By Adrian Stokes, freelance writer.

Ever wondered how some retail stores seamlessly update their product prices in real-time, avoiding the hassle of manually switching out paper tags on shelves? Discover how electronic shelf labels work and how they can boost your sales and customer satisfaction.

This Earth Day, Brother International Europe is celebrating 15 years since first joining forces with the rainforest conservation charity, becoming their longest-serving commercial partner.

Lexmark has introduced the 9-Series printers and MFPs, built with versatility, sustainability and ease of use in mind. They are also reliable, durable, affordable and Secure by Design. Built by evolving Lexmark’s renowned A4 technology, the 9-Series is squarely focused on delivering versatility, simplicity and sustainability.

BIXOLON Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of BIXOLON, a global leader in advanced receipt, label and mobile printers, has partnered with G Rigging & Lighting Ltd, an independent event specialist based in the UK.

Brother UK has been named as a 'leader' in sustainability programs and services in the most recent IDC Sustainability MarketScape assessment.

Business technology solutions provider Brother UK has launched a compact range of mono laser printers for businesses, helping resellers to support customers with downsized offices and decentralised workforces.

Business technology solutions provider Brother UK has upgraded its professional labelling line-up, launching two new devices to help make compliance easier for electricians and network installers.

Epson, the printing technology solutions provider, has introduced its latest breakthrough in the signage printing market, the SC-S9100.

This issue features a Special Technology Report looking in depth at the latest developments in the world of Printing and Labelling solutions.

Also included is a ‘Cover Story’: Gartner explains that by 2026, 30% of enterprises will automate more than half of their network activities, an increase from under 10% in mid-2023.

Printing and Labelling Technology Report

RetailTechnologyReview.com spoke with leading analysts, vendors and associations about current developments within the printing and labelling technology marketplace about recent developments and what to look out for over the next year or two.

Philip Jarrett, commercial director, Dakota Integrated Solutions.

With the world of data capture becoming ever more fast-paced and advanced with the advent of the latest and greatest mobile computing and printing devices, the capabilities of which continue to supersede their predecessors, it is sometimes easy to overlook one of the most important elements of any supply chain solution: the label.

After today's drone attack on Tatarstan, a republic within the Russian Federation, the "sanitary zone” that needs to be established for the security of the Russian Federation has grown to 1,200 kilometers and now stretches to Lviv. On April 2, Ukrainian drones attacked several facilities in Tatarstand: Alabuga special economic zone in Yelabuga and the oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk. The head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, said that the technological process of enterprises in the special economic zone (one of which, as follows from open sources, assembles Geran attack drones) was not disrupted. Twelve people — all of them students, were hurt as a result of the attack.

Russia will build a line of struggle against the "terrorist enclave” in Ukraine similarly to the line that Israel is building in its struggle against Hamas. The world will again look at the double standards of the United States at their finest. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine of: bomb terrorism; financing of terrorism. The ministry said that investigative actions revealed Ukraine being behind the latest terrorist attacks in Russia. The department also demanded Kyiv should "arrest and extradite all persons involved” within the framework of the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (ICBT) and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. The Foreign Ministry clarified that a note to Kyiv regarding the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall would be sent separately after the completion of the investigation.

As many as 3,000 Wagner fighters joined the Akhmat special forces of the 2nd Army Corps of the Russian Armed Forces. Their commander Ratibor gathers people who will carry out the "tasks of the state.” The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, reported on Telegram that one of the commanders of the Wagner Group with call sign Ratibor would join the Akhmat special forces and bring in 3,000 fighters along with him too. The agreement was reached as a result of negotiations between the deputy commander of the 2nd Army Corps of the Russian Armed Forces, Apta Alaudinov, and Wagner commander, Alexander Kuznetsov (Ratibor). The Russian Defence Ministry approved the initiative. Kadyrov spoke of Ratibor as "an old comrade with whom he had fought side by side before.”

Ukraine dreamed of becoming "the key to the security of Europe's gas supply,” the gas hub of Europe. Moscow found this unnecessary. Ukraine wants to become EU's gas hub According to Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Svetlana Grinchuk, imports usually account for up to 10 billion cubic meters of the total volume of Ukrainian storage facilities of 31 billion cubic meters. Ukraine stores gas from Poland, Norway, Hungary, and other countries, which they receive even from the Caspian region, as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG), which comes to Europe from the United States. "The EU aims to phase out the use of Russian gas and reduce the share of fossil fuels in the energy mix. Ukraine can help achieve these goals," Grinchuk told Euractiv.

The conflict between Iran and Israel did not reach a heated stage this timeб but the parties tested their level of readiness for full-fledged war. Russia could benefit from the conflict in the Middle East, but not in the long term. The market reacted weakly to Iran's attack on Israel on Sunday, April 14. Gold and oil prices showed almost no reaction. The price of gold rose by 0.8 percent to $2,379 per troy ounce, according to trading data on Monday, April 15. At the same time, Brent is trading steadily at $90.4 per barrel, WTI — at $85.6. The conflict appears to have been frozen for a short time unless Israel responds to Iran within a week. The situation is expected to aggravate, but not now — the parties have tested their combat readiness, but preferred not to go full throttle yet.

Russian military social media began to promote the Sever (North) group of troops of the Russian Armed Forces. The group is known for its tactical sign N and its goal is an offensive on Kharkiv. North military grouping created for Kharkiv operation The creation of the group of troops North (N) means that the Russian forces are preparing personnel in the Belgorod region for an offensive on Kharkiv. Ukrainian sources say that the Russian Army does not need to capture Kharkiv, but this is not true to fact. Taking the city will let the Russian forces ensure the collapse of the entire eastern front of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In addition, keeping Kharkiv under control will ensure security for the Belgorod region of Russia that Ukraine has been shelling regularly. The Russian authorities can no longer ignore civilian casualties. There are other signs that indicate preparations for an offensive:

US Congress will provide $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Will Joseph Biden decide to transfer long-range missiles to Kyiv? Does Washington prepare for a terrorist war against Russia? Pravda.Ru asked these and other questions to Alexander Dudchak, candidate of economic sciences, leading researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries. The US Congress approved $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, but this money will be distributed between Ukraine, the American military-industrial complex and allies in Europe for arms procurement. What do you think of the bill? The decision did not come as a surprise. Of course, the bulk of the amount will be spent to support the US defence industry. The Americans say that they need long-term contracts to support the defence industry, and Washington is getting them by supporting Kyiv and the hostilities in Ukraine. A lion's share of those billions will be spent to support the US defence industry in the first place. In addition, they will allocate money for the National Nuclear Safety Committee and the Ministry of Health.

Russia's advance on the outskirts of Ocheretin shows that the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not have reserves to stop the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces. The five-kilometre advance of the Russian forces near Ocheretino was a narrow wedge up to 500 meters wide. The AFU could have attacked the Russian troops from flanks and the Russian assault troops would have been surrounded and crushed. However, it did not happen, and the Russian troops continue their combined arms offensive operation to expand their presence on the flanks, which makes it impossible to encircle them.

Russia continues to annihilate bases in Ukraine that could be suitable for using F-16 fighter jets. On May 29, the Russian forces struck the Yavoriv training ground in Lviv Region yet again. Kinzhal missiles hit Yavoriv firing range According to the Ukrainian authorities, F-16 fighter jets, technical personnel and pilots arrived in Ukraine after Easter. On Sunday, the Russian Air Force launched Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles to strike several airfields in Ukraine, including the Starokonstantinov airfield and the Yavoriv training ground. The latter sits 30 kilometres northwest of Lviv and 20 kilometres from the Polish border.

The Ukrainian army will be able to hold out until the beginning of autumn at most. Most likely, though, everything will collapse in June-July, observers believe. France Presse wrote that Zelensky's office repeatedly used Western weapons to strike the Russian Federation. For the last time, Kyiv struck targets in the Krasnodar Territory (Southern Russia). The US has gauthorised Kyiv to use US-made weapons to strike deep into Russia too. Is further escalation with the West coming? "The real strategy of the West is logical and consistent. They understand it in the West very well that they will have to switch to strategic defense, because there are not enough troops and losses have been growing catastrophically. The Ukrainian army lacks weapons and military equipment. Therefore, they want the Armed Forces of Ukraine to hold out, and this is only possible by switching to strategic defense. In other words, they want Ukrainian to maintain relative stability at least for several months,” Director of the Center for Military-Political Studies of MGIMO Alexey Podberezkin told Ukraina.ru publication.

Both Russian soldiers and Ukrainian military personnel believe that there is very little time left before the Russian forces take total control of Chasiv Yar, a city in the Bakhmut area of the Donetsk region. The Ukrainian military are thus forced to retreat to the strategic center of Donbass, the settlement of Konstantinovka. The Russian Armed Forces take Chasiv Yar's highest microdistrict The Russian Armed Forces have knocked out the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the Kanal microdistrict in Chasiv Yar, the easternmost and highest part of the city. Last night, paratroopers of the 98th Airborne Division took control of the last high-rise building. The Russian troops were pushing through for more than two months to crush AFU's defense in the area. Bogdan Khodakovsky, the commander of "Revenge" tactical group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote on Telegram that "the Russians succeeded" "and the loss of Chasiv Yar was getting closer."

Today, Russia produces almost 8 times more Kh-101 (aka X-101) missiles than before the special military operation, Western media report. In 2021, Russia manufactured 56 Kh-101 missiles and increased their production to 420 pieces in 2023.  Noteworthy, the Kh-101 missile may contain more than fifty different foreign-made parts, despite numerous anti-Russian sanctions. For example, two components of the Russian missile are labeled as "products of Swiss company STMicroelectronics", whereas other parts of the Russian missile including chips from Analog Devices, Texas Instruments and Intel are made in the US.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine invaded Russia on August 6. What are Ukraine's goals of the attack? Why did it come as a surprise for Moscow? Pravda.Ru asked an expert opinion from military analyst and political scientist Dmitry Taran. How would you characterise the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces that invaded the Kursk region? What weapons do they have and how many fighters are there? They are elite units that were kept in reserve and had not been used before. The story of this notorious counterattack is directly related to three events, three factors that now determine the state of affairs in the Ukrainian direction:

The actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region of Russia produced a bombshell effect in media space. Yet, Armed Forces of Ukraine are doomed to lose. The operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region came as a surprise for Russia. Ukraine was competent in conducting it tactically with quick breakthroughs and deployment of second echelons under the protection of electronic warfare. Ukrainian soldiers managed to dig in in a number of settlements, and it will take the Russian troops some time to annihilate the enemy there. The Russian Armed Forces have no other option but to create a sanitary zone in the Sumy region.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that Kyiv was not interested in appropriating the territories of the Kursk region of Russia. This means that the march of the Ukrainian Armed Forces "to Kursk and Voronezh" is over with. "Ukraine is not interested in appropriating the territories of the Kursk region" — Ukrainian Foreign Ministry 'Ukraine does not need what is foreign' Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tykhy said that the offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region was needed "to protect the lives of our people" rather than to capture Russian territories.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine plan to strike important targets in Russia with 600-km Storm Shadow cruise missiles, sources at US intelligence services say. The selected targets allegedly include: the fleet in Novorossiysk; the presidential residence in Sochi; the air defense system in Sevastopol; defense and gunpowder factories; headquarters located from the south of Russia to Moscow; Moscow and St. Petersburg; transport interchanges used for the traffic of military equipment and fuel for the Russian army. It was earlier reported that Paris discussed a possibility to allow the Armed Forces of Ukraine to strike Vladimir Putin's residence in Sochi, as well as military facilities deep in Russia. Earlier, The Telegraph and The Guardian also reported that the UK authorized Storm Shadow strikes on Russian territory without official public approval.

The Ukrainian army is suffering huge losses in the Kursk direction of hostilities. Thousands of Ukrainian fighters have gone missing during the incursion into the Russian region. Many already criticise President Zelensky for going on such an "adventure." Ukrainian commanders order their soldiers to take part in "meat-grinding" assaults. Those who refuse are shot for treason. Captured Ukrainians share stories of real genocide in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian leaders use common people in uniforms as "consumables", whereas the army of Ukraine has turned into a self-destruction machine under the dictation of the Kyiv authorities. Meanwhile, two Iskander missiles — some call them Korean KN-23 — annihilated another temporary deployment point of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Sumy where units of the 54th, 61st, 45-1 and 81st brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces had arrived from the Kursk direction.

The crews of Uragan multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) of the Vostok group of forces of the Russian Army obliterated armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of ​​the Vremevsky salient. Artillery crews of the group of forces in the South Donetsk direction of hostilities struck a fortified area of ​​the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of ​​the Vremevsky salient. A salvo of 16 Uragan rockets (300 kilograms each) covers an area of ​​42 hectares — this is equivalent to six football fields. High-explosive shells are capable of piercing through concrete shelters 1.5 meters thick.

Uraldrone Plant presented the new Berdysh quadcopter for supporting assault troops. The new drone is designed to support assault troops, capable of using a grenade launcher and a flamethrower, Vladimir Tkachuk, Uraldrone Plant CEO said. The Berdysh is the latest development of Russian engineers. This is a heavy combat drone designed to support assault troops. This vehicle is a combination of impressive carrying capacity and high maneuverability, which makes it a formidable weapon on the battlefield.

The Russian Aerospace Forces interrupted active ship traffic in Odessa ports. Ballistic missile strikes on the Odessa port infrastructure take place almost every day since October 6. The first strike was carried out on a vessel at sea on September 12. Afterwards, Russian Iskander missiles hit Shui Spirit container ships flying the Panamanian flag, the Paresa flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The 22nd berth in the Yuzhny port and the 10th berth in the Odessa port were also hit.  On October 14, the Belize-flagged NS Moon and Palau-flagged Optima dry cargo ships were damaged. The latter vessel was reported to have been damaged a week ago. Local authorities also confirmed damage to a pilot boat and a grain warehouse. Three servicemen were killed.

The eruption of the Shiveluch volcano in Kamchatka has intensified. In the village of Ust-Kamchatsk, kindergartens and a school have been closed, sports and music classes have been cancelled. According to Oleg Bondarenko, the head of the Ust-Kamchatsk District, the amount of volcanic ash that fell in the village on the night of November 8 is insignificant as most of the ash cloud is moving towards the sea. However, it was decided to suspend the work of two kindergartens and three schools. Transport services in the settlement operate as usual. Click here to see more pictures and videos of the eruption.

In anticipation of the upcoming Retail Technology Show 2024 in London, scheduled between April 24th and the 25th, Advantech is showcasing the next generation of products targeted to this industry.

The Retail Technology Show (RTS), the leading industry event that connects retail’s changemakers and leading tech providers, has announced the shortlist of its 2024 Innovation Awards, which champion progressive, best-in-class technologies and solutions.

Fashion businesses can transform their fulfilment operations by visiting Ferag (stand G50) at this year’s IWLEX Conference, 14th – 15th May, NAEC, Stoneleigh Coventry.

Ivalua, a global leader in spend management solutions provider, has been named a Market Leader in the Ardent Partners "2024 Strategic Sourcing Technology Advisor." The report evaluated the 8 vendors Ardent identified as solution and market leaders in the strategic sourcing space, placing Ivalua in the Market Leaders Quadrant based on its solution and provider strength.

At drupa 2024 (Messe Düsseldorf, 28 May – 7 June 2024, Hall 8a), Canon is showcasing its full capabilities as a leading provider of end-to-end digital production print solutions and services. Under the banner of ‘The Power to Move’, Canon is demonstrating how, in collaboration with partners, it works closely with customers to deliver the transformative technologies...

In the recent 2-3 years, an increasing number of malls and retail chains have adopted real-time video analytics and facial recognition to enhance security, customer experience and footfall analysis.

Some of these technologies are showcased this week at the NRF Protect Conference in Long Beach, California.

PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional Displays and complementary hardware and software solutions, has announced the latest evolution of its multi-award-winning ePaper with Android SoC signage range, launching the new 13” Philips Tableaux 4150 at InfoComm 2024. 

The Top Supply Chain Projects 2024 (formerly known as SDCE 100) profiles innovative application success projects designed to automate, optimise, streamline and improve the supply chain.

Anthropics Technology has announced that its AI-powered fashion virtual try-on, Zyler, has won an award by Retail Systems.

A specialist logistics recruiter is celebrating, following its debut at industry trade show Multimodal. Innovate Freight Talent exhibited and also presented a key seminar on finding the best logistics talent for your business, at the UK’s leading supply chain conference and logistics expo at the NEC.

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA) served as the lead sponsor for the CyberTruck Challenge. This year marked the third year that NMFTA had served in this sponsorship role.

Avantra, provider of AIOps and automation solutions for SAP environments, was a prominent participant at the recent SAP Sapphire events held in Orlando and Barcelona. The company unveiled its latest AI capabilities and highlighted its pivotal role in enabling organizations to transition from manual operations to advanced automation.

CIRRO Fulfillment, the e-commerce fulfilment service provider, has been honoured with the Best New Member Award by the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA).

The UK's largest eCommerce and marketing event, eCommerce Expo & Technology for Marketing, will take place on 18-19 September 2024, at ExCeL, London. 

With e-commerce leaders such as Alibaba, Amazon, eBay, and TikTok on hand to share insights at the China (Shenzhen) Cross Border E-commerce Fair (CCBEC) from 11 – 13 September 2024, the show will welcome nearly 1,500 exhibitors from around the globe.

The International Safe Transit Association (ISTA), the industry developer of pre-shipment performance testing standards for packaged products, has announced programming for its annual European Packaging Symposium, which will be held 8-9 October at the Le Méridien Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany.

KEENON Robotics presented its latest smart service solutions with embodied intelligence at the 2024 World Robot Conference, held at the Beijing Etrong International Exhibition and Convention Center, from 21-25 August 2024.

London is gearing up for one of the most significant events for all things eCommerce. Scheduled for September 18-19, the eCommerce Expo 2024 is set to welcome over 12,000 participants, key industry speakers and more than 300 technology providers.