Microsoft Announces Extended Retail Solutions Initiative to Support Smarter Retailing

Microsoft Corp. has unveiled the Extended Retail Solutions (ERS) initiative, a collaborative effort with Cap Gemini Ernst & Young (CGE&Y), Intel Corp., and Cisco Systems Inc. to support Microsoft's Smarter Retailing Initiative. This joint initiative combines the strengths of the four companies to deliver an end-to-end, tailored technology solution for the retail market. The ERS initiative aims to improve the in-store shopping experience by leveraging technology, focusing on a new, open-standards-based in-store computing model.

Key Takeaways:

• The ERS initiative represents a first-time collaboration among four leading companies to deliver a tailored technology solution for the retail market.
• The initiative focuses on three critical areas: improving the in-store shopping experience, enhancing operational efficiency, and providing a technology and solutions framework for unleashing the next generation of retail innovation.
• Intel brings its architecture knowledge and open, standards-based technology to the ERS initiative, while Cisco Systems provides end-to-end intelligent network components.
• The ERS solution can help retailers achieve flexibility, improve connectivity between the storefront and the back office, and develop a powerful relationship with individual customers.
• Several retailers are planning to deploy ERS solutions, with the project exemplifying Microsoft's focus on the Smarter Retailing Initiative and demonstrating the execution of Smarter Retailing Initiative concepts.
• The ERS solution enables retailers to compete based on innovation rather than price, creating differentiated consumer experiences and driving greater economic value for the retail store.

Statistics:

• The Smarter Retailing Initiative focuses on three critical areas: improving the in-store shopping experience, enhancing operational efficiency, and providing a technology and solutions framework for unleashing the next generation of retail innovation.
• The ERS initiative combines the strengths of four leading companies: Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Intel Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., and Microsoft Corp.
• Intel aims to bring its architecture knowledge and open, standards-based technology to the ERS initiative, including the Intel(R) Itanium(R) 2 architecture for back-end servers and Intel(R) Xscale(R) architecture for RFID readers.
• Cisco Systems provides end-to-end intelligent network components for ERS, including wireless, content delivery, IP telephony, security, and storage networking solutions.

Sources:

• Microsoft Corp. press release
• Cap Gemini Ernst & Young press release
• Intel Corp. press release
• Cisco Systems Inc. press release