NRF returned in person to the Javits Center in NYC this year, and Lexmark had a lot to shout about. From meeting with customers and prospects to showing off our new retail products, it was an exciting time to be back at one of our favorite retail events. 

The retail landscape has changed profoundly since we last attended NRF in person in 2020. Here are some of our key highlights and takeaways from the event and wider retail priorities for 2023.

1. Retailers are braced and ready for the future.

The last few years have been a learning curve for retailers. With the pandemic shutting down many brick-and-mortar stores, retailers have had to quickly pivot and strengthen their digital strategies to ensure they remain relevant and profitable. Retailers shifted tactics quickly to survive in extraordinary economic circumstances. As we continue into 2023, with a global recession looming, retailers will need to be as prepared possible, deploying their learnings from COVID. 

2. CX pressures will continue.

As consumers become more connected and digitally enabled, they are demanding a more personalized experience. Retailers need to work smarter, not harder, to keep up with these CX pressures. 

Having visibility over what is happening in and around a store in terms of stock or the ability to offer personalized in-store digital marketing experiences to customers will start to bring the personalization we experience online into the store. 

At NRF this year, we were proud to highlight our new AI-driven Smart Retail Solution, allowing retailers to seamlessly connect their physical and digital worlds. The solution enables retailers to understand what is happening in and around their retail locations. 

This real-time understanding —which retailers have never had before—allows them to act proactively to engage with their customers in the moment.

3. Data will drive success.

By understanding data, acting on it and engaging with customers accordingly, retailers can optimize store performance and deliver customer experiences in new and interesting ways. 

While most retailers gather data at a high level, that data is historic. When we demonstrated the new Lexmark Digital Desktop at NRF, we heard that, “gathering current data, and being able to action it in the moment, is unique.”

Store associates can access the Store Digital Desktop from any smart device connected to the internet. It then directs them to act on the insights from the real-time activity in and around their store.

This enables associates to focus on the highest priority tasks at any given time—like back-end tasks during slower shopping hours, or long queues at the register which require additional staff.

It also gives headquarters staff visibility into what is truly happening in the stores. All levels of store leadership will have real-time insights into how the stores perform against corporate—and customer—expectations.

To see the Store Digital Desktop in action, check out this video from the show floor at NRF, or contact me (ryan.hatfield@lexmark.com) directly for more information.

If you plan to attend Euroshop in Dusseldorf Feb. 26 – March 2, I’ll be there in Hall 6/Booth A21. Stop by and say hello!