• IXRetail and Data Model committees to meet in UK, 3 – 5 October 2005 
  Once a year, the ARTS IXRetail and Data Model committees convene in Europe for a special three-day meeting to review recent and proposed changes to ARTS standards with European members who cannot regularly attend meetings held in the United States.  These meetings are absolutely critical to developing and maintaining international standards.  The key to success is the attendance and participation of members in the UK and Europe that have implemented ARTS standards or are considering doing so.  Last year, based on comments from Torex Retail (UK), GK Software (Germany) and Soft Solutions (France), release 5.0 of the ARTS Data Model was significantly enhanced.

   ARTS is very pleased that Shell, a leader in the implementation of ARTS standards, has agreed to host the meetings in their corporate offices at Shell Centre, London SE1 7NA. Click here for a map.

   Key discussions at this meeting will include: continuing the shift of the focus of the Data Model from the store to the enterprise; ensuring that IXRetail schemas match the elements and structures within the Model; the new NEAR events message standard; enhancement of the remote equipment monitoring and control schema based on cooperation with NAFEM; and establishing the scope of new schemas to support implementation of warehouse management systems selected using the recent WMS RFP.

  We strongly encourage all UK and European members to review the agenda and register to attend on the ARTS website.  Non-members may attend one meeting as guests - we welcome your comments.

• New Speakers Added to Retail Standards Summit, 6 October 2005 in London 
  With the theme of Implementing Global Standards in Retail Technology and a strong program featuring IT executives from retailers WH Smith (UK), Harrods (UK), Deichmann (Germany), Etam (Netherlands), John Lewis Partnership (UK), Dixons Group (UK) and Shell (UK), the 3^rd Annual Retail Technology Summit will be ARTS’ strongest showcase yet.  The ARTS member rate is just 40% of the standard registration rate.  Review the program and register online at www.retailtechnologysummit.co.uk. 

• Workforce Management Application Vendors Sought for Pavilion 
  ARTS Standards Pavilion at Annual will be a showcase for retailers to review total business solutions that integrate best-of-breed applications through ARTS IXRetail schemas.  This provides vendor members with a great opportunity to show their application’s support of standards on the “must be there” New York retail exhibit floor.  Three of the four business solution demonstrations are completed; we are now seeking vendors for the workforce management application.  If you would like to participate contact Richard Mader.

• ARTS Considers Splitting POSlog Schema into Six Constituent Schemas
  Please give us your feedback on this important topic by responding to the survey on this topic.  To read more about the issues and potential impact and to take the survey, click here.

  Committee News

•  UnifiedPOS 1.10 Set for January 2006 Release 
  The next release of the widely adopted standard for POS device connectivity will include: biometric devices, enhancement to MSR, electronic journal and printing of bar codes.  Next meeting of UnifiedPOS will be hosted by afterBOT November 14 – 16 near Atlanta.

• IXRetail Forms WMS Work Team to Support Warehouse Management (WMS) RFP
  The WMS work team was formed at the recent IXRetail committee meeting in Washington DC with the assignment to create schemas to integrate WMS systems with ERPs and other applications within the retail enterprise.  Volunteers with experience and knowledge in the business functions of WMS are needed.  Please contact Richard Mader if you would like to join this work team.

• New UnifiedPOS Work Team Created to Explore POS Web Connectivity 
  The new team, named WAMPOS, is charged with creating a standard method and architecture for connecting POS devices via the web as opposed to a direct wired connection.  IBM has contributed IP to ARTS as one alternative to accomplish web connectivity.  The work team, using the IBM contribution as a starting point, is reviewing suggested enhancements and alternatives to find the best solution for this requirement within the retail space.  A primary consideration is whether the standard be browser-based or native XML.  If you would like to comment the charter is available on the ARTS webboard, and work team participation is open to all ARTS members.  Send an email to PK Do at IBM if you are interested in participating.

  ARTS Welcomes New Members
  

  Abercrombie & Fitch	Retail	United States
  Academy Sports & Outdoors	Retail	United States
  Bear Creek Corporation	Food Retail	United States
  Bizerba GmbH & Co. KG	Vendor	Germany
  Harris Scarfe Australia Pty. Ltd.	Retail	Australia
  Herbert Group	Consultant	United Kingdom
  Manugistics, Inc.	Vendor	United States
  S&H Solutions	Vendor	United States

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