Light Breakfast

Opening Comments
Mark Millstein - Associate Publisher, Retail Market Development, RIS News

Opening Session (Session #1)
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE IN RETAIL: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2006 ABERDEEN BI REPORT

Speaker: Gregory Belkin - Retail Research Analyst, Aberdeen Group

Business Intelligence is more than the buzz word in retail today. It is the arena of tools that are now being used throughout the retail enterprise to help ensure optimal and more profitable decision-making, from store level merchandising to retail-supplier partnerships. In this presentation, Greg Belkin will underscore the most important findings of Aberdeens 2006 Business Intelligence report.

Session #2
Transforming Data into Bottom Line Business Advantage

Speaker: Zeke Duge - SVP & CIO, Smart & Final

Retailing may be the most data intensive industry there is, with enough customer and product sales information to fill massive data warehouses. Turning that data into information that can drive decision-making and actions that impact the bottom line favorably is no easy task. In fact, it is probably both the greatest challenge and the greatest area of untapped potential for driving profits and cutting waste. Leveraging that data requires not only the correct IT infrastructure but also the right internal business processes to make breakthrough changes in company performance. While difficult, the payoffs can be huge and, for many retailers, the difference between survival and failure.
 

Session #3
PAYBACKS FROM TRUE COST-BASED ANALYSIS

Speaker: Jack Haedicke - President, Arena Consulting Group

Jack Haedicke, one of the most respected and thought leader in the cost analytics space, will share his vision as well as examples of how an old term, activity-based costing, is taking on huge new and profitable meaning for a growing number of retailers. According to Haedicke, it is hard to know and boost your real profits without having a clear handle on actual costs. Haedicke will explore the role activity based costing can and should play in your retail business plans and decision making.

Light Refreshment Break

Session #4
TRANSFORMING DATA INTO HIGHER PROFITS

Moderator: Bob Buchanan, VP & Retailing Industry Group Leader, A.G. Edwards

Panelist: Alan Barnett - Former SVP of Merchandise Planning and MIS, Barney's; Frank Zarrello - VP, Director of Planning & Allocation, Big M

Hold on to your seats as probably the most respected Wall Street retail analysts, and one who does actually get the value of retail technology, moderates a panel of leading retail executives who are deeply involved in leveraging an array of BI tools to enhance business performance and the bottom line not to mention Wall Street valuations.

Microsoft Demo and Summary Comments

Speaker: David Gruehn - Retail Industry Vertical Unit / Industry Solutions Director, Microsoft

David Gruehn, former CIO and long time veteran of the retail and CPG sides of the industry, will provide an overview of what he sees as the most critical paybacks from business intelligence systems, where the industry and Microsoft are headed in terms of development and use of such technology and share real world examples of what leading retailers are already achieving today.

Closing Remarks
Marc Millstein - Associate Publisher, Retail Market Development, RIS News

Event Officially Ends