Barcelona, Spain 03 - 05 October 2017 

Retail sales rose 0.6 percent in December, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, showing a relatively flat holiday spending period after a 0.2 rise in November. However, online retailers in particular reported better sales, indicating a growing need for the integration of e-commerce and use of real-time data within retailers' customer experience, according to IT consulting company Syntel.

Mobile software and app services company Mobinteg has deployed a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon-based solution within several cities and villages throughout Portugal and Italy, in order to connect app users with information about city buildings, businesses and historical monuments.

Kohl's Corp. has found loyalty to be "the most important differentiator for us in the marketplace," says CEO Kevin Mansell, and this loyalty is being driven by technology.