hat do the top IT executives at many major companies have in common? They all made a point of being a part of Retail Systems 2001 last month in Chicago.

Many professionals view this annual event as their one-stop resource for learning the essential IT building blocks and researching new technology applications for the retail industry. Kevin Turner, CIO of Wal-Mart, came to Retail Systems 2001 "because it's the greatest retail systems show we have."

The conference drew more than 5,000 attendees, and the exposition featured 115,000 square feet of exhibit space with 350 exhibitors displaying technology solutions to drive growth in the retail industry.

Many exhibitors used this venue to announce new products, including Gyricon Media, PSC, Net Perceptions, Smart Software, Simplex Grinnell and IBM. New at this year's exhibit was the MerchantWired Superstore, featuring a virtual reality shopping experience demonstrating best-of-breed technology in use today. The TechTours Program, now in its third year at Retail Systems, provided product-focused tours of the expo floor in more than 15 categories.

Over three days, exhibitors demonstrated their latest and greatest technologies to IT decision-makers.

The highlights:

-360Commerce IBM-driven POS operating systems.

-Epson's TM-H6000II digital check imaging printer.

-@pos' intelligent patent-pending Active Screen Guard for protecting touch pad displays.

-Paymentech's integrated gift card solutions.

-Two items from Symbol Technologies: the MicroKiosk MK 1000, an automated self-service price verification and electronic merchandising terminal, and the Cobra LS 1900 Series laser bar code readers, boasting the broadest connectivity and most flexible range of interface options on the market.

Also getting a lot of attention was Informix Software's rollout of the Apropos Ascent suite of products. Powered by Informix Software's Informix Dynamic Server (IDS), Apropos Ascent offers a fully integrated retail fulfillment suite, including point-of-sale, e-commerce, catalogue, store and head office functionality.

Many strategic alliances also were announced. Among the most talked about was Sun Microsystems teaming up with Wincor Nixdorf and ADS Retail to demonstrate SmartClient, a globally managed in-store system that inexpensively manages and updates local servers and POS terminals centrally without onsite support, processes and records sales even when the connection to the server is lost - all through technology that is user-friendly.

Other new pairings announced were VeriStar Corp. and DigitialPersona Inc.; R2 Corp. and SofTechnics Inc.; and NetKey and Found Inc. Then there was Informix Software, which participated with Apropos, Caldera, Storis, Trax Software, Triversity, Unica and Visionary at its RS booth.

Gerald Storch, vice chairman of Target Corporation, began the opening keynote address by saying, "The stupid era of the Internet is over." He then went on to explain how, by working together, retailers and suppliers can update their systems, comply with industry standards and, in turn, lower costs and improve results.

Next up was the Retail Technology Leadership Summit, featuring IT executives from Saks Direct, Gap Inc., A&P, Staples, Bear Creek and Quality Stores, who discussed whether a new retail business model has emerged from the ashes of the e-commerce frenzy.

Robert Dykman, chief technology officer of Saks Direct, said during the summit discussion that e-commerce channels should be used more as marketing tools to drive traffic to stores but noted that, for that to happen, there needs to be more integration between stores and Web sites. Tom Reinebach, CFO and senior vice president of finance of Quality Stores Inc., said the way to do that is to have a reward system based on a purchasing scale.

For more information about the conference, visit www.retailsystems.com.