Retail Business Technology Expo announces stellar Steering Committee line up

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: Retail Business Technology Expo announces stellar Steering Committee line up.

Retail Business Technology Expo, the one stop shop for end to end retail and hospitality solutions, has announced the Steering Committee for its 2012 event.  The committee comprises of the leading lights of retail and includes:

John Bovill, IT Director, Aurora Fashions
Rupert Frost, IT Director, Frost Garden Centre
Mark Gardner, Group Head of BIS, Habitat
Steve Heathcote, Head of Commercial Systems, Waitrose
Chris Howell, IT Director for Customer Systems, Dixons Retail Group
Chris Hughes, Managing Director, The Retail Automation Consultancy
Brian Hume, Managing Director, Martec International
Peter Lumsden, Consultant, PACL Marketing
Paul Martin, Commercial Director, Planet Retail
Andrew McClelland, Director of Business Development, IMRG
Neil McGowan, IT Director, JD Williams
Pete Medcalf, Head of Channel Partners, Ebay
Kevin O'Brian, Head of IS, Comet
Julie Price, General Manager IT, Ann Summers
Simon Russell, Head of Multi-Channel, John Lewis Partnership
Martin Strotton, Head of IT Strategy, ASOS.com
Robert Teagle, EMEA IT Director, Starbucks
Clive Turner, IT Director, Dunelm Group
Richard Wilson, Group Information Systems Manager, Clinton Cards
Ian Woosey, Group IT & ecommerce Director, Carpetright
Nick Wyld, Head of IT, Joules Clothing  

Nick Field, Event Director, Retail Business Technology Expo, said, "The Steering Committee are helping us shape our 2012 event to ensure that we provide the very best experience for visitors and our exhibitors.   It's crucial that we listen and act on industry feedback and advice, and the insight from our Steering Committee will help us ensure that Retail Business Technology Expo 2012 is even more successful than this year's event. With the show set to double in size next year, their input is invaluable."

The Steering Committee made a number of recommendations and suggestions.  Innovation is a key area of interest, with the panel wanting to see cutting edge technology and solutions. The seminar programme generated a great deal of debate, with the committee agreeing that they wanted totally independent seminars which provide an overview across the business, with plenty of facts and figures.

Other issues discussed in the meeting included how the role of the IT department integrates with other areas of the business, for example marketing and operations, and how retailers can more effectively understand its customers, as in many cases, technology is being driven by the shopper.  Among the many topics discussed, the panel put multi-channel, supply chain, payments, cloud computing, loss prevention and RFID under close scrutiny.

"We want to put on the very best event for our visitors, and finding out what they want to see, directly from the leading retail and hospitality providers, will help us deliver and exceed their expectations.  It was apparent from the debate that the Steering Committee felt that the event would be an ideal destination for teams across a range of functions in the business, including marketing, supply chain and finance," commented Field.

A second Steering Committee group is being held for Cards & Payments Solutions which is run alongside Retail Business Technology Expo.

Retail Business Technology Expo 13-14 March 2012 at London's Earls Court, South Hall.