RetailNation Project Launched to Highlight Retail Technology Innovations

Retail Technology and evolving in-store applications enable retailers to benefit from tools that enhance their demand-chain. A new research project explores innovations that are proven to add-value to the consumer shopping experience.

Austin, Texas -- September 9, 2002 -- The RetailNation, a non-profit global resource for customer facing retail technology related knowledge discovery and learning, today announced the launch of its first web-based online research project.

Worldwide, larger retailers have invested heavily in technology, but little insight is currently available regarding the tangible benefits received from this significant expenditure. Clearly, there is a growing interest within the retail sector for practical application examples of key lessons learned, and the resulting best practices. Moreover, leading retailer CEOs are demanding proof that their own company's investment is yielding a measurable competitive edge.

According to a recent market study performed by Cap Gemini Ernst & Young's Consumer Products, Retail and Distribution practice, research revealed a significant lack of alignment between technology investments and business strategy among retailers. Over 65% of retail executives said their technology is only somewhat or not at all aligned with their current business strategy. Furthermore, this research uncovered that the consumer is typically not considered when retailer executives make technology decisions.

The Web contains many sources of information that makes up the vast body of knowledge about current and planned applied retail technology market developments. But, much of this wisdom is disjointed and hard to find. Clearly, there's an opportunity to create a holistic perspective of all relevant issues, and compile this mass together into one comprehensive user-friendly resource.

The RetailNation site, http://retailnation.mainpage.net, is a growing compendium that categorizes sources of relevant news, information, and applied knowledge about the global retail sector, with an emphasis on in-store technology and multi-channel retailing applications.

Filling a prior void in the marketplace, the RetailNation is a single-source of everything noteworthy about the art and science of retailing that the web has to offer. "Call it a retail-centric web portal, call it a comprehensive online directory, call it whatever is the most meaningful descriptor to you." said David H. Deans, Executive Director of the RetailNation. "It's an evolving online resource, conceived by people who have a passion for retail."

But the current version of this project is apparently just the beginning. Deans adds, "Were already scouring the web to segment and select the very best retail sector market research studies and reports. So, look for this new category to be added to RetailNation in the coming weeks." Also in the works, a segmented list of featured white papers and retail sector market analysis is planned.

For Additional Information, Please Contact:
David H. Deans
Executive Director
RetailNation
http://retailnation.mainpage.net/
U.S. Phone: (512) 682-6934 x4945
U.K. Phone: 07092 37 545
dhdeans@ureach.com