Emerging Information System Applications in Brick-and-Mortar Supermarkets: A Case Study of Content Provision Devices and RFID-Based Implementations

This case study covers the Metro Group's Future Store, an example of emerging information systems applications in brick-and-mortar supermarkets and the retailing supply chain. We illustrate the main functionalities of various content provision devices fed from structured and unstructured data sources as they provide content to the shoppers at their convenience. Further, we outline the two relevant infrastructure innovations in the shop and along the supply chain the content bus connecting all output devices and all input sources and RFID technology which is implemented both on palettes and cases and on individual items. The paper then analyzes major achievements and results of offering those applications to the customers before pointing to the management challenges still to be solved. The paper ends with a brief summary and some lessons learnt.