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Seen at NRF: new intelligent systems solutions for retail

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Posted By Olivia Chen
Senior Product Marketing Manager

Windows Embedded technology was on view throughout the National Retail Federation Big Show 2014 in New York this week, from the Microsoft booth to the banners high overhead. Thousands of attendees took part in tours and demos showcasing retail solutions that combine Microsoft and partner technologies for customer service, business intelligence and smart operations management. Here are some highlights of the Windows Embedded devices on display at the event.

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At the National Retail Federation 2014 Big Show in New York, Jan. 12-15, Microsoft collaborated with industry partners to display Windows Embedded solutions in the company’s booth. Demos and tours gave visitors the chance to see how Windows Embedded helps retailers deliver exceptional customer service, in a range of retail settings, while managing security and consistency across devices and screens.

Windows Embedded at NRF 2014 Big Show

January 17, 2014

At the National Retail Federation 2014 Big Show in New York, Jan. 12-15, Microsoft collaborated with industry partners to display Windows Embedded solutions in the company’s booth. Demos and tours gave visitors the chance to see how Windows Embedded helps retailers deliver exceptional customer service, in a range of retail settings, while managing security and consistency across devices and screens.

Image: Web

Xomni demonstrated a retail scenario in which sales associates can circulate on the floor to help customers find what they want from the store’s catalog of products. The Xomni platform is built on Windows Azure and pushes catalog content in real time from cloud to store devices and from device to device. Using a Toshiba TCxFlight running Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro, which Toshiba announced at the show, an associate can help a customer search for specific items; compare products by price, manufacturer, ratings, or other criteria; check availability and location; and complete the sale. An integrated magnetic stripe reader enables the associate to process credit card payments; the tablet can also be docked for more convenient access to fixed peripherals such as a cash drawer or a receipt printer. Associates can start helping the customer on the tablet and then send session information to another device — for example, if the product the customer is looking for is in a different section of the store.

Xomni demonstrates mobile customer service on new Toshiba tablet

January 17, 2014

Xomni demonstrated a retail scenario in which sales associates can circulate on the floor to help customers find what they want from the store’s catalog of products. The Xomni platform is built on Windows Azure and pushes catalog content in real time from cloud to store devices and from device to device. Using a Toshiba TCxFlight running Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro, which Toshiba announced at the show, an associate can help a customer search for specific items; compare products by price, manufacturer, ratings, or other criteria; check availability and location; and complete the sale. An integrated magnetic stripe reader enables the associate to process credit card payments; the tablet can also be docked for more convenient access to fixed peripherals such as a cash drawer or a receipt printer. Associates can start helping the customer on the tablet and then send session information to another device — for example, if the product the customer is looking for is in a different section of the store.

Image: Web

DataZen joined the Microsoft booth to demonstrate its business intelligence data solutions on several devices. The Aava Industry Tablet, running Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro, features an 8.3-inch screen and an Intel Bay Trail-T quad-core processor. The tablet can be configured to accommodate retail features such as barcode scanners and magnetic stripe readers; Windows Embedded enables lockdown of applications and data to prevent unauthorized access to system commands. DataZen’s BI solutions can pull data from a range of sources and present it on convenient dashboards, enabling rapid development and deployment to thousands of users.

Aava Industry Tablet with DataZen BI solutions

January 17, 2014

DataZen joined the Microsoft booth to demonstrate its business intelligence data solutions on several devices. The Aava Industry Tablet, running Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro, features an 8.3-inch screen and an Intel Bay Trail-T quad-core processor. The tablet can be configured to accommodate retail features such as barcode scanners and magnetic stripe readers; Windows Embedded enables lockdown of applications and data to prevent unauthorized access to system commands. DataZen’s BI solutions can pull data from a range of sources and present it on convenient dashboards, enabling rapid development and deployment to thousands of users.

Image: Web

DataZen demonstrated its business intelligence solutions on the Bluebird Pidion BP30 handheld terminal, which provides capabilities for managing store operations such as inventory management in addition to business analytics. The Bluebird BP30, which runs Windows Embedded 8 Handheld, has a 5-inch screen and a 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor, and is rugged enough to withstand an 8-foot drop. The device features an intuitive touch interface, integrated barcode scanner, docking connector and micro-USB. Front and rear cameras support photography and videoconferencing. Optional integrated magnetic stripe reader and contactless card reader provide versatility for a range of retail settings.

Bluebird Pidion BP30 handheld terminal with integrated barcode scanner

January 17, 2014

DataZen demonstrated its business intelligence solutions on the Bluebird Pidion BP30 handheld terminal, which provides capabilities for managing store operations such as inventory management in addition to business analytics. The Bluebird BP30, which runs Windows Embedded 8 Handheld, has a 5-inch screen and a 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor, and is rugged enough to withstand an 8-foot drop. The device features an intuitive touch interface, integrated barcode scanner, docking connector and micro-USB. Front and rear cameras support photography and videoconferencing. Optional integrated magnetic stripe reader and contactless card reader provide versatility for a range of retail settings.

Image: Web

The Bluebird Pidion BM180 is the first Windows Embedded 8 Handheld mobile computer. The device includes front and rear cameras, a docking connector and micro-USB. Optional magnetic stripe reader, barcode scanner and contactless card reader offer flexibility for mobile customer service in the retail setting. The BM180 is versatile to enable communications, payment processing, data collection, and inventory management, transfer and tracking.

Bluebird Pidion BM180 handheld terminal

January 17, 2014

The Bluebird Pidion BM180 is the first Windows Embedded 8 Handheld mobile computer. The device includes front and rear cameras, a docking connector and micro-USB. Optional magnetic stripe reader, barcode scanner and contactless card reader offer flexibility for mobile customer service in the retail setting. The BM180 is versatile to enable communications, payment processing, data collection, and inventory management, transfer and tracking.

Image: Web

The HP ElitePad with Retail Jacket enables retail staff to seamlessly transition between mobile and fixed point of sale (POS). Combining the tablet with the HP MX10 POS solution and the HP Retail Expansion dock provides an integrated solution that takes employees from the sales floor to peripherals such as a cash drawer or receipt printer. Running Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro, the HP ElitePad features a 10.1-inch screen and an Intel Atom Z2760 dual-core 1.8GHz processor.

HP ElitePad with Retail Jacket and MX10 POS solution

January 17, 2014

The HP ElitePad with Retail Jacket enables retail staff to seamlessly transition between mobile and fixed point of sale (POS). Combining the tablet with the HP MX10 POS solution and the HP Retail Expansion dock provides an integrated solution that takes employees from the sales floor to peripherals such as a cash drawer or receipt printer. Running Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro, the HP ElitePad features a 10.1-inch screen and an Intel Atom Z2760 dual-core 1.8GHz processor.

Image: Web

The Empathy EM10, demonstrated at NRF and expected to become available in the first quarter of 2014, is a lightweight and rugged multifunctional tablet running Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro. The tablet’s housing is waterproof, dustproof and antibacterial, allowing for use in a variety of settings, from food service to hospitality to retail. Integrated magnetic stripe reader and contactless card reader allow mobile processing of customer payments; the tablet can also be docked to offer convenient access to a cash drawer or receipt printer. The Empathy EM10 also features a built-in camera with facial recognition technology. System capabilities include the ability to select from a range of currencies to process individual transactions.

Empathy EM10 lightweight tablet

January 17, 2014

The Empathy EM10, demonstrated at NRF and expected to become available in the first quarter of 2014, is a lightweight and rugged multifunctional tablet running Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro. The tablet’s housing is waterproof, dustproof and antibacterial, allowing for use in a variety of settings, from food service to hospitality to retail. Integrated magnetic stripe reader and contactless card reader allow mobile processing of customer payments; the tablet can also be docked to offer convenient access to a cash drawer or receipt printer. The Empathy EM10 also features a built-in camera with facial recognition technology. System capabilities include the ability to select from a range of currencies to process individual transactions.

Image: Web

As part of its retail pop-up store demonstration, Razorfish showcased the IEIMobile ICECEARE-10W, a 10.1-inch screen industry tablet running Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro in the Surfboard Configurator scenario. The tablet provides a consistent assisted sales experience and allows seamless transfer of session information to the surfboard design kiosk, so associates have the flexibility to greet and qualify customers and start the surfboard design process anywhere on the sales floor.

Razorfish demonstration of the IEIMobile industry tablet

January 17, 2014

As part of its retail pop-up store demonstration, Razorfish showcased the IEIMobile ICECEARE-10W, a 10.1-inch screen industry tablet running Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro in the Surfboard Configurator scenario. The tablet provides a consistent assisted sales experience and allows seamless transfer of session information to the surfboard design kiosk, so associates have the flexibility to greet and qualify customers and start the surfboard design process anywhere on the sales floor.

Image: Web

The Razorfish Surfboard Configurator demo, built in a shipping container for a compact retail environment, combines the mobile tablet with a stand-alone kiosk and a Kinect for Windows-enabled interactive experience. A sales associate starts to work with the customer using the tablet, then sends the customer’s data to the kiosk to build and design a custom surfboard, using Perceptive Pixel technology to manipulate colors and images and project the design onto a real board. When the customer has completed the purchase, the associate sends the design to a Kinect screen to allow the buyer to pose with the new surfboard before it even ships.

Razorfish Surfboard Configurator Kiosk

January 17, 2014

The Razorfish Surfboard Configurator demo, built in a shipping container for a compact retail environment, combines the mobile tablet with a stand-alone kiosk and a Kinect for Windows-enabled interactive experience. A sales associate starts to work with the customer using the tablet, then sends the customer’s data to the kiosk to build and design a custom surfboard, using Perceptive Pixel technology to manipulate colors and images and project the design onto a real board. When the customer has completed the purchase, the associate sends the design to a Kinect screen to allow the buyer to pose with the new surfboard before it even ships.

Image: Web

Microsoft’s commitment to mobile retail experiences shows through even in partner banners at the event, displaying the new Toshiba TCxFlight tablet running Windows Embedded to the vast crowd.

Windows Embedded rises above the crowd

January 17, 2014

Microsoft’s commitment to mobile retail experiences shows through even in partner banners at the event, displaying the new Toshiba TCxFlight tablet running Windows Embedded to the vast crowd.

Image: Web

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Read more about Microsoft’s vision for retail on the Windows Embedded retail page.