EuroCIS is the leading trade fair for retail technology held every year in Düsseldorf. If you want to discover all the details for the next edition, to be held from February 23 to 25, don't miss our interview with Elke Moebius, Director of EuroCIS, especially if you are planning to exhibit or visit the Show.
EuroCIS is the leading fair for retail technology. What does EuroCIS mean in the annual agenda of the industry?
EuroCIS is a “must” for the international retail world. A unique innovation forum, it offers every type of technology retailers require for a successful future. Trend themes include multi-channel integration, digital in-store communication, big data, ibeacons not forgetting a mobile payment. To the tune of 400 exhibitors from 29 nations with innovative technology solutions specifically geared to retailers and their needs in one place ready for direct comparison – this cannot be found anywhere else.
What innovations will we find at EuroCIS 2016?
All the solutions that support retail in implementing its omnichannel strategies. This particularly includes mobile solutions be it for supporting staff in the store, for interacting with shoppers’ smartphones or for implementing mobile payment. In addition to this, topics such as business analytics, cloud-based solutions and – like at previous events – self-checkout and self-scanning will be at the focus of EuroCIS 2016. Likewise, digital price labelling and digital bill-boarding will play a prominent role at EuroCIS since the technologies here have developed enormously in a short period of time.
In 2015 EuroCIS launched the Guided Innovation tours, can you explain what this is about and who can participate?
One Guided Innovation Tour will last 90 minutes. There will be one daily tour offered in English and one in German. After an introduction presented by PlanetRetail on the trends in this industry, the groups will call on eight to ten exhibitor companies and be introduced to them and their products and solutions. Here the focus will be on innovative start-ups and those in the multi-channel area of EuroCIS 2016. The Guided Innovation Tour targets retailers wanting to find out about current innovations at the trade fair. Participation in the tour is free but the number of participants per tour is limited to a maximum of 10 people. Prior online registration is requested at the official website.
Can you give some tips for those exhibitors participating in the show for the first time? (venue regulations, customs, protocol...)
First of all, you should read up on the event online at www.eurocis.com because the EuroCIS Portal offers not only plenty of industry-specific information but is also the ideal way to prepare your visit to the trade fair in Düsseldorf. By accessing the exhibitor database you can not only purchase the cheaper online tickets but also gain a comprehensive overview of the participating companies and their products. Our Matchmaking function makes it possible to already arrange individual appointments with exhibitors during the trade fair period in the run-up to the event. It is also worthwhile taking a look at our extensive programme of forums because both the Omnichannel Forum and the EuroCIS Forum are free to trade fair activities.
The lecture themes and list of speakers are already accessible online – as well as via our convenient and proven EuroCIS App. Furthermore, we will also be using ibeacons again in the exhibition halls for the second time now, as well as Geofencing to provide our exhibitors and visitors with useful information and service already at the airport, train station or the parking lots.
Give us at least 3 reasons to visit the show
- No other trade fair mirrors the dynamic technology developments in retail so comprehensively and currently and presents retail technology in all its formats and functions.
- Lecture forums with excellent speakers inside the exhibition halls.
- EuroCIS offers the time and space for in-depth expert conversations in a pleasant atmosphere.
Finally, can you give us some participation figures of EuroCIS 2015?
EuroCIS in February 2015 broke new records in terms of both exhibitor and visitor numbers: 320 high performers and innovation drivers in retail technology met with 8,782 international trade visitors from 74 nations; of this 85 % were top decision-makers from international retail (+36% exhibitors compared to 2013). And the success story continues! This year 400 exhibitors will be represented on some 10,800 m² of net exhibition space. And we again look forward to welcoming the international IT opinion leaders in retail to Düsseldorf.
