From artificial intelligence to smart stores and cybersecurity: EuroCIS 2025 combines technological innovations and practical solutions for the retail sector. In an interview, Elke Moebius, Director EuroCIS at Messe Düsseldorf, reveals what is currently moving the industry, what innovations visitors can look forward to this year and which technology has inspired them the most when shopping so far.
Elke, what technological trends do you currently see in retail that were unthinkable five to ten years ago?
Elke Moebius: AI is clearly in focus, be it for process optimization such as analytics or sales forecasts. Generative AI, which can create texts, images or even music, is also becoming increasingly relevant, as it reduces the workload of employees on the one hand and makes product texts and customer approaches much more target group-specific and, above all, more individual on the other. I find smart stores with cashierless concepts such as scan-and-go or grab-and-go particularly exciting - whether for fast checkout in urban locations or for retail in rural areas. Unfortunately, we also have to deal more and more intensively with cybersecurity, as attacks on companies are increasing dramatically.
What do you think are the biggest challenges for retailers?
Digital upgrades are expensive and technically complex. Many retailers work with outdated IT infrastructures, which makes the integration of new solutions considerably more difficult. Added to this is the issue of cybersecurity, which for many companies does not yet have the priority it should have. It is a matter for the boss, but there is often a lack of awareness of the relevance of this topic. In addition, there are strict data protection requirements that make innovative technologies in Europe more expensive and more complex
How do you rate Germany's position in a technological comparison? Are bureaucracy and data protection holding us back?
Yes and no. As I just mentioned, there are many bureaucratic hurdles and a complex set of data protection regulations in Germany. This makes innovative solutions more difficult and more expensive. But it also ensures trust and security. I wouldn't want to live in a system without data protection. Despite all the obstacles, I see many innovative projects among European retailers - even if it often takes longer than elsewhere.
Are there any retail technologies that have particularly impressed you personally so far?
Absolutely! I still remember my first visit to an Amazon Go store in Chicago. The seamless checkout-free shopping and automatic billing were revolutionary at the time. It's amazing how quickly this technology has also found its way into Europe. But I also find personalized approaches, such as AI-supported recipe suggestions based on fridge contents, fascinating.
Just a few more weeks and then it's back to business. What makes EuroCIS so special for you?
EuroCIS is more than just a trade fair - it's a community. It's where people come together who pursue the same goals and inspire each other. I still remember the first EuroCIS after the pandemic very well: the joy of seeing each other again and the personal exchange was overwhelming. This special energy is something that sets us apart from many other events.
What specific innovations can visitors to EuroCIS 2025 expect?
New is our “Food Service Innovation Hub”, where we present automation in retail gastronomy: Cooking and baking robots, smart self-checkouts and digital solutions to combat food waste. We are also working with KPMG on a new special area for cybersecurity. Our stage program has been revised, the stages are now called Blue, Red and Black Stage and have a fresh look. In addition, XPONENTIAL - Europe's leading trade fair for autonomous technologies - is running in parallel for the first time. Thematically a very nice addition to EuroCIS. Visitors can experience both trade fairs with one ticket.
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