EuroCIS 2025 – Focus on the use of AI in retail

In this article, you will learn:

• which topics took center stage at EuroCIS 2025
• the role of AI in retail and
• the AI solutions the Open Telekom Cloud offers for retailers.

EuroCIS 2025 in Düsseldorf came to an end on February 20 with a total of 14,000 visitors from 95 countries. A major focus of the leading trade fair: How can AI be effectively used in retail? The Open Telekom Cloud presented two ready-to-use AI solutions from its partners, designed for large retailers and easy to implement.

EuroCIS is often described by organizers as Europe’s leading trade fair for retail technology, and EuroCIS 2025 reinforced this reputation. The event attracted 14,000 visitors from 95 countries, with 500 companies showcasing their innovations – a significant increase compared to 2024.

This year’s highlights featured seamless checkout solutions, including automated cashier systems designed to eliminate queues and enhance self-service. Other innovations on display included electronic price tags, dynamic and easily adjustable, and smart shopping carts. However, the dominant theme at EuroCIS in Düsseldorf was, unsurprisingly, the use of AI in retail. Attendees expressed high expectations for AI, particularly in accelerating processes, enhancing customer engagement, and reducing employee workloads.

“AI was undoubtedly the topic of the moment. Hardly any presentation or booth lacked a retail AI component,” says Sascha Smets, Product Manager at Open Telekom Cloud. Attending the event alongside Martin Hoffmann, Smets also delivered a technical presentation. “Anyone considering AI solutions for retail must also think about the necessary infrastructure and resources, such as GPUs. Every AI discussion inevitably involves questions about the right cloud environment.” Beyond technical requirements, AI and cloud adoption also raise compliance and security concerns, particularly regarding GDPR. In this area, the Open Telekom Cloud stands out as a secure European cloud provider.

The Open Telekom Cloud was featured as part of a larger booth concept by T-Systems and its partners, designed specifically for the retail sector. Many visitors were eager to learn about available resources, such as GPUs and access to large language models. While there was significant interest in IaaS and PaaS, SaaS solutions were in particularly high demand. In response, the Open Telekom Cloud presented two partner solutions tailored to the needs of digital retail businesses.

Gamified Loyalty Marketing offers an innovative, interactive approach to customer retention. Instead of relying on traditional point-based systems, it boosts engagement through challenges, rewards, and personalized offers – leading to measurable improvements in customer loyalty. As a cloud-based AI solution, it seamlessly integrates across multiple channels, including physical stores, mobile apps, and further digital touchpoints.

The second solution, Cloud-Native Customer Data, focuses on maximizing the value of customer data. It integrates information from multiple sources to create real-time, 360° customer profiles, enabling AI-driven analytics for hyper-personalized marketing campaigns tailored to individual customer needs.

“We demonstrated the success and ease of implementation of both solutions with real customer examples,” says Smets. These cloud-based retail AI solutions are ready for deployment within just ten weeks and deliver a rapid return on investment. In just six weeks, a UK retailer acquired 170,000 new users for his digital loyalty card and boosted average user spending by 23% with Gamified Loyalty Marketing. Meanwhile, a German sportswear manufacturer expanded its club membership base more than 20-fold and increased revenue growth by over 50% using the Cloud-Native Customer Data platform.

Discussions at the booth and during presentations highlighted a key takeaway: While interest in AI is strong, many retailers are unsure how to get started. Smaller businesses, in particular, are looking for ready-to-use SaaS solutions that are quick, cost-effective, and easy to implement, without requiring extensive technical expertise. “The AI hype at EuroCIS 2025 was enormous – perhaps too overwhelming for mid-sized businesses. At the same time, the AI buzz in retail obscures the core issue: process improvement. This can be achieved with or without AI, but a cloud infrastructure will certainly be necessary,” concludes Martin Hoffmann.

The next EuroCIS will be integrated into EuroShop and is scheduled to take place from February 22 to 26, 2026, in Düsseldorf.