idX To Debut ShopRobotic at GlobalShop

LAS VEGAS, NV—ShopRobotic by idX®, a totally customizable automated retail merchandise delivery system, will make its U.S. debut at GlobalShop March 7-9.

Unlike other robotic stores, ShopRobotic by idX® allows retailers to design the unit to fit within their store environment and to own the vended merchandise, rather than sharing revenue or paying a monthly lease charge.

“ShopRobotic by idX® is not a retailer,” explained idX Corp. Executive Vice President of Strategic Business Development Mark Pritchard. “It’s new technology that offers retailers a better way to deliver merchandise to the consumer.”

In particular, ShopRobotic by idX® offers a superb solution for handling higher value, high-demand items that currently present difficult security challenges. Most retailers keep such items under lock and key, complicating the sales process for both the customer and the retailer. With ShopRobotic by idX®, merchandise is displayed securely in the glass-fronted kiosk and is dispensed when the customer inserts either cash or a credit card.

Constraints such as retail square footage or design aesthetics are not a problem with ShopRobotic by idX®. Unit dimensions can be designed based on the retailer’s requirements—large to stand out in a free-standing, kiosk-type arrangement or smaller for store environments. It also can be designed in materials to match store décor, including wood, metal, veneer or laminate.

Among the benefits retailers will realize with ShopRobotic by idX®:

• Higher sales per square foot. Less floor space is needed to display and vend the product.
• Lower personnel costs. Staff time is no longer needed to unlock or retrieve items from stock.
• Greatly reduced shrinkage costs. The product isn’t delivered until the customer provides a credit card or cash.
• Shorter lines at check-out. The transaction is completed at the unit.
• Faster service. There’s no longer a need to retrieve the product from stock or unlock a cabinet or anti-theft device.
• Improved product information delivery. An interactive touchscreen provides the consumer with in-depth information about the product.
• Improved customer data mining. The retailer can download or upload information from or to any ShopRobotic by idX® kiosk anywhere in the world and react on a real-time basis.

Potential uses for ShopRobotic by idX® are also many:

• Drug or convenience stores, where higher cost items such as cameras or perfumes currently are locked up, discouraging the customer from purchasing.
• Shopping malls, where a mall retailer can operate a strategically located kiosk that is open 24/7 and doesn’t require staffing.
• Airports, in gate areas where retailers typically would not have a location. Products offered might include DVDs, cameras, books, prepaid cell phones or other traveler needs.
• Hotels, which can realize a higher return from lobby shop sales without risking pilferage by stocking higher cost items like shavers, cellular phone cords, prepaid cell phones or iPods.
• Computer or office supply stores, where products such as Ink cartridges create challenges due to their small size, high cost, and multiple styles.

ShopRobotic by idX® is powered by Teknovation, a collaboration that combines superior technology and the best design solutions. The technology operates on an X-Y axis, which is very different from other robotic store systems. Rather than the product being positioned several inches behind the glass front, with ShopRobotic by idX®, the product is right up against the glass. Picking is done from the back, allowing for a much larger pick area (up to 6 ft. by 8 ft.); the robotic arm uses a suction device that accommodates a wider variety of product shapes and sizes.

To see ShopRobotic by idX®, visit Booth 4200 during GlobalShop, March 7-9 at the Sands Convention Center, Las Vegas.

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About idX Corporation

With 20 years of experience, idX Corporation is a worldwide leader in fixture manufacturing, logistics and project management for the retail, hospitality and financial markets. To meet the needs of global customers, idX has eight facilities and offices worldwide housing more than 1,500,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehousing space, and 1,000 dedicated idX employees. idX’s portfolio reflects some of the best-known names in retail: Levi’s, Ralph Lauren, Microsoft, Tommy Hilfiger, Express, Starbucks, Calvin Klein, Charles Schwab, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, Discovery Channel, Niketown, Michael Kors and John Varvatos.