Insight into Loss Prevention strategies at Retail Solutions 2008

(12/05/2008)

Retail Solutions is moving to London, after more than 15 years at the NEC Birmingham, in order to provide retailers with greater access to the fast growing retail technology market and exhibitors include BT Expedite, Micros and Zetes.

2008 sees the relaunch of the popular Retail Solutions exhibition at ExCeL in London with an new conference programme run by Retail Week Conferences. The organisers have also announced that EDS is confirmed as the principle partner for the event.

The Retail Week conference programme which will run alongside the free-to-attend exhibition will feature more than 50 case studies delivered by prominent UK and international retailers, who will offer insights and discussion on key strategic issues facing retailers.

The conference will be divided into six conference streams covering Loss Prevention, Multichannel Retail, Business Intelligence, Merchandising Planning, Supply Chain and the Retail Technology Forum. Also planned are a series of practical workshops around PCI –DSS and RFID.

Highlights of the Loss Prevention Forum on Thursday 26 June feature speakers from Focus DIY, Phones 4U, Wilkinson, WHSmith, Tesco and Borders.

Carol Kaye, Profit Protection Controller, Focus DIY, will discuss protecting profit, pushing loss prevention up in the agenda in 2008 and will emphasis the link between loss and marginal erosion.

Lewis Porter, Head of Security and Investigations, Phones 4U, will be looking at cultivating a strong loss prevention culture, while Mick Phipps, Head of Loss Prevention, Wilkinson will talk about investing in physical deterrents for product protection.

Ian Cherry, Group Loss Prevention Director, W H Smith is talking about examining shrinkage beyond the shop floor, followed by Mike Smith, Head of Shrinkage and Distribution Security, Tesco, who will look at the problem of transit and identifying and controlling the risks of product movement.

At this year’s show BT Expedite, BT’s retail specialist division, will be demonstrating the latest version of its Sales Analytics solution which incorporates Business Intelligence and Loss prevention functionality to streamline the identification of fraudulent or suspect transactions across the multichannel retail enterprise.

Following MICROS’ success in the US market with its loss prevention and store analytical software, it has recently set up a dedicated business team, based in Nottingham, to help UK retailers use IT in helping them combat the losses associated with staff theft or fraud. XBR from MICROS enables organisations to deliver transparency across their whole business. It quickly identifies tracks and responds to store events, from the highest sale to a potentially fraudulent return, and enables managers to measure operational performance, and will be demonstrated at Retail Solutions.

Zetes, the auto-ID solutions specialist (formerly Peak Technologies) is to announce two new software products plus a range of innovative new applications for the retail sector at Retail Solutions.

Following on from the success of ‘Store of the Future’ at last years Retail Solutions, which attracted attention from the world’s media, this year Retail Solutions will host a Green feature, sponsored by BT Expedite, the retail solutions division of BT. Retailers are looking for ways to respond to their customers’ interest in greener products and stores and this feature will demonstrate how technology can help.

The European Retail Solutions Awards will take place on the evening of the Wednesday 25th June at Old Billingsgate Market near ExCeL. In 2007 the awards were attended by more than 800 retail IT executives and vendors from the retail, leisure and food services from across Europe. The awards celebrate retailers and suppliers successful use of technology that has driven their businesses forward and recognises some of Europe’s most progressive companies. There are 16 categories to be awarded including; ‘Supply Chain excellence’ and winner of winners ‘European Retail Solution of the year award’. New categories for 2008 include Best Green IT Initiative and Best Multi-channel Integration.

Related topics:  Tagging and theft prevention 

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