The European Retail Solutions Awards has produced its largest short-list so far, following a judging day in late April.

Some 42 entries have been shortlisted in the 13 categories that the awards take submissions for. In addition, three further awards will be announced on the night for the most innovative retailer, supplier of the year and overall solution of the year.

Now in their eighth year, the awards are to be held on Wednesday June 25 and are in London for the first time. The dinner and ceremony will take place at Old Billingsgate Market, London and coincides with the Retail Solutions exhibition, which is also taking place in London for the first time at ExCel between June 24 and June 26.

The 2008 awards has been a year of firsts, with new judges from retailers including Harrods, Thomas Pink, Flying Brands and leisure brand Mitchells & Butlers. New award categories include Best Green IT initiative and Best Multichannel Integration.

The shortlisted entries are as follows:
Best Customer Facing Technology

• Figleaves with Bazaarvoice for Bazaarvoice Ratings & Reviews implementation on Figleaves.com
• EAT with Commidea for its integrated contactless EPoS solution
• Marks & Spencer with Fizzback for its instant customer feedback service
• The Co-operative Group with Smart Technology Solutions for Insight – customer feedback at the point of sale using Chip & Pin devices

Best EPoS Initiative

• Stylo with Digipos for cash and wrap solution
• O2 with Torex for its mobile handset repair integration project
• Comptoir des Cotonniers with VCSTIMELESS for its international EPoS roll-out
• McLeish Brothers Ltd with VoiteQ for VPoS

Best Green IT Initiative

• Sainsbury's with NCR for Sainsbury’s halves receipt paper usage with NCR two-sided thermal printing technology
• The Co-operative Group with IBM for InControl - Green Tills using Wake Up On LAN
• Littlewoods Shop Direct Group

Best International Solution

• Tie Rack with Adare for MC² - The Marketing Communications Centre
• Parfümerie Douglas GmbH with GK SOFTWARE AG for GK/Retail
• Specsavers for Specsavers in a Box
• TALLY WEiJL with VCSTIMELESS for international retail management solutions
• Whitbread Plc for Global Financial Management Online

Best Multichannel Integration

• Poppets Ltd with Intelligent Retail for Nursery Connect Multichannel Retail System
• Direct Wines with Site Intelligence for Multi-Channel Intelligence
• Specsavers Optical Group for Multi-Channel Integration

Best Security Solution

• Douglas Court Shopping Centre with RPC Consultants for its network surveillance solution
• Marks and Spencer with Cash Bases for its high security cash drawer

Best Use of B2B Internet Technology

• Tie Rack with Adare for MC² - The Marketing Communications Centre
• Waitrose Limited with ICON for The ICON System
• Reevoo for ReevooMark

Best Use of E-Commerce Technology in Retail

• Zavvi Entertainment Group with hybris and Javelin Group for its e-commerce solution
• Littlewoods Shop Direct Home Shopping with Adobe for Enhanced Customer Internet Experience
• Specsavers Optical Group for Specsaversdirect.co.uk

Best Use of Technology for Employee Training or Communication

• World Duty Free with First Friday Ltd for E-learning training to support implementation of ICE EPoS system
• O2 with Imparta for O2 Journey Retail Simulation

Best Use of Technology in a Hospitality and Leisure environment

• Corney and Barrow with Eagle Eye Solutions for mobile voucher campaign
• Bourne Leisure (Butlins) with Fizzback for Instant Customer Feedback service
• Premier Inn for directions and dinner reservations using SMS

Payment Solution Award

• Manchester City Football Club with Altair Financial Services International Plc and MBNA for Manchester City FC Prepaid Card with PayPass
• EAT with Commidea for its integrated contactless EPoS solution
• Whitbread with Fidelity, Verifone, IBM and Smart Technology Solutions for the consolidation of Whitbread's card payment infrastructure

Project Implementation of the Year

• New Look with Quantum Retail Technology for Q
• Tec7 and House of Fraser with Retail Assist for complete IT & communications infrastructure for retail start-up at 22 House of Fraser stores
• Whitbread for Premier Inn in a box

Supply Chain Excellence Award

• Co-operative Retail Logistics with Manhattan Associates for Project Odyssey
• New Look with Quantum Retail Technology for Q
• JD Williams with TradeStone Software for TradeStone Merchandise Lifecycle Management Suite
• Byblos Book Store with Alien Technology for its item-level RFID deployment

ERSA web site

Retail Solutions 2008

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