NRF 2025 Takeaways

Key Takeaways from Customer Engagements

• Industry trends: The rise of AI and automation are transforming retail with hyper-personalized experiences and efficient operations. Live shopping and social commerce enhance customer engagement, while cashier-less stores and autonomous operations reduce labor costs. Retailers are focusing on improving the employee experience and creating immersive in-store experiences.
  
  Sustainability and circular business models are gaining importance, and seamless commerce is now a standard expectation. Generational preferences are shaping retail strategies, with each cohort seeking different values. Cybersecurity and data privacy remain critical, with stronger regulations and ethical data usage becoming essential.

• Strategic Partnerships: Honeywell is proud to showcase its strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as Verizon™, Qualcomm™, StrongPoint™, TRG®, Softpay®, and DirectSource®. These collaborations are pivotal in driving innovation and delivering cutting-edge solutions across the retail sector. Our partnership with Verizon enables seamless and secure communication across retail operations. Collaborating with Qualcomm allows us to integrate advanced AI and machine learning technologies, pushing the boundaries of retail automation and personalization.
  
  StrongPoint and TRG bring their expertise in retail logistics and asset management, ensuring efficient and reliable operations. Softpay and DirectSource contribute to our comprehensive payment solutions, offering secure and flexible transaction options for retailers.
  
  Together, these partnerships empower Honeywell to provide holistic, innovative solutions that enhance productivity, optimize processes, and create exceptional customer experiences.

• Innovative Solutions: Attendees expressed strong interest in Honeywell’s latest technologies, particularly our AI applications for real-time translations, in-store compliance, and customer service. These innovations reinforce our capabilities and ensure a resourceful experience for our customers. Additionally, there was significant interest in other applications, such as SwiftDecoder™ and Honeywell Smart Pay, which are recognized for their potential to enhance operational efficiency. These innovative tools were central to many discussions, highlighting Honeywell’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of technological advancement.

• AI and Automation: AI and automation emerged as critical topics throughout the event, especially in retail operations. Our discussions underscored the transformative potential of these technologies in enhancing productivity and streamlining processes across various sectors. Honeywell's research revealed that over 80% of retailers plan to invest in AI solutions within the next year, highlighting the growing importance of AI in retail conversations. Notably, while AI and automation drive efficiency, the human element remains crucial. Integrating AI with human expertise ensures that technology complements and enhances human capabilities, leading to more effective and innovative solutions.

Press Engagements

• AI Research: Our recent AI in Retail Survey and an engaging infographic has garnered significant attention from shoppers and major retailers alike. This comprehensive survey has been featured in numerous media outlets across the U.S., Europe, LATAM, and Asia, highlighting key findings and insights. Some media outlets include Chain Store Age, Modern Distribution Management, Evolve Magazine, Small Business Trends and Techstrong AI published about this. Read our follow-up blog on retail trends in our corporate newsroom.

• Verizon Partnership: The Honeywell-Verizon retail partnership press release has garnered significant media attention, with presence in notable outlets such as The Fast Mode, Supply Chain Digital, Supply and Demand Chain Executive, Procurement Magazine, IT Brief Asia and Commerce Magazine. This widespread interest highlights the value and innovation our partnership brings to the retail industry, driving forward with cutting-edge solutions that enhance retail operations and customer experiences.

Partners feedback

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have our partners as a part of the Honeywell experience. They are indeed what makes Honeywell a collaborative innovator in the retail landscape. NRF allowed us to forge new connections and promising joint customers for the future, and we are eager to continue our dialogue with executives regarding partnerships and joint marketing activities.

Looking Ahead

Honeywell has set a robust foundation for future discussions and partnerships. NRF 2025 was a significant milestone for us, and we are eager to continue the conversations and connections we made. Thank you to all who visited us; we look forward to building on the connections and driving further innovation together. This marks the beginning of a new era in retail, where innovation and technology are at the forefront.

Honeywell is committed to leading this transformation, and we will showcase our cutting-edge solutions at various industry events worldwide. From Europe to Asia and beyond, we are dedicated to finding innovative capabilities that enhance the retail experience and drive the industry forward.

Stay tuned as we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in retail technology.