Hussmann Launches Darius for Retail: A Cloud Based Real-Time Shopper Engagement Platform

Darius for Retail is a cloud based platform recently launched by Hussmann and Velocity Worldwide that will enable food retailers to engage their customers throughout their entire shopping journey--pre-store, in-store and post-store. Hussmann is working with Velocity Worldwide, shopper engagement specialists and provider of real time digital software solutions, to develop a food retail specific platform that will improve the overall shopper engagement experience, increase brand loyalty and impact the top and bottom line performance of a food retail store, company officials say.

“Shopper engagement is the strategic approach to providing three-way communication between shoppers, retailers and brands that results in a shopper visiting and crucially, purchasing from a retail store. It defines the ‘reinvention of the physical retail channel’ and is expected to be the most successful approach to increasing sales in retail stores in 2015 and beyond,” says Enda McShane, CEO of Velocity Worldwide.

“Darius for Retail is part of Hussmann’s on-going strategy to help food retailers take advantage of the latest trends through great merchandising, lighting innovation and new interactive technologies,” says Mike Seals, director of marketing strategy and business development. “Consumer behavior is driving change in the food retail industry and part of that change is a result of their use of devices, particularly Smartphones, that allow them to shop at any time from any place.”      

With Darius for Retail, food retailers will be able to engage with shoppers more effectively, in real time and in ways they want at any time including at home, on the road and in the store, officials add. Darius for Retail includes digital and non-digital channels such as mobile, web, social media, email, print, advertising and in store promotion providing continuous shopper engagement.  

 “As part of our platform, we will work with the food retailer to understand their current shopper engagement business model (if they have one) and then we will develop a customized strategy and ROI model designed specifically for their business,” adds McShane. “Darius for Retail has been developed, tested and launched in many different industries around the globe where businesses are wanting to engage with their customers through personalized, digital solutions. We are very excited to bring this to the food retail industry with Hussmann.”

“Darius for Retail is built as an Open Standards Platform and can therefore integrate with existing and new technologies meaning retailers can get going now no matter what level of technology experience or investments they currently have,” McShane says.

“For over 105 years Hussmann has been a leader in bringing innovation and technology to the food retail industry. We continue this tradition by working with information technology leaders to find the right digital solutions that will transform the food retail industry,” says Mike Higgins, senior vice president marketing, strategic planning and business development. “Our products and services can tell us a lot about what is going on inside the store, and our merchandising and lighting solutions plus our new interactive technologies will enable retailers to create a dynamic and personal shopper experience.”