AWS for Industries

AWS at National Retail Federation (NRF) 2024: Retail’s Big Show Preview

Retail’s “Big Show” is back and it’s bigger than ever. After the fun we had in 2023 accelerating innovation in retail, we couldn’t be more delighted to return to the Javits Center for another year of informative sessions and meaningful connections.

Join us at NRF 2024 at Amazon Web Services (AWS) booth 6020 to experience unified commerce in action through AWS, Amazon, and AWS Partners. From January 14-16, you will have the chance to listen to innovative Big Ideas sessions, curated TechTalks, and experience the latest in retail trends and technologies.

AWS Big Idea Sessions

AWS customers and AWS Partners will discuss important topics like modern architecture, ecommerce, checkout-free shopping, and generative AI. Make sure to bookmark these can’t-miss sessions, all taking place on the main expo floor on level 3, stage 3 (not far from the AWS booth).

Sunday, January 14

  • Innovating at scale: How Carrefour reinvented its digital business with modern architecture
    • 11:00-11:30am
    • In a retail landscape where innovation isn’t optimal, global grocery and convenience store giant Carrefour has set the standard for business transformation. Explore Carrefour’s approach to elevating customer experience while driving online retail growth. Learn the secrets behind Carrefour’s efficient ecommerce business and how to apply them to your own.
  • Saks OFF 5TH drives digital evolution and delivers a superior customer experience
    • 11:45-12:15pm
    • Saks OFF 5TH, the premier destination for luxury off-price fashion, is focused on delivering a superior shopping experience through a renewed focus on data, analytics and personalization. By utilizing an array of AWS services, Saks OFF 5TH has been able to build, innovate and remain agile to respond to customers’ evolving preferences. Learn how Saks OFF 5TH has leveraged AWS to transform the shopping experience and meet the needs of its customers.

Monday, January 15

  • Attract Prime members and grow your ecommerce business on more channels
    • 3:15-3:45pm
    • Discover how Solo Brands’ digital and ecommerce strategy evolves across their rapidly expanding omnichannel businesses, as CDO Jenna Flateman Posner discusses building an integrated channel strategy. Don’t miss the chance to gain insights into the approach that allows their portfolio of brands to build deeper connections with new customers by leveraging the latest retail tech tools, including Buy with Prime and Salesforce Commerce Cloud.
  •  Checkout-free apparel shopping: New applications of Just Walk Out technology
    • 4:00-4:30pm
    • No one likes waiting in lines. Shoppers want the flexibility to quickly enter a store, pick up what they want, and go on their way. Just Walk Out technology by Amazon continues to innovate shopping by delivering frictionless experiences with RFID technology, supported by Avery Dennison. Attend this session for a lively and engaging discussion about how Just Walk Out technology for apparel delivers shopper convenience and operational efficiencies.

Tuesday, January 16

  • Revolution or evolution: generative AI’s role in transforming online retail
    • 10:15-11:00am
    • Join this session to explore the exciting intersection of AI and online retail. By looking into Mercado Libre’s innovative use of AI to reshape online retail dynamics over the last decade, this talk aims to mark the difference between previous uses of AI and what new opportunities are presented by generative AI. Learn about the real-world applications, opportunities, and challenges of AI based on Mercado Libre’s practical experiences and experimentation.

Featured Technology Demonstrations

Visit AWS booth 6020 to explore unified commerce technology demonstrations. AWS, Amazon, and AWS Partners offer leading solutions for areas like smart stores and digital commerce, bringing together solutions with modern architecture to serve your customers seamlessly across all channels. The following is a preview of our demo areas.

  • Smart stores – Elevate the store experience with technologies like computer vision, internet of things (IoT), biometrics, and edge computing. Become exposed to new ideas and approaches that enhance the customer experience while optimizing store operations.
  • Digital commerce – Provide compelling online shopping experiences across channels to attract more customers with digital commerce solutions on AWS. From AI-powered capabilities to immersive retail experiences, AWS helps you stay at the cutting edge of digital commerce.
  • Customer data insights – Turn data into insights that improve all aspects of your retail business. Know your customers, vendors, and market better by leveraging machine learning that unlocks more personalized and profitable consumer experiences.
  • Retail operations – Predict demand, efficiently move product, and deliver exceptional customer service with solutions powered by AWS. Our solutions streamline operations, optimize customer interactions, and speed fulfillment all while helping retailers stay on track to their sustainability goals.
  • Business applications – Identity and checkout technologies – Consumers want a fast, frictionless way to shop and access what your business has to offer. Yet long lines, tedious checkout processes, and payment and verification can bog down operations and frustrate consumers and staff. Our technologies, using custom-built algorithms and hardware, computer vision, biometrics, and deep learning, simplify in-person touchpoints and offer experiences that are faster, more convenient, secure, and engaging.
  • Technology partners demonstrations – AWS Partner demos showcase technologies focused on generative AI, immersive commerce, customer insights, customer engagement, sustainability, supply chain, and more! Come see partner-led technology innovations and meet industry-experts from AI21 Labs, Bazaarvoice, BrainBox AI, Braze, Cloudinary, Hexa, Infor, JBS Dev, Kibo Commerce, Last Yard, Pivotree, PROTO, Snowflake, Stripe, Talkdesk, Treasure Data, xGen Ai.

AWS TechTalks In-booth Theater

Join us at booth 6020 for AWS TechTalks to gain inspiration from AWS and Amazon retail experts, industry peers, and partners. These short, 15-minute presentations showcase experiences driving retail transformation, building immersive shopping, elevating customer experience, and more.

With TechTalks spread over three days, be sure to check the schedule and plan ahead to catch your favorites. Discover the latest innovations in areas like generative AI, supply chain optimization, reshaping grocery, frictionless checkout, and beyond. Leave these brief sessions feeling energized and equipped with cutting-edge ideas to reinvent your retail strategy.

See full schedule here »

AWS Sponsored Events

Don’t forget to have some fun while at the event! Join us at the following AWS sponsored events to meet and network with your peers, and support important retail initiatives.

Saturday, January 13

  • Super Saturday with Retail Orphan Initiative (RetailROI)
    • 8AM–2PM | Times Square
    • Celebrating its 15th year, Retail Orphan Initiative (RetailROI) is once again bringing together retail’s most prominent thinkers for revealing discussions. Join AWS at the 2024 Super Saturday and help change the world for a child.
    • Learn more »

Sunday, January 14

  • NRF Student Association (Tour)
    • 11AM | AWS Booth 6020
    • The NRF Student Association provides talented students interested in retail careers unique educational and scholarship programs, networking opportunities and access to the latest industry news and research. NRF Student Association members can attend NRF 2024 at a substantially reduced student member rate, and join AWS for a guided tour of our booth on Sunday, January 14th at 10:00am.
    • Check to see if your school is a member and learn more »

Monday, January 15

  • VTEX Connect LIVE | NYC
    • Starting at 5:30PM | The Glasshouse
    • Join for a keynote from Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the visionary entrepreneur and basketball Hall of Famer. Hear from forward-thinking CIOs and CEOs and stay for an evening of networking. Reach out to your AWS Account Manager for a free, AWS sponsored ticket, while supplies last.
    • Learn more »
  • RETHINK Retail Gala

Sunday, January 13 – Tuesday, January 16

  • MACH Haus 2024 | Hudson Mercantile
    • Meet with AWS and AWS Partners specializing in composable commerce solutions for retail and consumer brands at the 2024 MACH Haus, located within a 5-minute walk from Javits.
    • Learn more »

Save on your NRF All-access Pass

Good news! If you’re an AWS customer, you can save on an all-access pass. AWS customers can use promo code 3431 to receive 20% off. Learn more »

As you can tell, there is a lot happening in only three days at NRF 2024 and we can’t wait to see you there. For more information on AWS NRF happenings and schedules, head over to our NRF 2024 website. Interested in connecting on site? Reach out to us to schedule a guided booth tour or to set up a meeting with one of our experts.

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Kate Wiley

Kate Wiley

Kate Wiley is the Head of Retail Industry Marketing at AWS. Prior to AWS, Kate held several marketing roles for retailers such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, Reebok, Drybar, and Jenny Craig. As the Head of Retail Industry Marketing, Kate is responsible for supporting and educating retailers on how to use the cloud to build closer consumer relationships with their brand, optimize operations, and accelerate their digital transformation with AWS.

Renata Melnyk

Renata Melnyk

Renata Melnyk leads global AWS Retail and Consumer Goods Industries Partner Marketing. In this role, she helps AWS industry business leaders and industry-specialized partners jointly plan, build, and run strategic go-to-market initiatives at a global scale. Renata's AWS experience spans over a decade of working across core business areas, including AWS Global Public Sector, AWS Startups, AWS Partner Network, and AWS Partner Marketing organizations.