By Heidemarie Kriz
EuroCIS 2025 has impressively demonstrated that it is an indispensable platform for European retail technology. The number of exhibitors, industry visitors, and the exhibition space has increased significantly compared to the previous year. The trade fair was a complete success with around 500 exhibitors from 37 countries and over 14,000 industry visitors from 95 nations. In addition to technical innovations, the supporting program offered in-depth insights into cybersecurity, food service innovation, and omnichannel strategies. The RETA awards and the Science Prize honored pioneering developments, while the Start-up Hub presented fresh ideas for the retail sector.
Here is a look at some of the most exciting and, in some cases, award-winning innovations as well as outstanding highlights from the world of start-ups:
Hybrid check-out counter
Application area/category: hybrid checkout/hardware
Benefits for retailers: At the touch of a button, the checkout becomes a self-checkout for physically, hearing, and visually impaired people.
Provider: ITAB Germany GmbH
Country of origin: Germany
Link: https://itab.com/
World premiere at EuroCis 2025: at the touch of a button, a standard checkout area with a cashier turns into a self-checkout solution – even for the physically impaired as well as the visually and hearing impaired. The patented “ITAB-Vision” system can be adapted to the respective needs of the store – including a merchandising shelf. Retailers can react flexibly to customer flows and peak times and reduce costs simultaneously. The solution is DIN EN18111 (Cash desk – Safety) compliant and EAA (European Accessibility Act) certified.
Talking menu
Application area/category: Speaking menu/gastronomy
Benefits for retailers: increased customer loyalty, multilingual approach
Provider: Menoovo GmbH
Country of origin: Germany
Link: https://menoovo.com/
With the world’s first talking menu, the human-centric AI start-up uses storytelling to create more emotion in retail and gastronomy. This menu is available in over 10 languages using AI and increases sales through intelligent recommendations, among other things. Guests are told the stories behind the products using short videos, increasing customer loyalty. This means that the AI sommelier can make wine recommendations – if necessary, human, personal support can also be provided anytime.
Electronic shelf labels
Application area/category: Electronic shelf labels
Benefits for retailers: Simplification in retail due to extremely long running time.
Supplier: Hanshow Technology Co., Ltd.
Country of origin: China, subsidiaries in Europe
Link: https://www.hanshow.com/en
The latest product development of highly interactive electronic shelf labels (ESL) has a lifespan of up to 15 years due to the unibody design that completely encloses the flexible ion battery. ESLs facilitate store management, reduce pricing errors and lower labor costs. Hanshow has made it to the list of “2024 Forbes China Top 30 Globalization Brands”, joining the ranks of leading companies such as Huawei and Lenovo that excel in global expansion and innovation. As a partner of Woolworths Group, Hanshow was honored with the “Retail Technology Award Europe” (reta) 2025.
AI for staffed checkout and sales areas
Application area/category: Checkout area & sales area / AI application
Benefits for retailers: Support in case of inventory discrepancies, misplaced goods, and rapid age verification at attended checkouts, among other things.
Provider: Diebold Nixdorf GmbH
Country of origin: Germany
Link: https://www.dieboldnixdorf.com/en-us/
In addition to the familiar AI solutions for the SCO, AI is now primarily used at staffed checkouts for fresh product recognition, age verification, and sweethearting. In conjunction with store monitoring systems and check-out zones, inventory discrepancies in the sales area can be detected and prevented, e.g., due to incorrect or unscanned goods. AI also successfully supports finding incorrectly placed items in the sales aisles. DN won the RETA award in the “Winner Artificial Intelligence 2025” category with EDEKA Jäger at Stuttgart Airport.
RetAll Purchase Navigator
Application area/category: sales forecasts, price recommendations, product range extensions, AI application
Benefits for retailers: rapid decision-making for suppliers and manufacturers
Provider: Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS
Country of origin: Germany
Link: https://www.iais.fraunhofer.de/de/geschaeftsfelder/enterprise-information-integration/retail-purchase-navigator.html
Based on generative AI, image processing algorithms and attribute tagging, retailers receive sales forecasts and price recommendations for new products or expanding their product range. Based on the photo of a product, the RetAll Purchase Navigator is used to search for comparable items in the company and make quick decisions with suppliers or manufacturers online. This real-time evaluation of a product’s profitability occurs before adding it to the product range. In this way, precise estimates of sales volumes can be determined, and sales prices can be recommended to maximize turnover.
Bretton Woods Digital Gold Token
Application area/category: Bretton Woods Digital Gold Token (BWG) / Investment
Benefits for retailers: physical and virtual ownership of gold assets
Provider: Bretton Woods digital AG
Country of origin: Switzerland
Link: https://brettonwoods.digital/
Gold-backed tokens can be purchased, combining the advantages of physical gold with those of blockchain tokens, bringing the security and stability of gold investments while offering the flexibility to trade gold or make payments online. This round-the-clock solution provides an alternative for those concerned about storage, accessibility and the liquidation of small amounts. The prerequisite is a KYC, a “know your customer” identification process to verify the customer’s identity. Currently available in Europe and the USA.
Software for human resources management
Application area/category: HR management for hospitality and retail businesses / Software
Benefits for retailers: Satisfied employees thanks to transparent solution
Provider: Vertical Cloud Solution GmbH
Country of origin: Germany
Link: https://www.gastromatic.com/de/
Smooth personnel management based on many years of experience in rosters and payroll accounting requirements. The entire process is digitized, automated and streamlined to save time and money. Duty rosters are sent directly to employees’ mobile phones, and they can conveniently create preferred times and absence requests via the app. Time recording is accurate to the minute, providing greater transparency for satisfied employees.
Personalized gamification marketing campaigns
Application area/category: Personalized gamification marketing campaigns / Gamification
Benefits for retailers: Customer acquisition at the POS
Provider: Brame AG
Country of origin: Switzerland
Link: https://www.brame.io/
The easiest, fastest, and most cost-effective way to gamification is via four steps. Hundreds of templates from the areas of Luck Games, Skill Games, and Knowledge Games are available and support companies in areas ranging from customer acquisition to strengthening customer loyalty at the POS. International corporations have already used Brame to attract over 150,000 visitors within 24 days and generate over 86,000 leads with a 2024 Christmas campaign. The personalized marketing campaigns are created in the shortest possible time – without coding.
Snap Cart
Application area/category: Modular smart cart with built-in retail media for shopping carts – can also be retrofitted / Hardware & retail media
Benefits for retailers: faster, more convenient shopping processes at the POS
Provider: shopreme GmbH
Country of origin: Austria
Link: https://www.shopreme.com/solutions/smart-shopping-cart-snap-cart/
With a snap cart, shopping becomes faster, easier, and more convenient. The detachable tablet provides an intuitive scan & go function, while current offers and promotional content are displayed directly on the screen. Wireless scanning via Bluetooth technology makes it easier to capture bulky products and increases efficiency. Payment is made directly on the device or by simple processing via QR code at self-checkout or the checkout. The tedious packing and unpacking of goods is no longer necessary, significantly reducing waiting times. It can be retrofitted to existing shopping carts.
The next EuroCis will take place as part of EuroShop 2026 from February 22 to 26, 2026, once again in Düsseldorf.
