Retail in Asia

In Trends

Microsoft showcases Windows 8-based retail devices in Retail Tech Japan

Retail Tech Japan, the largest exhibition in Japan that brings together IT devices and systems for the retail and distribution industry, opened on 5 March. US technology giant Microsoft showcased its new Windows 8-based retail devices in the four days event.

"Last year, we released Windows 7 for Embedded Systems. What we are doing today is evolving the Windows 7 technology into a new platform – Windows 8," said John Boladian, Business Group Lead for Windows Embedded in Asia.

Windows 8-based platforms and technologies enable retail devices such as digital signage, point-of-service (POS) terminals and kiosks to participate in intelligent systems that are designed to enable data to flow across a company’s infrastructure.

Under the intelligent system, retail devices are no longer standalone entities. They are connected under the network and send data back to the back-end systems where the data can be translated into insights and action. Retailers will be able to reach the data that were hard to gather before and make business decision based on the information.

Windows 8-powered tablet mobile POS

The primary new features about this new platform are the modern application and enhanced touchscreen interface. Using Windows 8-powered retail devices can be as simple as playing with your smart phones.

"Today, in everyday life, you are using touch screen – smart phone, tablets. If retailers can adopt the same type of interface in their stores, it’s easier to train their staff as they are already used to it," noted Boladian.

With Windows 8-powered tablet mobile POS, checking out can be simplified to a flip on the screen.

"There are hundreds of buttons on the keyboard of the old style POS terminals and each coloured button has certain function. It takes one week or two to train the shop assistant. However, with Windows 8-powered retail device, all the shop assistant needs to do is to touch the screen to process the order or check out. If your shop assistant quits today and you get a new one, it probably will only take a few minutes for the new staff to learn how to use the device," said Guillaume Estegassy, Business Group Lead for Windows Embedded in Japan.

Guillaume Estegassy with Windows 8-powered tablet mobile POS

Windows 8-powered tablet in the retail store also diversifies the role of the shop assistant and creates more convenience for the customers. Any shop assistant can be a cashier and customers don’t have to wait in lines in front of the POS terminals. Once a shopper decides what to buy, he can pay immediately with the tablet provided by the shop assistant nearby.

A quick restaurant-type intelligent systems solution developed by Microsoft’s partner Scala shows great potential in the retail industry and brings the business intelligence and digital marketing experience to a new level.

With a POS running Windows Embedded 8 Industry, connected to two digital signage screens reacting dynamically to the POS information, and a Windows Embedded Server on the backend, the intelligent system is able to collect real-time sales data and display instant promotion information on the spot.

A quick restaurant-type intelligent systems solution developed by Scala

"In the fast food industry, especially in Japan, there are always some kinds of sales at certain time of a day. Say you were a manager of a burger restaurant and planned to launch a 50 percent sale at 7pm. Once you input the information in the system, it will be saved in the server. When it’s the right time, all digital signage screens will display the promotion information so that customers can get the instant sales information and make decisions," Estegassy explained.

Once used in retail industry, the solution will help store managers to better manage inventory and maximise sales by launching quick sales.

"Today, most of the stores don’t have the reality display which makes it difficult for customers to get the first-hand sales information. By the time they get to the cashier, they have already made up their decisions. If customers can see the promotion when they enter the shop, that will influence how they think and purchase," noted Estegassy.

All POS terminals are connected so that when one is updated, all POS terminals are updated. However, that doesn’t mean any staff can input important sales information in the system. With the Active Directory technology of Microsoft, only store manager has the master control of the system which makes the system more secured.

One of the most eye-catching Windows Embedded-powered devices showcased in the show is a vending machine distributed by AEON featuring augmented reality through Kinect for Windows, interactive digital signage, and drink suggestions based on gender and age.

Interactive vending machine distributed by AEON

Whenever a shopper is approaching the vender, it’s able to collect information about the shopper through its Kinects for Windows sensor – the cameras on top of the machine, analyse the data and make suggestions. What’s more, the machine can interact with shoppers and act as a billboard, displaying custom content such as promotions, videos, games and TV commercials. This doesn’t only bring more revenue to the vending machine operators but also create more marketing channels for advertisers.

"Anything can be promoted on it. It’s much more than a vending machine and this is the trend in the future," Estegassy commented.

Japanese retailer Aeon has brought the interactive vender in a mall in Saitama Prefecture, creating a new consumer experience for the shoppers.

According to Estegassy, mobility and end-to-end cloud-based solutions for retail are the main trends of this year’s Retail Tech Japan.

"Driving these trends and reigning over the show, sometimes surreptitiously, was intelligent systems. Connectivity and data are the key pillars on which the next generation of retail solutions is being built, and I believe we are seeing the dawn of a promising era which will progressively revolutionise the retail experience. I am very excited as a consumer, but most of all to be a part of this change and help our partners and enterprise customers deliver their own ‘future of retail’ solutions," he concluded.