Image courtesy of Kiosk London

Retailers looking for innovation, advice, and predictions within the retail space can take advantage of a number of retail technology based events that take place throughout the year. Including the Omni-channel Retailing Summit, Retail Business Technology Expo, RetailWeek Live and the Internet Retailing Expo.

Online, mobile, social, kiosk, digital, self-service and customer journey are just some of the topics that are to be explored through conferences, workshops, exhibitions, consultations and showcases with the aim of supporting retailers through the multi-channel and omni-channel shopping era.

Among the top ten events for 2014 (in date order) are:

1. Omni-channel Retailing Summit
When: 5 February 2014
Where: Cavendish Conference Centre, London UK
Who: Key decision makers and opinion formers within the retail arena.

Omni-channel Retailing Summit discusses and debates the latest strategies for omni-channel. It is designed to enable retailers to maximise profits and market share through cost effective, engaging and seamlessly integrated multichannel implementation. The programme includes:

• Retailer Interview: The management challenges, secrets to omni-channel success – Looking at the challenges an omni-channel retailer faces and how to engage the organisation to buy-into the concept.
• Panel Discussion: What does the face of omni-channel look like in the future? – This interactive session asks a panel of multichannel professionals for their views on the future of the multichannel retailer and what could be the next new challenge to achieve customer engagement at each touch-point.
• Strategies and tactics for targeted omni-channel communication: Understanding your customers in high definition – An update on the possibilities for targeted advertising from display to TV; approaches for leveraging these capabilities, and personalisation and targeting.
• Retailer Case Studies: Evolution of ‘in-store’, can bricks & mortar and e-commerce work together effectively? –  Talking about offering click and collect convenience; changing role of stores; differentiating in-store experience and driving cross-channel customer experience through online and in store digital strategies.

For more information visit www.theretailbulletin.com/events.php.

2. Retail Business Technology Expo
When: 11 – 12 March 2014
Where: Earls Court, London UK
Who: All members of the team responsible for taking or influencing purchasing decisions including: e-commerce, payments, marketing, loss prevention, finance, supply chain, profit protection, operations, HR and security.

Retail Business Technology Expo gives retailers of any sector, whether they are a small independent or a large group, an overview of the global retail landscape. Attractions include:

• Retailer payment theatre – Featuring a programme for retailers which will share case studies, highlight technological innovation, provide education and discuss the changing regulatory environment.
• Payments conference  – Working with a payment steering committee (including the likes of Pay Pal, Marks and Spencer, Tesco and other major players) the conference has identified key topics for discussion such as omni-channel payment platforms; contactless and NFC card payments; mobile payments; digital Wallets, and cloud based payment services.
• E-commerce boot camp – Offering highly practical workshop sessions with hands on advice on every key element of eCommerce. Topics include: Customer attraction and retention; real time stock and fulfilment; omni-channel customer platform; social media; interactive marketing; customer data, and checkout and payment.
• RFID zone – Looking at all elements of RFID in a practical environment.

For more information visit www.retailbusinesstechnologyexpo.com.

3. RetailWeek Live
When: 12 – 13 March 2014
Where: Hilton London Metropole UK
Who: CEOs, Directors, Heads, Senior management within Regional Management, Trading, Property, Marketing, Finance, E-commerce, Merchandising, Retail Operations, Business Development, HR, IT, Logistics and Supply Chain.

RetailWeek Live debates, discusses and analyses the implications of the latest developments in the retail industry. Topics such as technology, multi-channel, supply chain and customer take focus on dedicated stages. Highlights for technology in the retail space include:

• The Technology Interview – This session looks at the effect that technology is having on a retail proposition and strategic vision. Which technologies are worth investing in now and in the future.
• The Business – The business session tells retailers how to develop a digital strategy with particular focus on using big data to connect with today’s real-time, tech-savvy customer. Insights include – keeping a business relevant in today’s connected world; how to open new opportunities quickly and effectively; ensuring that IT enables rather than hinders, and leveraging multichannel and multi-format business models.
• The consumer – This consumer session takes a global approach and asks what can UK retailers learn from markets across the world about the adoption of new technologies? The key focus is on: how retailers are deploying technology to reflect changing shopping habits; how local cultural habits are shaping global technology trends; which markets should we be watching to predict future behaviours in the UK, and who are the most consumer-orientated retailers worldwide and why?
• Innovation – The innovation session talks to start-up technology companies that have used novel approaches to enhance customer experience, and asks them: what are the next generation of disruptive technologies? What drives genuine innovation in the retail space? What will tomorrow’s store look like? How are consumers expecting to connect with retailers?

For more information visit www.retailweeklive.com.

4. Internet Retailing Expo
When: 26 -27 March 2014
Where: NEC, Birmingham UK
Who: Decision makers of e-commerce, logistics, finance, sales and marketing as well as start up companies.

Internet Retailing Expo gives a full view of internet retailing through conferences, exhibitions, workshops and feature areas. Show highlights include:

• Innovation Studio – This is an onsite TV studio where the latest innovations to drive a multichannel business forward will be discussed.
• Meeting with experts – There are two opportunities for retailers to receive direct advice from experts in their field: Ask the Experts, Doctors Clinic – internet retailing experts within the core areas of web design, mobile, international, IRIS, logistics and merchandising will give one-to-one advice in pre-booked thirty minute clinics. While in the IMRG Knowledge Lounge – retailers can sign up for fifteen minute consultancy meetings with retail experts from IMRG where they can discuss and receive advice on: logistics – who’s the right carrier, what is the right cost for delivery, and free delivery isn’t free; mobile – developing a mobile offering, what does device centric mean, and integrating the journey; digital – how far ahead is the consumer, how to connect digital marketing and tracking information, and third party assistance – affiliates and friends.
• Conferences – There are several conferences on offering looking at the following topics: internet retailing in store, customer experience and journey, international retailing, operations and logistics, digital sales and marketing, and mobile and mobility.
• Workshops – A number of workshops offer hands-on, practical, training focused sessions for example, Unleashing the power of customer convenience – illustrating the critical role that customer convenience plays in boosting overall profitability, and seven ways to drive channel performance in 2014 – exploring seven ways online retailers can drive profitable omni-channel revenue growth through rich, responsive customer experiences.

For more information visit www.internetretailingexpo.com.

5. BT for Retail Summit
When: 21- 22 May 2014
Where: Whittlebury Hall Hotel, Northamptonshire UK
Who: Board members, directors or senior managers in IT, operations, finance, multichannel, strategy, supply chain, e-commerce or marketing from a large high street retail brand, trading through stores and/or online.

The BT for Retail Summit is a two-day conference featuring retail speakers, demos, debates – and dinner. This year’s theme is retail unplugged – unleashing the true power of omni-channel retail. Presentations and demos will look at retail technology within the supply chain and networks, e-commerce and click and collect, and clienteling and payments.

• Expo – Featuring a technology showcase of current and future retail trends including: BT Wi-fi; CRM & loyalty; merchandising; next generation e-commerce and the omni-channel store.
• Conference – Including talks on the future of retail and what retailers are looking for from technology.
• Workshops – A selection of workshops outline the following subjects: CRM, loyalty & clienteling, e-commerce, supply chain, and the store.

For more information visit www.btexpedite.com/retailsummit14.

6. Mobile Retail Summit
When: 5 June 2014
Where: One America Square, London UK
Who: Those working in retail or with retailers.

Mobile Retail Summit explores how mobile is impacting the retail landscape, and what businesses need to do to stay ahead of the game. The day is divided into four sessions where retailers and mobile marketing experts share experiences and insight in the mobile channel:

• On Device – How retailers are generating sales on mobile and tablet devices, through transactional mobile sites and apps.
• Driving Footfall – Explains how to use mobile advertising, couponing and location-based services to drive customers into physical or digital retail outlets.
• In store – Examines how mobile can assist the shopping experience in store, through initiatives as diverse as free wi-fi, iPad kiosks, store guide apps and mobile payments.
• The Future – Looks at the future of retail and the part that mobile and other digital technologies will play in it.
• Consultations  – Meetings with mobile experts covering everything from augmented reality to mobile advertising giving retailers the chance talk in a fifteen minute private forum.

For more information visit www.mretailsummit.co.uk.

7. The Retail Conference 2014
When: 17 September 2014
Where: America Square Conference Centre, London UK
Who: Senior management within retail.

The Retail Conference provides retailers with a place to network, learn and share. The theme for this year is big data with discussions on how it will liberate commercial functions by providing exceptional business insights. The conference also offers three workshops:

• The Art of Personalisation – This session looks at the components needed to truly deliver a personalised customer experience in today’s omni-channel world, and teaches retailers how to strategically implement it into their organisation.
  
• Omni-channel – the next generation – A practical and interactive workshop session describing how the new generation platforms can be agile and support the ever changing consumer and omni-channel retailing.
• Digital Marketing Strategies for 2014 – Hear about the key trends in digital for retail in 2014 and the five key aspects needed in online marketing of social, content, mobile, email and data.

For more information visit www.retailconference.co.uk.

8. Retail Systems Multi-channel Conference
When: 26 September 2014
Where: London Stock Exchange, London UK
Who: CEO’s, CMO’s, IT Directors, Head of IT, Head of Multi-Channel, Head of Website, Head of Mobile, Head of Social Media, Multi-Channel Development Managers, Multi-Channel Consultants, IT Consultants and Head of E-Commerce.

Retail Systems Multi-channel Conference will see senior figures from across the retail world come together to debate the key issues, innovations and challenges confronting multi-channel retailers in 2014 and beyond. It is packed with expert speakers, technology updates, future trend predictions, interactive discussions, networking opportunities and industry case studies.

The panel discussions include:

• Must have multi-channel technologies: what’s hot and what’s not right now?
• A joined up customer experience: who is doing what well?

For more information visit www.retail-systems.com/multichannel.

9. eCommerce Expo
When: 1-2 October 2014
Where: Olympia, London UK
Who: Heads of IT, Multichannel, Ecommerce, Digital Operations, Web Content, Client Solutions, Purchasing, IP Development, Product, CRM and Service Delivery; Directors of Operations, Marketing, SEO, IT and Web, Social & E-media.

eCommerce Expo is dedicated to all aspects of selling online and includes the following highlights.

• Keynote line-up – Hear the thoughts of the biggest players in the industry Facebook, Google, Nectar, V.me as well as a start-up story. Includes: A new era of payments in the changing digital landscape, the future of payments, and the internal struggles of the multichannel team.
• Conference programme – Fifty sessions to choose from across four theatres touching on aspects of e-commerce including: digital & mobile marketing, social platforms, payment & security, and delivery & customer loyalty.
• The eCommerce Global Store – Touch, play and get advice on the latest omni-channel innovations and best practice.
• IMRG Retail Clinic – eCommerce Expo Retail Clinic, offering free drop-in sessions with industry experts covering a range of key areas for online retail.

For more information visit www.ecommerceexpo.co.uk.

10. Kiosk London
When: 15 – 16 October 2014
Where: Barbican Centre, London UK
Who: Customer service managers, managing directors, VPs, marketing and brand managers, kiosk and self-service project managers, purchasers and heads of IT responsible for the implementation of self-service solution and technologies.

Kiosk London is a conference and exhibition completely dedicated to the self-service industry focussing on self-service terminals, technologies and solutions. It is also co-located with Digital Signage London.

For more information visit www.kiosklondon.co.uk.