The National Retail Federation’s big show – NRF 2020 – brought together retailers, brands, analysts and innovators at the #1 global retail event. It was the Big Show indeed – about 40,000 attendees from over 90 countries gathered in New York City in January to see over 800 exhibitors (including Dassault Systèmes’ CENTRIC PLM) and hear from 400 speakers across 175 sessions.
Major themes across the sessions, keynotes and analysts coalesced around five key drivers.
for associate training. provides proven enterprise solutions that combine all product-related data, so teams can find the information they need and collaborate from all over the world. And for the individual shopper – a grocery cart that scans and weighs the item as it’s placed in the cart. Shoppers will simply pay for the cart when they finish shopping. No more unloading at the cash register. (a new circular delivery service for consumers that replaces single-use disposable packaging with durable, reusable packaging) to accelerating resale/rental models in response to the pace of fast fashion brands which can introduce new collections every two weeks and dispose of more than half what they produce in under a year. With emphasis on circular product design, streamlined packaging, better inventory management and smarter logistics, the retail industry is well into exploring ways to minimize waste and pollution. Packaging for consumer delivery is the #1 focus for many, followed by returns for damaged products. Dassault Systèmes’ Perfect Package solution on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform helps manage sustainability certifications, including Fair Trade, Energy Star, Green Star, Green Shield, Water Sense and labor standards. Many presenters spoke on the challenges of balancing fast shipping with sustainable packaging that would still protect the product. Dassault Systèmes’ Perfect Logistics solution identifies fulfillment options for the retailer and consumer, balancing speed and cost, and introducing a sustainability metric into decision making. And for the future…
Despite the reduction of big box stores, increase of online shopping, and changing market demographics and buying habits, retail persists. As we see from NRF2020, brands and retailers are embracing the challenges. They clearly seek the vision, with new technologies, innovation and experimentation to continuously reinvent retail to best serve consumers and grow their future.
Susan Olivier, Business Consultant for Dassault Systèmes Consumer Industries, contributed information and commentary for this post. She has been part of Dassault Systèmes for over 10 years, with a passion for consumer-driven retail experiences. linkedin.com/in/susanolivier