Are Conferences Still
Relevant? The Expo Side
Part Two of Three
By
Amber Bradley
Part One of this series revealed that loss prevention professionals must be
intentional about what conferences they choose to attend. Most of these
decisions must be based on relevance of content to everyday challenges: Which
content addresses your specific challenges the best? If you’re a retail
executive, the Retail Industry Leaders Association’s (RILA) Asset Protection
conference should be on your calendar. The content has been stacked on day one,
and day two was no exception.
Tuesday’s keynote brought us, “Navigating Disruption in Retail,” presented by
Frank Hamlin, the Chief Marketing Officer of GameStop. Hamlin provided
perspective on how transformational change in business is no longer an option
and how retailers must change to survive. Hamlin offered examples of how
GameStop is also innovating its own business model to adapt to today’s
experience-oriented shopper.
There were other sessions throughout the day that bolstered the conference’s
content even further, including relevant breakout sessions such as:
- eCommerce Investigations – Risks and Opportunities
presented by speakers: Steve Hunter, Director, Global
Investigations, Walmart Shane Bennett, Director, Special
Investigations, Target
- The Rise of the Robot Detectives: Automating ORC Investigations
with AI presented by speakers: James Cosseboom, Senior Manager,
Investigation & Corporate AP, Retail Business Services LLC, an
Ahold-Delhaize company Dean Takacs, Founder, Detective Analytics LLC
- Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Boost Your Fraud & Safety
Programs presented by speakers: Matt Lincoln, Vice President,
Loss Prevention & Safety, PetSmart Mike Vedomske, Senior Data
Scientist, PetSmart Chris Hoffman, Senior Program Manager, Appriss
Retail |
However,
this Part 2 is called, “The EXPO side” for a reason. Let’s look at the
relevancy of conferences from the exhibitors’ and attendees’ perspective.
Who hasn’t heard at least once, “Why should I attend conferences? The
solutions providers will just come see me.” RILA underscores the inherent
flaw with that perspective. By bringing together the industry’s best and
brightest solutions providers, RILA provides an atmosphere of learning,
value and comparison in a quick three-day perusal. How much value does that
time savings provide?
“It’s always valuable to meet new friends as well as connect with old ones
at each conference we attend,” said Craig Greenberg, director of sales for
Gatekeeper Systems. “It’s also important to attend the sessions to learn
about the challenges retailers are facing, and then determine what
innovations we can make to stay ahead of those challenges for the retailers
we serve.”
RILA also proved they were listening to industry feedback by extending the
Exhibit Hall hours for more in-depth discussions and meetings. Let’s look at
some of the Exhibit Hall activity:
![](http://www.d-ddaily.com/images/5-8-19RILA-Defendry.jpg) |
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![](http://www.d-ddaily.com/images/5-8-19RILA-DetectiveAnalytics.jpg) |
Welcome to a newcomer Defendry that was also up for an RTech
Asset Protection Innovation Award. They also won the award for
the friendliest robot on the show floor. |
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Congratulations to Detective Analytics as the retailer’s choice for the 2019
RTech awards! |
Day two underscores the importance of both a crowded exhibit floor as well
as invaluable content. Stay tuned for part three that looks at the social
side of 2019 RILA.
![](http://www.d-ddaily.com/images/5-8-19RILA-Gatekeeper.jpg)
Gatekeeper Team: Shane Walsh, Craig Greenberg, Don Testa, Barry Gallace,
and Tim Bartkowiak
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![](http://www.d-ddaily.com/images/5-8-19RILA-FaceFirst.jpg)
Lots of traffic to FaceFirst booth
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![](http://www.d-ddaily.com/images/5-8-19RILA-BoothActivity.jpg)
Attendees check out different booths
on the exhibit floor
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![](http://www.d-ddaily.com/images/5-8-19RILA-1359.jpg)
Pictured, left to right: Sean Myers (Columbia Sportswear), Kevin Stone, CFI
(Columbia Sportswear), Jessica Robertson (i3 International), and Scott Bernards
(Columbia Sportswear)
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![](http://www.d-ddaily.com/images/5-8-19RILA-Women-in-LP.jpg)
Tara Nutley, Macy's and Ruth Rauls of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr attend the
Women in LP Networking Reception |
![](http://www.d-ddaily.com/images/5-8-19RobotSelfie.jpg)
Robot Selfie with Amber Bradley, Kathleen Smith, CFI (Safeway), and Stefanie
Hoover, CFI (Controltek) |
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