This report looks at arguably one of the more explosive yet most difficult areas to define in the IT sector - namely Self-Service Kiosks. Key to any review of Kiosks is a definition of what types of kiosks that are included. In this study we ventured beyond retail in the breadth of our discussion, but focused only on those devices where payment is currently or soon to be taken.

Retail WorldView is IHL's IT Sizing model for the worldwide retail marketplace. With over 250 categories of hardware, software, services, and labor/overhead, Retail WorldView is the most comprehensive IT sizing model in the retail industry. Retail WorldView is available for purchase by region, segment or as a complete worldwide view. Whether you are vendor with an application in one area or you have a broad portfolio of products, Retail WorldView is designed to show you where the opportunities are today in each region worldwide and can be customized specifically for your company's needs looking forward. Forecasts for each for the next 3 years are also included.

Now with Sophia Predictive Analytics!
From Data to Insight, WISDOM for Retail. Named after the greek word for wisdom, Sophia is by far the most comprehensive source of not just data, but key wisdom for smart decisions in the retail industry. It is the only data service that links IT spend, to specific technology, to specific personnel, to specific financial results, tied together and backed by our advisory staff. Sophia provides insight into nearly 200 types of hardware/software/services and key personnel for over 2,800 retailers and restaurants.

Now with SPA by Sophia (Sophia Predictive Analytics), the system allows for benchmarking against competitors, identifying which retailers are leaders in specific technologies, their projected IT spending plans in key categories(like Business Intelligence/Analytics, Merchandising/Supply Chain, ERP, and Store Systems), and which technologies they are likely to purchase in the next 24 months. Your enterprise subscription allows everyone in your organization to create targeted mailing lists of key executives, do competitive analysis, look up market share and understand IT spend for an individual retailer or thousands of companies

Now with the NRF-ARTS RFP Framework inside, the RAPID POS Project Toolkit is a methodology to facilitate POS hardware and/or software replacement for retailers. As most retailers keep their POS systems 5-15 years, the people that were involved in the last POS planning exercise are usually no longer available for this next generation project. In addition there are undocumented features that have crept into the current system that need to be included and a new vision for what the latest technology can provide is required. The POS RAPID Toolkit is comprised of templates and tools for RAPID scope definition of a project, development of an RFP, vendor selection and project execution, resulting in a typical 12 week reduction in the RFP process while ensuring all functional requirements and vendor selection occurs via a comprehensive and thorough process.

Now with Sophia Predictive Analytics!
From Data to Insight, WISDOM for Retail. Sophia EMEA is based on the same great system and format as our system for North America. We track over 750 top retailers in Europe. the Middle East and Africa across 200 types of hardware, software, and services. Also included are the key contact personnel for each of the companies so you know who to call on to get past the receptionist. Finally, we include estimated IT Spend for each retailer. Now with SPA by Sophia (Sophia Predictive Analytics), the system allows for benchmarking against competitors, identifying which retailers are leaders in specific technologies, their projected IT spending plans in key categories(like Business Intelligence/Analytics, Merchandising/Supply Chain, ERP, and Store Systems), and which technologies they are likely to purchase in the next 24 months. Your enterprise subscription allows everyone in your organization to create targeted mailing lists of key executives, do competitive analysis, look up market share and understand IT spend for an individual retailer or thousands of companies

The Latin/South American market for POS continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace than in recent years. Large western retailers continue to grow in the market, bringing new POS terminals with them. Our Latin/South America POS terminal market study is 104 pages in length and has 55 figures. It explores the market climate for POS terminals throughout the Latin/Central and South American region. More than just numbers without explanation, this report goes deep into discussion of retailing in the countries and segments to reveal the forces that are shaping POS purchase decisions.

With the North American region struggling for POS shipment growth in this economy, the strong growth in the Asia/Pacific region continues to be a highlight of the worldwide POS market. China and India continue to expand faster than other countries contracted and their swelling retail ranks will continue to drive growth in 2010 and beyond. Our Asia/Pacific POS Market Study has 57 figures in 101 pages in which we explore the market climate for POS terminals in the Asia/Pacific region. It includes shipment, installed base and trends analyses for POS in Japan, China, India, Australia/New Zealand, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Other Asia/Pacific countries.

This 62 page report focuses on the Hospitality POS market in the United States and Canada. Its 27 figures describe shipments, installed base and trends analyses of POS devices based on processor speed and operating system choice. Additionally, the report covers emerging trends and influences that affected the market in 2009 and those that will help form market decisions in the future. It also includes market value for the installed base and a forecast for shipments and installed base through 2014.

This 76 page report focuses on the housed receipt printer market for retail POS devices in North America. Packed with 100 figures, this details the market shipshare, distribution channels and installed base for the top printer vendors doing business in the region and provides for market projections based on changing technologies and changing distribution philosophies through the year 2013. Vendors reviewed include Epson, IBM, NCR, TPG, Star Micronics, TransAct, Citizen, Bixolon, and others.

With the North American POS Market slowing, the EMEA POS Market has also, but to a lesser degree thanks to favorable cyclical trends. But what is the effect on individual countries? Individual segments? Our ninth annual EMEA EPOS report is 119 pages in length and explores the market climate for EPOS terminals in the Europe/Middle East/Africa region. More than just numbers without explanation, this report goes deep into discussion of retailing in the countries and segments to reveal the forces that are shaping EPOS purchase decisions.

After a dismal 2009 that saw POS shipments drop 12% and revenues drop over 15%, the North American POS Market is poised to grow once again in 2010. The market looks even stronger for subsequent years. This study focuses on the Retail POS market in North America for 2009-2014. It includes shipment, installed base and trends analyses of POS devices based on processor speed and operating system choice. The report is designed for use by POS Hardware and Software Providers, Maintenance Providers, Printer Manufacturers, EFT device vendors, Retailers and others who might have a vested interest in the North American Point-of-Sale Market.

Once again, IHL Group has teamed up with RIS News to bring you the most detailed store systems study available. During interviews we conducted during Fall 2009, we asked retailers about their outlook on the economy, their IT spend expectations, their opinions about software vendors and operating systems, their future store systems buying decisions, and a host of other topics. We received responses from 90 retailers, including many of the top retailers in North America. The results of those interviews are contained in this detailed, but very easy to read study. There are over 100 charts and graphs contained within 83 pages, and the data is broken down by retailer size, by retail segments, and by other criteria such as future OS, purchase plans and the primary motivations for upgrading their store systems. The study is titled, "The Shopper-Centric Store," and represents the kind of "brass tacks" research that retailers and vendors find invaluable.

This 158 page report investigates the challenges of the North American Category Killer Retailer and how Information Technology is being utilized to meet those challenges. By definition, Category Killers are large Specialty Hard Goods retailers that dominate a particular segment of the North American Retail Market. Examples are the following: DIY, Consumer Electronics, Books, Office Supplies, Sporting Goods, Pets, Domestics and Auto Aftermarket.

With more than $192 Billion in sales through Self-Checkout in 2008, this study looks at arguably the hottest store-level retail technology of today. The report focuses on the current trends in Self-Checkout, as well as the quantitative aspects of the Self-Checkout market. The report also reviews the leading vendors, their products, and the market segments wherein Self-Checkout is seeing success.

In this 57 page market study, we delve deep into the POS Software market for Hardgoods Retailers. We identify which software providers are leading the pack, what is their market share and what complementary systems their software has been installed within the industry.

In this 58 page market study, we delve deep into the POS Software market for Softgoods retailers. We identify which software providers are leading the pack, what is their market share and what complementary systems their software has been installed within the industry.

Join IHL President in a video discussion at Oracle Cross Talk regarding those retailers who do loyalty well; the impact on the company and margins regardless of whether there is a formal loyalty card or program. To watch, click here.... [ More ]

Just before NRF, Sean told us about a situation where the best laid plans of a national retailer's management and IT department caused havoc for a very well intentioned customer with a very large transaction. This week, I'd like to tell you about another situation involving a national retailer, a very well intentioned customer, but with a somewhat smaller transaction. That customer was m... [ More ]

For the millions (and sometimes billions) of dollars that retailers spend on their IT systems, it is both amusing and painful to see those systems thwart sales. If the primary purpose of any business is to make money, shouldn't all systems work together to make that as easy as possible? The following story took place in mid-December (names have been omitted to protect both the innocent a... [ More ]

When it happens it often leads to panic. When it happens you are instantly thrown into the unknown. When you go to board the plane and they say, "Ladies and gentleman, the pilot just informed me that this plane is not suitable to fly. We will need to find another plane to get you home tonight," you wonder if you will get home. I've had that experience a few times and it is rarely pleasan... [ More ]