Focus: Technology

Posted On 10 Dec 2020

While it was already playing an increasingly important role in the in-store experience, technology will gain even more importance in a post-COVID retail world. Consumer demand for contactless transactions will continue, as will the need for tech-enhanced brand experiences in-store. Meanwhile, retailers, brands, and vendors operating with reduced staffs due to 2020’s economic challenges will need to be as efficient as possible. Here are a few of our members’ most recent technological offerings that can help you succeed in 2021.

Ascentic Retail Engineering by Audio Authority’s Automated bed demonstration system unites multiple technologies — automation, video, audio, motion sensing, and manual controls — to envelop the shopper in a powerful selling experience. This presentation allowed shoppers to experience an articulating bed. Sensors start the presentation once the user is on the bed, and a video narrates the features while the bed is in action. The presentation may be paused or restarted at any time using manual controls.

Hamacher Resource Group’s Custom Reorder Website is a central location to reorder all parts. It can include images of the pieces to minimize mistakes. When prior pieces used are stored in a database that can be accessed behind the scenes, everyone across the supply chain can save money by reusing pieces that can be repurposed in a new reset for the same or another brand.

Kingsmen Projects’ 24/7 Unmanned Popup Store offers a revolutionary retail experience, where shoppers can conveniently enter the store anytime to browse, buy and collect their purchases. First in Singapore, the popup store is an integration of complex technologies — from advanced security solutions and video-assisted self-help kiosks to an in-store roving life bot. Designed and built to be modular and transportable, the store can be extended for a larger area, relocated easily, and reconfigured to fit different spaces.

Nexmosphere’s XC-800 series is an award-winning controller that offers the ability to add sensors and LED lighting to create unique interactive applications wherever digital signage is applied. This powerful compact box is equipped with eight sensor inputs to connect and combine sensors such a proximity, motion, and pickup detection. It drives up to six individual controllable RGBW led outputs. By utilizing the standard API, they are easy to use with almost any digital hardware platform using a single USB connection.

Instorescreen’s Intouch displays and interactive screen technology, with Lenovo OEM Solutions, allows you to transform any retail solution into a full digital experience. The INTOUCH156 is protected with antimicrobial technology, an aluminum chassis, and hardened glass front. It’s a modular all-in-one interactive display, with single cable technology and powered by Lenovo’s best technology.

OnQ’s Converge Control enables dynamic, customer-driven interaction that personalizes the shopping experience, letting customers drive the in-store shopping experience by simply scanning a QR code. Customers then navigate the shopping experience with their phones, never once coming into physical contact with the retail fixture. The solution has endless development possibilities and can be adapted to customize virtually any in-store experience.

STC Logistics’ technology (no image) provides seamless tracking of freight and installations for rollouts, remodels, and new store openings. Utilizing STC’s logistic network combined with its installation network gives customers total control of a project from when it is picked up at the vendor to the final installation in store.

Hamacher Resource Group’s Planograms can be built for fixtures ranging in size from 1 ft. to 20-ft. or larger. HRG can accept them in any format for conversion. HRG will provide details to help those implementing the fixtures down to each shelf, fixture number, clips, graphics, and even the notches where the components are hung. In addition, the company can create planograms for brands. HRG has 40 years of experience building planograms based on purchase decision trees while also optimizing available space.

KC Store Fixtures’ uvcSanitizer eliminates bacteria and viruses in one minute. The uvcSanitizer has a patented technology using UV-C light to rapidly and safely remove bacteria and viruses from a wide variety of items in 1-minute cycles. Each unit features multiple stainless-steel sealed layers, dual door sensors, a lock-tight door handle, and a magnetic rubber seal to ensure zero light leakage. While the science and technology are complex, the functionality is designed to be simple, quick, and safe.

Nexmosphere’s X-Eye Series for people tracking is part of the XY range of cost-effective sensors that can detect and analyze the presence, distance, and demographics of shoppers in front of a digital signage installation. Whether you want to increase the impact by triggering the right content at the right time or want to collect valuable data, the XY range has a sensor providing the input to do so. All XY range sensors can be combined with any other Nexmosphere Element such as LED control or pickup detection.

Nexmosphere’s XT-EF-series Air Gesture sensor is an ideal solution for touchless input on digital signage installations. Available in three sizes, the sensor can be hidden behind any non-metal surface. It registers when the shopper swipes left, right, up, and down. All inputs from the sensor can be used on a digital signage system — for example, toggling through menu options or selecting product information without having to touch a screen, the merchandise, or any physical button.

Hamacher Resource Group’s Heat Mapping is a great tool to help build a case for deserving shelf space. Using sales data (in units or dollars), heat mapping highlights the top-selling products in a section or department. HRG has applied heat mapping to help manufacturer clients understand how their brands were performing at new retailers. The analysis can be done at the segment, tray, or product level depending on the detail desired.