Shaping the future of retailing

Innovative technologies are a decisive factor in competition. They increase the efficiency of warehouse management and logistics. At the same time, they also allow customized services and a unique shopping experience for consumers. As part of the METRO GROUP Future Store Initiative, partners from the retailing, IT, consumer goods and service sectors connect innovative technologies.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a key technology for future retailing. The METRO GROUP Future Store Initiative is involved in pushing the radio technology and other innovations in a number of ways. An important element is the real,- Future Store. In this hypermarket, customers can experience future retailing today. The real,- Future Store offers partners the unique opportunity to test newly developed applications for warehouse management and the sales floor under real conditions.

At the Innovation Centre, METRO GROUP demonstrates how several systems like RFID can help optimize processes in practice. In the affiliated European EPC Competence Center, companies can also see RFID’s performance in various areas of application.

The METRO GROUP Future Store Initiative has been presented at a number of international trade fairs and congresses, like the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. On top of that, partners are involved in various international bodies working to lay down universal standards and guidelines for new technologies. Because innovations can only be successfully introduced if people have faith in them; only then can the technologies' potential be fully realized - to the benefit of customers, manufacturers and retailers.