RICE23 Expo: Revolutionizing Retail Innovation & Customer Experience

The RICE23 Expo (Retail Innovation & Customer Experience) emerged as the year's most anticipated gathering for retail leaders. This premier event unveiled groundbreaking technologies reshaping how consumers shop and brands engage. From AI-powered personalization to immersive store concepts, RICE23 demonstrated why retail's future is already here.

Retail Innovation Conference & Expo
Retail leaders are facing a new reality—one in which they need physical, digital and omnichannel expertise to keep pace with the heightened expectations of increasingly connected consumers. In response to that need, we have crafted an event designed to give retail teams the tools, tactics and strategies they need to make their connected commerce vision a reality. The 2023 Retail Innovation Conference & Expo (#RICE23) will bring together a cross-section of established C-suite executives and up-and-coming leaders representing the industry's best and brightest — from Directors of Digital, Design, Marketing and Ecommerce, to Heads of Store Ops, CMOs and Chief Innovation Officers.

RICE23 EXPO

June 14-15, 2023
McCormick Place, Chicago
This isn't your typical expo experience. We've designed the #RICE23 Expo Floor to be a vibrant, community-driven space filled with the latest and greatest tech, engaging activations, and opportunities for attendees to connect and collaborate.

Expo Hall Times:

Wednesday, June 14: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday, June 15: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Why RICE23 Matters for Retail's Evolution

As consumer expectations accelerate, RICE23 serves as the critical meeting point for:

• Retail executives seeking competitive advantages
• Tech innovators showcasing disruptive solutions
• Brands reimagining customer journeys

The 2023 edition particularly highlighted how economic pressures are driving smarter, more experiential retail strategies.

Key Innovations That Stole the Show

1. AI Revolutionizing Every Touchpoint

Exhibitors demonstrated how artificial intelligence now permeates all retail operations:

• Dynamic Pricing Engines adjusting in real-time based on demand signals
• Visual Search allowing shoppers to snap-and-find products instantly
• Chatbot Concierges handling 80% of customer inquiries with human-like precision

Nike's AI stylist demo showed how machine learning creates hyper-personalized recommendations that increase conversion by 35%.

2. Phygital: Where Physical Meets Digital

The expo floor buzzed with omnichannel solutions blurring traditional boundaries:

• Smart Mirrors suggesting complete outfits with virtual try-ons
• QR-Enabled Packaging unlocking exclusive digital content
• Augmented Reality Pop-Ups driving 4x more dwell time in stores

Sephora's virtual artist station demonstrated how these tools bridge online and offline experiences seamlessly.

3. Sustainable Retail Takes Center Stage

With eco-conscious shoppers demanding action, RICE23 highlighted:

• Blockchain Tracking for full product provenance transparency
• AI-Powered Inventory Systems reducing waste by 22%
• Refill Stations becoming standard in beauty and grocery sectors

Patagonia's session on circular business models proved sustainability drives both purpose and profit.

Game-Changing Insights from Industry Leaders

Keynote sessions delivered strategic wisdom from retail's top minds:

• Amazon's VP of Physical Retail revealed how their "Just Walk Out" technology is evolving beyond grocery into apparel and electronics
• Alibaba's Chief Data Officer shared how their Livestream Shopping platform achieves 30% conversion rates
• Walmart's CX Lead discussed their "Store-as-a-Hub" strategy doubling same-day delivery capacity

What's Next for Retail?

Three emerging trends poised to dominate 2024:

1. Voice Commerce 2.0 - Beyond simple orders to guided conversational shopping
2. Social Selling Ecosystems - Platforms where discovery, community and checkout coexist
3. Predictive Personalization - Anticipating needs before shoppers realize them