Future selects Cisco

Future Group, owner of brands such as Pantaloon Retail, Big Bazaar and Food Bazaar, is set to enter into an agreement with Cisco Systems, to implement radio frequency identification (RFID) technology across all its retail formats in India, states The Economic Times.

According to sources, both the companies are in advanced level of talks and an agreement is expected to be reached later next month.

The move is significant considering that this will be the largest RFID implementation mandate in Asia. According to sources, almost one million stock keeping units out of a total of three million will be tagged with RFID chips.

The European Retail Solutions Awards 2008 have opened for entries. Into their eighth year, the awards are being held on 25 June at the Old Billingsgate Market, says Info4Security.

A number of additions have been made to the judging panel, with representatives joining from Harrods, El Corte Ingles and Staples.

Award categories include including Best Green IT Initiative, Most Innovative Retailer of the Year and Best Multi-Channel Integration.

The Hybris e-commerce solution developed by Javelin for Zavvi entertainment, formerly Virgin Megastores, has played a key role in the 70% increase in online sales experienced by Zavvi during its first Christmas trading period, according to SourceWire.

One of the reasons behind the selection of the Hybris e-commerce platform by Zavvi was the strength of its product information management (PIM) features which are essential for retail Web sites with large product catalogues.

By providing information management and publishing in one location that can be updated in real-time, Hybris increases the ease and efficiency with which Zavvi can manage the merchandising, promotional and transactional elements of its main retail Web site.