RILA announces first-ever tech awards

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is looking for a few good tech innovators.



The group has put out a call for applications for its first annual (R)Tech Retail CEO Innovation Awards. The awards will highlight innovations that enable retail's future. Winners will be invited to showcase, pitch and network with the retail chief executives at RILA's annual Retail CEO Forum Jan. 21-23 in Tucson, Arizona.



“As today's top retail leaders gather at RILA's CEO Forum, this will be the perfect opportunity to showcase new technologies that are transforming the industry,” said Sandy Kennedy, president of RILA. “To move the industry into the future, our awards program will focus on technologies that create ultra-personal and ubiquitous shopping experiences. By streamlining the path to purchase, retailers are listening to the wants of consumers and creating seamless experiences, integrating the physical with digital. We look forward to connecting America's retailers with industry innovators.”



Applicants should focus their innovations on advancing what RILA shopping that, RILA said, "will be invisible and ubiquitous, embedded into natural gestures and conversation, managed through a connected ecosystem, and considering all channels and all customers." The (R)Tech Center believes that this trend is driving change in the industry more than any other.



Applications are due on Sept. 8. Learn more and apply at rtech.org/awards.