IT in Retail

There have been many advances in technology for the retail industry. Due to all of the advances, the National Retail Federation created an organization focused primarily on IT. This organization is called the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS). ARTS was established in 1993. According to their website, ARTS is a retailer-driven membership organization dedicated to creating an open environment where both retailers and technology vendors work together to create international retail technology standards.

In the organizations 17 year history, ARTS has developed four standards of significance: the Retail Data Model, Unified Point of Service (UnifiedPOS), ARTS XML schemas to integrate applications within the retail enterprise, and standard Requests for Proposal (RFP's) to guide retailer selection of applications and provide a development guide for vendors. The Retail Data Model was created to allow retailers to select applications from vendors whose applications were developed using the Model. The UnifiedPOS is a device interface standard that allows retailers to add new devices to sales floor terminals with minimal, if any, program changes. ARTS XML schemas greatly reduce the time and cost of integrating applications. Standard RFP's developed by a committee of retailers, vendors and consultant from previously used retail RFP's greatly reduce the cost of developed RFP's and ensure the retailer review all the potential application features and functions to select the "right" application for their business.

Since the IT industry is growing more and more everyday, ARTS is their to help retailers adapt to the new technology being introduced. Now retailers do not have to worry how their company will be able to "catch up with the times."