RBTE: 6 sessions you can’t afford to miss

Anyone who’s anyone in European retail will be at London’s Retail Business Technology Expo (RBTE) this Wednesday and Thursday (9^th/10^th March), and the speaker line-up for the 2016 show looks outstanding.

Here are my tips for the sessions retailers should try to attend, in order to gain cutting-edge insights into connecting with – and profiting from – omnichannel shoppers.

What does the customer want, need or think?
9^th March, 12:50 – 13:30, eCommerce Theatre

If retailers could answer this question it would unlock thousands of pounds worth of revenue, so it’s worth going along to hear representatives from Kantar Retail, The Entertainer, Evans Cycles and Blueleaf share their thoughts. Topics for discussion will include whether we should thank or blame technology for customer expectations, and how retail businesses can increase customer loyalty.

The omnichannel opportunity: How to drive higher sales using a 360⁰ view of the customer and a single view of stock
9^th March, 12:15 – 13:00, Retailer Bootcamp Theatre

Free retailer bootcamps are an invaluable source of insight at RBTE, and iVend Retail is delighted to be hosting one on the opportunities available in-store with a connected retail strategy. Following on from our successful webinar with the BRC, we’ll be discussing why a single view of the customer and a single view of stock is essential for driving store performance – and outlining a roadmap to achieving it.

Join iVend’s free retailer bootcamp

The digital consumer in retail
9^th March, 14:20 – 14:50, Theatre B

How are digital opportunities impacting shopper behaviour across all channels? The impact of consumer technology on bricks-and-mortar expectations is something we discussed in our recent report, The Omni-Illusion, and WPP’s David Roth will be picking up the baton at RBTE to share the analyst’s latest insights.

The omnichannel swap shop – how shopping is changing and why consumers use certain channels
10^th March, 10:10 – 10:40, Theatre B

Following on from WPP’s presentation, BT customer insights and futurology specialist, Nicola Millard, will kick off day two of the show with an intriguing presentation on the evolving behaviours of omnichannel shoppers. Find out why channels need to facilitate consumer decisions, rather than drive them, and why shopping as a whole is becoming more ‘goal centric’.

Come together – how Abbey Road Studios harmonised commerce and culture
10^th March, 15:– – 15:30, Theatre A

Great customer experiences increase profits – ask Abbey Road Studios. The legendary music venue will be sharing its story at RBTE, outlining how retailers can build experience-led add-ons to the traditional retail model through omnichannel technology.

Predictions for eCommerce in 2020
10^th March, 15:40 – 16:30, eCommerce Theatre

I’ve mentioned several sessions that look at the store’s role in omnichannel retail, but key ecommerce topics will also be hotly debated at RBTE 2016. Before you leave the show, it’s worth heading to this panel discussion with Ralph Lauren, Dreams and Secretsales.com. Creating seamless shopping experiences will be among the talking points, along with the future of personalization.

For more omnichannel insights and technology demonstrations, visit iVend Retal at RBTE 2016, stand 520. Visit our dedicated RBTE landing page to find out more about what’s happening at the show and book your appointment with an iVend consultant.