponing, outsourcing, scanning technologies and standards. IBM topics included modular self checkout, loss prevention, dynamic store merchandising, loyalty solutions, research in retail, smarter consumer research, smarter checkout and more.

Birds of a Feather sessions - Lunch & Learn:
In addition to the standard presentations “Birds of a Feather” sessions were held during a lunch. Retailers and associates gathered at tables for informal discussions relating to pre-determined topics. A traditional favorite of the group, 2011 topics included mobility strategies, social media, cloud computing, metrics and analysis, virtualization and security.

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Conference Highlights
33rd Annual IBM Retail User Group Conference
April 25 – 28, 2010 in San Antonio, Texas
By: Tina L. Horne, Ph.D.
IBM Retail Store Solutions

The 33rd conference was held in San Antonio, TX on April 25 – 28, 2010 and by all reports, was a big success. The conference experienced a marked increase in attendance, which attests to the conference’s unique networking and retail education benefits. Attended by more than 450 retailers, solution providers and IBM retail experts, the conference delivered the latest education and information on solutions and challenges facing the retail industry focused on the theme, “revitalizing the customer experience.”

“This year’s conference proved to be one of the most diverse and robust conferences yet, with a variety of compelling key note presentations and comprehensive elective sessions all focused on the theme of revitalizing the customer experience,” said Kelly Hewitt, President, IBM Retail User Group. “In addition, the opportunity for attendees to network with key retail executives and their peers makes this conference a not-to-be missed retail event.”

The annual conference brought together an impressive group of retail professionals and featured key note presentations by leading retailers including:

• Ron Ferri, Business Process Consultant - Retail Operations, Giant Eagle, Inc.
• Jeff Roster, VP, Industry, Market Strategies, Retail, Gartner, Inc.
• Brenda Cassas, Director of Sales & Use Tax, Michaels Stores, Inc.
• Joerg Schuepbach, Head of Maintenance and Support of gmPOSsystems, Migros
• Jason Todd and Tim Webb, Technical Experts, Wal-Mart
• Lou Sterzenbach, Director of Applications, Pier 1 Imports
• Perry Kramer, VP Sales Operations, Corporate & Distributed Solutions, BJ’s
• Chris Schwanz, Program Manager, International Dairy Queen

In addition to main tent presentations, the conference offered two super sessions and six deep dive sessions on a variety of topics as well as 26 elective sessions. Below is a sampling of the topics covered at this year’s conference:

Super Sessions showcased two major topics of the conference
1. Mobile retail management - information anywhere, anytime –moderated by Frank Riso from Motorola, the panel included Sandeep Bhanote, Global Bay Mobile, Kelly Hewitt, Stage Stores, Inc., Dan Hopping, Ext Retail Group, Jim Nadler, aferBot, Inc. and Jeff Roster, Gartner Group.

2. Future of Checkout –moderated by Norma Wolcott from IBM Retail Store Solutions with a panel including Tadd Wilson and Bill Noonan from IBM plus Jason Todd and Tim Webb from Wal-Mart, Inc.

“Deep-Dive Sessions cover variety of important topics
• “Shootout at the OS Corral” - panel discussion focused on operating environments for stores — Windows, Linux, 4690, and even DOS.
• “Coupon Hoedown” - explored the current technology of coupons used in today’s retail environments — including paper, electronic, mobile, in-store and manufacture coupons — as well as the future of coupon technology, from scanning coupons on mobile phones to offering in-store promotions and e-commerce venues.
• “Reach for the Clouds, Partner” – an in-depth look at how you can increase customer satisfaction at lower costs but implementing Cloud in a SOA infrastructure
• “Texas Dust Bowl or Fresh Profitable Perishable” – discussion focused on how perishables play a large role in where the consumers will shop.
• “WIC Electronic Benefit Transfer – Are you ready for national expansion” – a detailed outlook on WIC EBT to better understand federal plans to spur POS readiness, and learn about WIC EBT Operating Rules.

Elective Sessions offer in-depth information
Twenty six Elective Sessions, presented by Retail Members, Associate Members, and IBM, covered a large spectrum of topics of interest to the retail and associates membership including mobile shopping, payment strategies to counter fraud, self checkout, how ROI and TCO can help quantify business value of store technology, loss prevention solutions from IBM, building a dynamic infrastructure operating environment, PCI compliance issues, retail sales tax automation, the future of point of sale and many more.

2010 Retail Innovation Award announced
Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc., with its project, “Automation of Self Checkout Balancing”, was announced as the winner of the 2010 Retail Innovation Award, during a special awards ceremony at the conference. This award carries special meaning because the winner is chosen by the winner’s peer group – the retail membership of the organization. The innovative solution provider, Balance Innovations, was also honored with the 2010 Retail Solution Innovation Award.

Make plans to attend next year’s conference
The 34th Annual Conference of the IBM Retail User Group will be May 15 - 18, 2011 at the Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate in Orlando, FL – be sure to mark your calendar and plan to be there for this must attend annual retail event.

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Conference Highlights
32nd Annual IBM Retail User Group Conference
May 17-20, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada
by Tina L. Horne, Ph.D.
IBM Retail Store Solutions

The 32nd Annual Conference of the IBM Retail User Group was held in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 17-20 at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa. The conference, attended by more than 360 retailers, solution providers and IBM retail experts delivered the latest education and information on solutions and challenges facing the retail industry.

“We believe this year’s conference addressed the key issues that all retailers are facing in these challenging economic times,” said Kelly Hewitt, President, IBM Retail User Group, who served as conference host. “Our conference, with the theme, SHARE-LEARN-SUCCEED, Turning Challenges into Wins, delivered the latest ideas, solutions and IT strategies inside and outside the walls of the store to retail executives and solution providers around the world.”

Attendees praise networking and retail education benefits

One of the key benefits, based on attendee feedback, was the opportunity to network with key retail executives and their peers, which makes this conference unique among retail events . New this year was a “SpeakEasy” networking opportunity for attendees to communicate and network in a casual setting after Tuesday’s events concluded.

Leading retail and business professionals speak at this year’s conference

The annual event brought together an impressive group of retail professionals to discuss ideas, trends, and technology shaping the future of retail. Keynote speakers featured in the main tent included: Dr. Robert Genetski, a prominent economist and financial researcher and Chris Schroeder, EVP of Lowe’s Home Improvement, who gave his insights on information security.

A main tent panel discussed the topic of how retailers are surviving and thriving in today’s challenging climate, entitled: The Three E's of Retailing: Economy, Efficiency and the Environment”. The panel featured Joe Rosolanko from Toys R Us and Marc Windahl from Scheels, Inc. who discussed initiatives their companies are employing today to adjust to the current economic downturn. As part of the panel, Leon Milnes from IBM offered his insights into “green” initiatives retailers are implementing now that can help both the environment and their companies.

A second main tent panel, "Mobile Phones the Next Retail Revolution", featured Richard Mader, Executive Director, ARTS, John Rohland, AVP, Sales Operations Solutions, BJ's Wholesale Club, Mohammad Khan, President, ViVOtech, Inc. and Kristian Gjerding, CEO, CellPoint Mobile, Inc.

Retail speakers were on hand from Godiva Chocolatier, Inc, Pier 1 Imports, Safeway, Inc, IT Sure, InVision Software, Inc, IBM Corporation, Bealls Department Stores, Lowe's, SofTechnics, Inc, Motorola, AirDefense, Inc, Verisign, Microsoft, INX and RSR Research LLC and Next Retail Group to offer their insights at super session and elective sessions, providing insight and meaningful experiences addressing today’s challenges.

New Super Session format

This year, the conference introduced “super sessions”, which offered the opportunity to share in-depth information in a panel-discussion format comprising of retailers, industry experts, business associates and IBM professionals on four major topics:

Elective sessions offer in-depth information

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The 31st Annual Conference of the IBM Retail User Group was held in Orlando, Florida on May 18-21 at the beautiful Renaissance Resort at SeaWorld. Based on attendee feedback, the conference delivered on all expectations particularly in areas of education, networking and information.

“We believe that we addressed the key issues that all of us are facing in the competitive world of retail,” said Kelly Hewitt, President of the User Group. “Our theme of “get connected, stay connected” really resonated this year with the conference delivering the latest ideas, solutions and IT strategies inside and outside the walls of the store to retail executives and IBM solution partners around the world.”

This annual event brought together retailers, and IBM solution partners to discuss ideas, trends, and the technology shaping the future of retail solutions. The recent expansion of the association’s focus beyond the four walls of the store brought participation from all areas of retail management. Over 350 participants learned from their peers and networked with some of the most influential names in the retailing industry.

The conference featured presentations by prominent retailers including Office Depot, CVS, Bloom Grocery, Giant Eagle and Bob Evans restaurants. Attendees also got to hear from Irish Senator Feargal Quinn, founder of Dublin based Superquinn Markets about the challenge of providing customer service in the 21st century. Jim Stickley, co-founder of TraceSecurity offered insights into the important issue of PCI DSS security.

In addition, 37 elective sessions were offered by retail members, IBM and their retail solution partners. The sessions addressed Retail Green Initiatives, Loss Prevention, Mobile Commerce, POS Functionality, Front-End Efficiencies, The Next Wave of Self Service Innovations, PCI Compliance, and many more. Numerous “Birds of a Feather” and roundtable sessions were available which provided lively discussions among attendees on some of the more pressing and pertinent issues facing retailers today.

Innovation and technology remains a key driver of the powerful trends that are shaping the way the consumer shops and will be served in the future. To recognize technology innovation leaders, the User Group established the “IBM Retail User Group – Innovation Award” in 2007. This year’s winner was, CVS/Caremark; “PhotoTouch, In-store Photo System”, and received the 2008 award at a ceremony during this year’s conference.

The 32nd annual conference will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the popular JW Marriott Resort. Mark the dates of May 17-20, 2009 on your calendar now, and look for more details about this exciting event in upcoming issues of the POST.

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The “IBM Retail User Group”