Vision 2026 to Provide Industry Snapshot at NACDS Total Store Expo

PRESS RELEASE

Arlington, Va. — Following a successful launch in 2014, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) announces its partnership with four cutting-edge technology companies to present Vision 2026 at the 2015 NACDS Total Store Expo, which will be held August 22-25 in Denver, Colorado. This popular feature will again offer attendees a glimpse of “what comes next” in the industry through technology platforms, displays and interactive experiences.

In addition to the high-level of interest and engagement from last year’s NACDS Total Store Expo attendees, this innovative exhibit generated local media coverage highlighting the credible insights about what their audiences might experience in the future.

This year, NACDS will once again partner with global retail merchandising and technology thought leader Kantar Retail on Vision 2026. Also partnering with NACDS and Kantar Retail is global software technology company IBM Watson, interactive display technology company Provision Interactive Technologies and automated robotics technology company, Grabit.

“As the retail and healthcare landscapes continue to evolve, we’re at an important juncture in how technology can play an integral role in bringing them together for the benefit of the consumer,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “The technologies presented by Kantar Retail, IBM Watson, Proactive Interactive Strategies and Grabit will certainly showcase what the future of retail and healthcare may look like in the next decade at this year’s NACDS Total Store Expo,” said Anderson.

This year’s Vision 2026 experience will again be conveniently located at the entrance to the exhibit floor of the NACDS Total Store Expo at the Colorado Convention Center. Through a variety of interactive exhibits, the feature will focus on four primary areas, dedicated to providing a provocative and engaging view of the future of retail-centric health.

The Changing Diagnostic Landscape — The role of the retail store in primary care, rehabilitation, diagnosis and treatment. Kantar will present a dynamic perspective on what the overall industry landscape may look like in 10 years, with a particular eye on an “outcome-centered” healthcare payment system. IBM Watson will also demonstrate its capabilities in visualizing the “primary care store” of the future.

The Changing Healthy Living Landscape — The role of the retail store as a healthcare advisor to shoppers looking to stay healthy or get healthier. Companies will demonstrate the impact that wearables and other portable communication devices will have on the future of health management, and how consumers will interact with these devices.

The Changing Store Environment — Revolutionizing a consumer’s ability to personalize communication and make retail display markedly more interactive. Prototypes of a vision for the store of the future will feature personalized display and content vehicles, as well as the analytics to validate their effectiveness as brand building platforms. Provision Interactive Technologies will showcase their 2D and 3D capabilities with interactive Savings Center Kiosks demonstrating how consumers can access product information and cost-savings promotions, rewards and coupons.

The Changing Economic/Logistics Engine - How the operating and logistics model of the future will allow the personalized, healthy retail environment to function as efficiently as possible. Kantar Retail will present its 3D virtual prototype renderings of store environments to demonstrate what the future of the virtual retail environment may look like in 10 years. Grabit will demonstrate its new electroadhesion technology, which is poised to revolutionize manufacturing and warehouse automation.

Accessible to all attendees, Vision 2026 will be open during the exhibit hall hours of the NACDS Total Store Expo.