EuroCIS 2006, the three-day International Trade Fair for Communications, Information and Security Technology in Retail, drew to a successful close in Düsseldorf on Thursday, 16 February. Exhibitors and visitors were equally satisfied. Commenting on the importance of EuroCIS, Prof. Götz Werner, managing partner of dm-Drogeriemärkte and President of the EuroHandelsinstitut (EHI), said: "Visions are the prerequisites for entrepreneurial success. Turning visions into reality takes time and requires the ability to constantly adapt. EuroCIS in Düsseldorf offers plenty of valuable momentum for entrepreneurial action.”

The resounding success of the trade fair was also reflected by attendance figures: EuroCIS 2006 saw 181 exhibitors from 14 nations showcase the latest products, services and trends in retailing. All in all, 5,100 international experts from all segments of retail travelled to the Rhine in order to gather information on the retail solutions available - i.e. approximately 600 more visitors than registered at the previous event in 2003. Furthermore, a growing number of international visitors was noted - with almost one quarter coming from abroad - most of whom came from other countries in Europe but also from Russia and Ukraine, the USA and Japan.

These figures confirm exhibitors' reports that expectations had been exceeded. Exhibiting firms also unanimously praised visitors' high decision-making competence. High-calibre representatives of international retail chains visited EuroCIS to gather information, including executives from all lines of business and all distribution channels. Food retail was in evidence here just as much as textile retail, department stores and drugstores. Also represented alongside the retail trade were food service chains and banks.

Jürgen Wilde, Board Member of Wincor-Nixdorf, was more than satisfied with his firm's participation at the fair and said: "Our expectations were clearly exceeded. Here we find the right quality of visitors and, what's more, demand was substantially higher than anticipated. It is particularly worth mentioning that we were visited not only by German retailers but also by numerous international visitors including many from Eastern Europe. I consider this an indication that EuroCIS will become established as an annual meeting point for the industry.”

At this year's EuroCIS visitors' interest and many exhibitors' presentations focused on PoS technology and check-out solutions. This is the segment expected to prompt most innovations over the next few years. The trend is towards shoppers' auto-check-out, i.e. easy-to-handle and fool-proof cash-handling systems. Check-out solutions also comprise RVMs - reverse vending machines that have been in great demand with visitors to the fair since the individual store solutions for returnable bottles are to be abolished as from 1 May.

Also very well attended was the EuroCIS Exhibitor Forum that offered hands-on talks and tips for commercial success amidst the hustle and bustle of the fair. For the first time, all lectures were interpreted simultaneously - a move very well received by international visitors. Likewise, the two accompanying congresses, the "Innovationstag Handel” and the "Global Retail Technology Forum”, met with plenty of approval. Here experts from the retail arena discussed trends, strategies and visions for the sector.
The next EuroCIS will be held from 27 February to 1 March 2007 in Düsseldorf.

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16 February 2006