A massive turnout which included leading local and international retail solution providers recently attended the Smart Stores Expo which concluded yesterday (January 25), in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The three-day event was held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec).

The show received an overwhelming response from industry peers and visitors alike, with exhibitors delighted with the quality of the visitors, according to the organisers.

The event played host to a number of live product demos and industry specific conferences for retail sector, it said.

Several prominent speakers from reputed brands like Paris Gallery, McArthur+Company, Safeer Group, Chalhoub group, NCC Group, Axiom Telecom, Sedar, Elo Touch Solutions, Xplace GmbH, Philips Lighting, Umdasch Shopfitting L.L.C and Retail Arabia took part in the expo’s conference during the first two days, which was held as part of the event, it added.

Several leading retail chains who visited the event found it to be extremely informative, for offering a rare opportunity to learn the latest trends and innovations in retail technology.

With technology influencing customer purchase decisions, visitors also noted that incorporating it in store will help retailers in providing added value to customers and help drive profitability.

Prashant Menon, director – projects, iSolve IT, leading providers of retail solutions including POS systems, ELS, and asset tracking, said: “the expo is a platform to network with the regional retail sector. We are showcasing some really interesting concepts like digital signage, mobility devices, particularly the industrial models.”

“As we all know, retail market is ever-changing and consumers are constantly on the lookout for superior shopping experience. Our stand has been designed to offer the visitors a unique experience, and showcase the benefits of using in-store technologies,” he said.

“Customer buying habits have changed tremendously and the retail environment is definitely set to see a huge change. People are going smart, and this certainly calls for use of smart technologies,” he added.

Emil Zagirov, director international expansion, Xplace, said: “The retail sector is increasingly focusing on adopting new and smart technologies and working to improve consumer experience, but there is no common platform to share knowledge and showcase developments in the sector.”

“We see the expo as an ideal stage to share knowledge and latest innovations that can significantly contribute to enhancing efficiencies and improve services in the retail sector,” he said.

Jayaraman Nair, chairman of VIS Exhibition - organisers of the show, said: “We are very happy with the results. The feedback from exhibitors, visitors and industry leaders is very positive. We also hosted a successful conference, followed by panel discussions on a variety of topics on the first two days that focused on innovation and future of the retail industry.”


“We believe that the discussions were productive in generating awareness about the existing and future opportunities in the retail sector in the region. We are now eager to expand the event in the forthcoming years,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service