Retail Tech recently hosted our first Annual Partner Conference, Explore 2011. The purpose of the conference was to bring customers to our facility, introduce services we provide, and have some fun in Minnesota while the weather is still bearable. Unaware of the potential outcome, the event went off without a hitch and everyone enjoyed themselves and learned a ton!
Aside from the networking and personal connections made, our partners, IBM and Epson, had a lot of valuable information to pass on. The speakers kicked off Tuesday afternoon when Peggy Weavil from IBM gave a presentation on Total cost and Value of Store Technology. We learned that IBM is focusing efforts on smarter solutions for retail through a smarter checkout. With the capabilities to integrate mobile, loyalty, and multichannel integration, I have no doubt that IBM will continue to dominate the retail landscape. Peggy provided the retailers with valuable statistics such as “6 out of 7 consumers want to use tech in the shopping process; 1 out of 2 want to use multiple devices.” In simpler terms, your shoppers are buying from your website, in store kiosks, mobile phones and their TV remote. How can you accommodate them?
She followed by discussing IBM’s total cost of ownership. While IBM may not have the most inexpensive point of sale solution, the average “retail-hardened” IBM POS lasts 8.2 years, a whopping 4.3 years longer than any PC-CD based units. Retailers buy IBM systems for their reliability and longevity; when you purchase an IBM POS, you expect to get an innovative, optimized, and sustainable design. Not to mention, it is hard to argue with #1 Market Leadership since 1992. All in all, IBM’s industry leading statistics are staggering.
Speaking of numbers that do not lie, no one has more energy star qualified printers than Epson. Mark Wagner’s presentation on behalf of Epson focused on proving the savings. After showcasing a “cost comparison calculator” comparing Epson with other industry printers, the attendees were beyond impressed. As Mark pointed out, Epson printers are now saving you over 30% paper usage. Surprisingly, the cost retailers can save is even more significant! Want to see it for yourself? Ask a Retail Tech employee to do the calculation for you.
Along with the monetary savings, Mark touched on the environmental reductions Epson printers provide. A few ways that Epson sets the bar for sustainability include: 100% green purchasing worldwide, reducing CO2 emissions by 51% since 1990, along with a longstanding commitment to sustainable manufacturing. Pretty impressive!
Aside from a Lake Minnetonka Boat Cruise, Twins Baseball game, and meeting some extraordinary people, I don’t want to make you feel like you missed anything…..but I think you can be the judge of that. See you next year!
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