Plagued by numerous store closures, large scale layoffs, and bankruptcy filings in the second half of 2008 and first half of 2009, retailers and hospitality enterprises across globe are finding themselves under severe pressure to improve cost management, enhance customer experiences, and retain/grow their customer base. In attempts to address these pressures and realign themselves with 'new' customer requirements and preferences, retailers and hospitality enterprises must continue to evaluate and invest in automation technologies. The value propositions associated with such technologies have proven their ability to aid in the improvement of product turnover, enhancement of stakeholder interaction, reduction of costs, synchronization multi-channel strategies and development of competitive advantages/differentiators.

As automation technologies continue to mature and evolve, enterprises are being given more choices than ever before regarding potential investment and deployment. However, more alternatives or options lead to the creation of more questions or greater uncertainty. That being the case, the ability to effectively scope and manage such investments has become a major strategic initiative. Enterprise who invest in the wrong solution, run the risk of alienating hard-won, fickle and expensive-to-replace customers. Suppliers who pursue the wrong market opportunity risk precious resources drilling a dry well, and join the ready-to-invest markets too late.

As the retail & transaction automation market continues to redefine itself over the next several years successful suppliers of these technologies need to deftly navigate a fragmenting, faster-moving, more crowded market. In order to do so, suppliers will need the most granular, accurate and reliable market intelligence and analysis. This report will deliver the insight, analysis and data that suppliers need to make the most profitable product, market and channel development decisions.

RESEARCH SUMMARY

The Retail & Transaction Automation Equipment program will provide:

• In-depth analysis of global market opportunity for retail/ transaction automation equipment, with detailed market definitions and segmentations including: core technologies, applications, vertical markets, etc;
• Market penetration scenarios, estimates and forecasts for retail/ transaction automation equipment;
• Customers' technical and commercial requirements and preferences, including end-user investment drivers and applications, system integrator/OEM selection criteria, and distribution channel capabilities;
• Discussion of key issues, forces and trends driving or restraining market growth and development, including opportunities and requirements for suppliers to grow share and profit.

This market report comes in 9 volumes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TRACK 1: TECHNOLOGY MARKET ANALYSIS VOLUMES
Volume 1: POS Terminals/Workstations (excluding electronic cash registers)
Volume 2: POS Receipt Printers
Volume 3: Payment/Transaction Terminals (i.e., debit/credit card readers, electronic signature capture terminals, smart card readers, check readers)
Volume 4: Imaging Solutions (i.e., linear, 2D/camera)
Volume 5: Self-Checkout Solutions
Volume 6: Kiosks
Volume 7: Personal Shopping Systems
Volume 8: Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL)
Volume 9: Interactive Displays and Digital Signage (IDDS)

TRACK 2: VERTICAL MARKET ANALYSIS VOLUMES
Volume 10: Retail
Volume 11: Hospitality

TRACK 3: DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL ANALYSIS VOLUME
Volume 12: Distribution Analysis

The 2010 Retail/ Transaction Automation program will comprised of the following analyses:
                                                                   
TECHNOLOGY MARKET ANALYSIS VOLUMES                                      
(Volumes 1-9)
                                                                        
 (Each of the technology market analysis volumes will contain the following supply-side research pertaining to the specific technology covered in the specific volume.)
                                                                           
·     Industry Overview                                                 
      ­ Form factor classes                                                
      ­ Geographic distribution
      ­ Supplier stakeholder map                                   
           OEMs
           Suppliers/Distributors                                  
           Solution Integrators                                   
      ­ Technical value chain
      ­ Commercial value chain
      ­ Sales and distribution channels
      ­ Leading vendors/Competitive position

·     Vendor Profiles                                                   
      ­ Corporate overview                                              
      ­ Primary offerings                                               
         · Product offerings and shipments                                                        
         · Application/Industry markets served                                                        
         · Geographic markets served                                                           
      ­ Channels of distribution
         · Sales organizations
         · Customer classes
      ­ Current partnerships                                            
      ­ Strategies and Outlook           
                              
·     Market Estimates and Forecasts
      ­ Base year/Forecast period:
        · 2009 Unit and revenue shipments
        · 2010-2014 estimates and forecast
      ­ Market size, growth and/or revenues segmented (where appropriate) by product, region and vertical market

VERTICAL MARKET ANALYSIS VOLUMES
(Volumes 10-11)
(Each of the vertical market analysis volumes will contain the following demand side research pertaining to the specific vertical markets covered in the specific volume.)

·    Strategic Objectives and Investment Drivers
     ­ Cost reduction
     ­ Performance improvement
     ­ Sales uplift
     ­ Brand messaging
     ­ Third party advertising
     ­ Customer engagement/ experience
     ­ Issue/Error abatement

·    Product Selection Criteria
     ­ Connectivity
     ­ Durability
     ­ Environmental conditions
     ­ Expected life/Duty cycle
     ­ Input method
     ­ Reliability
     ­ ROI requirements
     ­ User perception
     ­ Certification and ratings                                                                        

·    Vendor Selection Criteria                                                          
        ­ Brand/Reputation                                                                
        ­ Maintenance/Support                                                              
        ­ Price                                                                           
        ­ Compatibility
        ­ Service offering/Technical support
                                                                                     
·       Availability/DeliveryUser Experiences:                                      
        ­ Installed base performance against key product selection criteria
        ­ Current/Recent supplier performance against key vendor selection criteria
                                                                                           
·       Technology Advancements
        ­ Emerging business models
        ­ Disruptive technologies
        ­ Hosted deployment enablers

·    Market Estimates and Forecasts
     ­ Penetration/ upgrade scenarios
     ­ Budget projections
     ­ Market forecasts segmented (where appropriate) by product, region and vertical market

DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL ANALYSIS
 (Volume 12)
·     Channel Types
     ­ Dealer/Distributor
     ­ Direct-to-End User
     ­ Direct-to-OEM
     ­ System integrator (SI)
     ­ Value-Added Reseller (VARS)
·     Channel Demographics
·     Business Models
     ­ Core offerings
     ­ Served and target markets
     ­ Service offerings
·     Vendor Relationships
·     Perspectives and Strategic Issues

RESEARCH DELIVERABLES AND SCHEDULE

Monthly status reports Begin February 2010

Track 1 Deliverables
VOLUME 1: POS Terminals/Workstations  Available Now
VOLUME 2: POS Receipt Printers  August 2010
VOLUME 3: Payment/Transaction Terminals  August 2010
VOLUME 4: Imaging Solutions  August 2010
VOLUME 5: Self-Checkout Solutions  August 2010
VOLUME 6: Kiosks  August 2010
VOLUME 7: Personal Shopping Systems  August 2010
VOLUME 8: Electronic Shelf Labels August 2010
VOLUME 9: Interactive Displays and Digital Signage. September 2010

Track 2 Deliverables
VOLUME 10: Retail Vertical Market  August 2010
VOLUME 11: Hospitality Vertical Market  August 2010

Track 3 Deliverables
VOLUME 12: Distribution Analysis  October 2010

Quarterly Bulletins Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 2010
Included with the purchase of at least one track. Topics TBD with guidance from founding sponsors.