The Future of Self-Service Solutions Unveiled at RetailNOW 2026 with TIGER Report Launch

The ongoing evolution of retail technology is taking center stage at RetailNOW 2026, held from July 26 to 28 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. At this prominent event, The Industry Group (TIG) and the Kiosk Manufacturer Association (KMA) are spotlighting the merging worlds of Point of Sale (POS) systems, kiosks, digital signage, and edge AI. This convergence, which is the focus of their newly released report, TIGER 2026, depicts how self-service kiosks and unattended POS are reshaping global retail landscapes and payment processes.

Highlights from RetailNOW 2026

This year's RetailNOW is set to be significant, particularly with Intel marking its debut at the event. The RetailNOW Walking Tour will guide value-added resellers (VARs), independent software vendors (ISVs), and solution providers through exhibits showcasing leading companies in the field, including Intel, Advantech-AURES, POSIFLEX, Ingenico, Toshiba, and more. This curated experience serves not only as a showcase for innovations but as a practical roadmap for channel partners transitioning from traditional countertop POS solutions to unattended and more technologically advanced deployments.

Understanding TIGER 2026

The TIGER 2026 report brings to light a critical shift in the perception of POS systems. No longer merely seen as fixed terminals placed at counters, modern POS infrastructure is evolving into a distributed, unattended, software-defined commerce layer. This report outlines various applications, including self-checkout, self-ordering systems, electric vehicle charging stations, smart vending machines, and even healthcare check-ins, all interconnected through digital signage-enabled transaction points.

Market data featured in TIGER 2026 indicates that the global self-service kiosk market is poised for substantial growth; projected revenues will leap from $39.4 billion in 2024 to an impressive $82.1 billion by 2031. In turn, unattended POS is expected to grow from $1.254 billion to $3.418 billion, maintaining a robust 15.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

A Roadmap for Retailers

For attendees at RetailNOW, the message resonates clearly: POS is no longer just a static terminal but has transformed into the very operating system of self-service commerce. The release of TIGER 2026 is strategically timed to provide POS dealers, VARs, ISVs, and payment professionals with a robust, data-driven strategy for expanding into the realm of unattended, software-defined, and accessibility-conscious self-service options.

The Role of TIG and KMA

The Industry Group, which maintains a comprehensive network of news and research platforms that delve into kiosks, digital signage, retail automation, electric vehicle charging solutions, and smart city technologies, is dedicated to producing insightful reports like the TIGER series. Partnering with KMA—an advocacy group that promotes best practices in self-service technology, accessibility standards, and secure payment protocols—both organizations are integral in equipping the retail IT channel to convert self-service opportunities into effective, scalable solutions.

In a rapidly changing landscape, this collaboration between TIG and KMA heralds a new era of innovation and accessibility in retail environments. The insights gleaned from TIGER 2026 and the discussions fostered at RetailNOW 2026 will undoubtedly pave the way for future advancements in self-service technologies. This remarkable convergence of ideation and implementation could lead to an impactful revolution, enhancing user experiences and streamlining retail operations worldwide.