Elke Moebius, Director of EuroShop & EuroCIS, talks about her highlights: AI, connected retail and cappuccino

A photo of Elke Moebius, laughing at an event; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf / A. Wiese

Elke Moebius has been Director of EuroShop & EuroCIS at Messe Düsseldorf since 2008.
© Messe Düsseldorf / A. Wiese

19.02.2024

by Yvonne Manleitner & Julia Pott

For the past 15 years, Elke Moebius has spearheaded EuroCIS, immersing herself deeply in the evolution of the retail sector and exploring flagship stores across the globe. With a keen eye on emerging trends and cutting-edge technologies, her expertise is unparalleled.

As EuroCIS 2024 approaches, set to take place from February 27 to 29 in Düsseldorf, we were eager to get Elke's personal take on the event. We sat down with her to discuss her interests within the retail industry, the topics she's passionate about and the shopping conveniences she treasures.

Elke, if you had to pick one topic that is currently keeping the retail industry on its toes, what would it be?

The answer is simple: AI!

Artificial Intelligence takes many processes to a whole new level. Generative AI can create new content and thus improve customer interactions, for example. It can train using its own data. This opens up new ways for retailers to address their customers individually and make informed decisions much more easily and quickly. By automating processes, employees save a lot of working time, which they can repurpose to complete more important tasks. Sales forecasts will become simpler and more accurate, product range compositions will improve, optimal pricing will be made easier – in short, AI will truly revolutionize the industry and we will be able to observe this at many stands at EuroCIS 2024. I am incredibly excited!

AI is omnipresent right now. At EuroCIS 2024, you can discover live which processes and technologies Artificial Intelligence is involved in and how it is revolutionizing retail.

Would you like to shop more often in just-walk-out stores? Or do you prefer the classic checkout with staff?

Autonomous stores, which offer a smooth checkout experience, are the pinnacle of shopping convenience. So it's no wonder that Seamless Stores will be on show at EuroCIS 2024. Come along and try out this innovative store format for yourself.

I think both are good, it depends a lot on the context and the product. At the NRF in New York a few weeks ago, for example, Amazon's just-walk-out store was really practical, as you could buy your lunch quickly at lunchtime without having to queue or go through the traditional check-out process. If I want to take my time shopping and maybe even buy my weekly groceries, then a larger store space with a beautiful design, tasting stations and advice on products and recipes from the staff inspires me.

I usually find self-service checkouts in supermarkets very convenient, as you can just "scan" yourself past the checkout queue and the queues are usually shorter there.

In any case, I find it very exciting that many food retailers are working on different formats of smart stores.

What characterizes a good omnichannel shopping experience for you?

With a good omnichannel experience, I don't really care which sales channel I use. Whether online or offline – the main thing is that I find what I'm looking for, receive good advice and can easily exchange the product (regardless of the channel) if I don't like it after all. For me, the IKEA service is a good example of a successful omnichannel strategy.

Omnichannel services are the key to a successful customer journey these days. Find out more about our Connected Retail hot topic.

A person holds a yellow item of clothing in front of an intelligent mirror that displays product details for the item; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf / A. Wiese

Why should EuroCIS visitors pay attention to the Stages?

So far, I've learned something really exciting in every presentation I've listened to - often directly from the "cockpit", the very heart of the industry, so to speak. At the Stages, exhibitors and retailers provide very practical insights into processes and findings that otherwise remain hidden most of the time. We are extremely happy that so many well-known retail companies are represented, including Douglas, Globus, C&A, Markant, POCO and many more. In our broad range of presentations on various technology topics, everyone is sure to find a session that will help them make progress.

Complete the sentence: "If I didn't attend ... at EuroCIS, I missed half of it!"

For me, a visit to the EHI-Stands is a must: to greet my colleagues from Cologne – after all, I have been working with them successfully for 16 years – and also to enjoy the great cappuccino that is always served there.

EuroCIS is more than just an expo: what other opportunities are there to relax, have a drink and a chat with others from the retail industry?

EuroCIS 2024 will be a fantastic event! Human interaction and fun are crucial, of course. Come to our After Work Party on February 28 from 6 pm, for example. We will meet at the Connected Retail Stage. If you would like to get to know the Start-up hub exhibitors better, you can also join us there for happy hour on February 27 from 5 pm. You can never have too many networking opportunities. That's what makes a trade fair so charming and valuable.

An invitation to an after-work party at EuroCIS, people celebrating at bar tables in the background; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf / A. Wiese

If you could wish for a practical technology solution in retail, what would it be?

Any way to make the payment process – perhaps even with biometric data – even quicker and more convenient. The checkout is honestly always the most annoying moment for me when shopping, especially in the supermarket.

What's new at EuroCIS 2024? Are there any launches you can reveal?

The Guided Tours from the dlv are new. I am delighted that the German Shopfitting Association (dlv) is making EuroCIS easier to understand and more accessible for its members. After all, shopfitting without digital elements no longer exists.

We are also celebrating the premiere of our new video podcast "Trade Talk Today". In our new "Morning Show", our viewers will find out everything they need to know about each day of the trade fair. We also have exhibitors as guests in each show, with whom we talk about the latest new products and the most exciting innovations.

How many exhibitors do you manage to visit in person over the three days of the fair?

You wouldn't believe how much I would like to shake hands with all the Ausstellern! Unfortunately, the three days of EuroCIS are far too short for that. I couldn't name a percentage of those I will be able to visit in person. In any case, it is always a great feeling for me to walk through the halls during set-up and see familiar faces again. The EuroCIS exhibitors are a real community!