Nominations open for 2026 Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Awards

by Richard Slawsky — Editor, Connect Media

The organizers of the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation (ARKI) Show are accepting nominations for the 2026 ARKI Awards, recognizing the companies, products, deployments and technologies driving innovation across the automated retail, kiosk, vending and self-service industries.

Solving retail store associate challenges by eliminating the information gap, cognitive overwhelm, annoying AI

by Judy Mottl — Editor: RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com, Connect Media

A Jumpmind AX Insight study reveals retail store associates are battling more than a few challenges and while technology promises big rewards it isn’t always solving the problems associates deal with day to day.

How AI is helping fix retail’s $1.7T inventory problem

by Nicola Bond — Co-Founder and CEO, Merchmix

When retailers get inventory right, the impact goes beyond reducing waste. They free up margin to invest in better experiences, build resilience into their operations and give associates the space to do what they came into retail to do: understand customers, curate great products and bring shop floors to life.

Target deploying attendance tracking system to boost customer experience

Target is planning to deploy a point-based store employee attendance tracking system as part of its strategy to boost store operations and customer experience.

From Noise to Clarity: Reimagining Employee Communication Through In-Store Screens

Retailers often struggle to deliver timely, consistent communication to deskless employees. This webinar explores how in-store digital communication helps unify messaging, improve training and engagement, streamline safety and operational updates, and ensure frontline teams receive the information they need when they need it.

E-commerce / Online & Mobile Shopping

Learn the latest trends and best practices for delivering great online and mobile shopping experiences.