RetailNOW 2024 has come and gone, and once again, the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA) has outdone itself. This year’s event in Las Vegas brought together over 1,500 attendees and welcomed 54 new exhibitors from across the retail technology sector. The trade show was a vibrant hub of activity, offering invaluable insights through diverse educational breakout sessions, an impressive showcase of innovative products on the expansive show floor, and offered unmatched opportunities to connect with resellers and integration partners. Amidst the bustling event in Las Vegas, we tapped into the brightest light in Vegas, the tremendous heart of our RSPA community. Here are our takeaways from RetailNOW 2024.
Booth Highlights
The Auto-Star booth had a steady flurry of activity throughout the event with very few lulls. Attendees had the opportunity to explore our latest technology and speak directly with our knowledgeable team about how Auto-Star’s point of sale solutions can transform retail operations for grocery, convenience liquor and health food stores. We have the honor and privilege of being a RSPA annual bronze sponsor.
Product Demos: We showcased the QuickScan360, a convertible till to self-checkout, which garnered significant interest for its innovative features and user-friendly interfaces.
Live Demonstrations: Our live demonstration of our integration with 8112 Digital Coupons attracted a crowd by highlighting the time saving and fraud reducing benefits of this emerging technology. Read more how retailers are using this technology in this customer case study.
New Features: We were thrilled to share the new iteration of updates to our Star-Plus POS software including the customizable Item Editor, and striking new UX / UI. Missed getting a demo? Book one today!
Putting Contest: Lots of laughter and snacks were had at our booth putting green. Congratulations to the two winners of our putting contest going home with $200 worth of gift cards each.
RetailNOW 2024 Networking and Education
RetailNOW 2024 provided an excellent platform for networking and education at a variety of events and educational sessions including:
Canadian Community Event: We always enjoy getting a chance to connect and network with other Canadian companies. A big thank you to the Canadian Community Committee and its Chair, Auto-Star’s own Josh Wintoniak, for putting this together.
Auto-Star Partner Event: After the show floor closed for the day, we took the opportunity to host a night of entertainment for our partners. We are truly lucky to get to work with such an amazing group of individuals at Skurla’s, TPOSN, Source Systems, MVP Technologies, Local Express and nData.
Unlocking the Power of Digital Wallets: Innovation in Coupons, Loyalty, and QR Code Integration: This educational panel discussion provided insight on emerging technology. It was highlighted that while some digital technologies are sweeping retail, like digital coupons and digital wallets (By 2026 digital wallet users are projected to grow by 53% in the US.), other traditional technologies are still growing, exhibiting their staying power, such as plastic gift cards.
RetailNOW 2024 Annual State of the Industry
The RSPA’s Annual State of the Industry Report always delivers insightful information. Here are our top takeaways:
Hardware Pivot: Half of the exhibitors are now software providers and only 20% are Payment’s providers, which is a significant evolution from the association’s origins in hardware. With increasing saturation in the POS solutions market, this buyers guide can help you navigate your choices for your grocery offerings.
Revenue Diversification: Across the board, companies are looking for ways create new revenue steams to ensure longevity in the tide of changing markets. If your company is looking to expand your offerings check out this Ultimate Guide to Success for POS Resellers
New Verticals: The grocery vertical of Ethnic Markets was highlighted as a stand out niche to outpace many others in the retail space in the coming years.
A Royal Flush of Hearts
Whether it’s catching up with the customers you’ve served for decades, meeting new vendors with exciting products or sharing booth shipping woes / tips with your show floor neighbor, coming to the RetailNOW is like coming home for a family reunion. Your heart and your glass always remain full. The association has set the tone for creating and valuing relationships in the industry. This theme of building relationships spilled off the show floor and into the General Session with topics that had us singing with the RSPA choir. Topics such as the importance of choosing partners based on the alignment of company culture and providing extreme customer service, further emboldened us to keep prioritizing our company values above all else. The most impactful part of the session was the announcement of the Steve Cuntz Memorial Scholarship. The moving dedication of the passing of a beloved partner and friend and the response of the audience forever cemented to us on how lucky we are to part of this family.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on our experience at RetailNOW 2024, we are more excited than ever about the future of retail technology. The insights and connections we gained will undoubtedly help us to continue providing top-tier solutions and create the longstanding relationships that drive success for our customers.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who visited our booth and took the time to learn more about Auto-Star Compusystems. We look forward to seeing you all again at Ceasers Place in Las Vegas for RetailNOW! 2025!
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