NRF Europe 2025: Orquest Highlights from Paris

On September 16th, the Orquest team joined the global retail community in Paris for the very first NRF Europe. After decades of success in New York and the recent expansion to Singapore, the National Retail Federation has officially landed in Europe, bringing together top retailers, innovators, and technology partners under one roof.

At Orquest, it was a milestone moment. Our full European team was on the ground, welcoming visitors to our booth, sharing success stories on stage, and celebrating an award for our AI-powered workforce scheduling solution. More than an event, it was a chance to connect with the people shaping the future of retail and to reaffirm our belief that operational excellence and human experience go hand in hand.

A Global Conversation on the Future of Retail

The mood in Paris was clear: retail is resilient, and the store is here to stay. In his NRF Europe opening keynote, Guillaume Motte, Global Chairman & CEO of Sephora, reminded us that “we’ve always believed in stores.” For Sephora, tripling sales in the last decade has been about curating the right offer, creating experiences, and putting inclusivity at the heart of its vision.

This belief in the power of physical retail echoed across keynotes and panels. From omnichannel strategies to unified commerce, from fair trade policies to sustainability, leaders agreed that growth depends on efficiency, compliance, and innovation, without compromising the human connection.

As Matthew Shay, NRF President & CEO, put it: “Retail together is more than a theme. It’s a call to action.” That same spirit drove the conversations we had at our booth: retailers from all over the world asking how they can grow faster, operate smarter, and empower their teams at scale.

Sharing the Stage with Vicio

One highlight of the show was our session at the Startup Hub Talks, where we shared the stage with Vicio, the disruptive food chain redefining urban dining in Spain and Portugal.

In just a few years, Vicio has expanded at breakneck speed, growing to dozens of locations with a young, innovative culture. But that growth came with challenges familiar to many retailers and restaurants: managers spending hours on spreadsheets to create schedules, inconsistent absence management, and little visibility into staffing needs.

Since 2023, Vicio has trusted Orquest to solve these challenges. With AI-powered scheduling, every one of its restaurants now receives an optimal weekly plan in just minutes, based on real demand, contract types, availability, and regulations. The result? Less admin, more scalability, fairer shifts for employees, and greater efficiency at every level.

As Carlos Romero, Hospitality Lead at Vicio, told the audience: “It wasn’t just about implementing software. Orquest was with us through the entire process, making sure our managers and teams felt comfortable from day one. Scheduling went from a headache to a strategic, data-driven process.”

Award-Winning Pitch: Store Experience

We were also honored to win the NRF Europe Pitch Contest in the Store Experience category. Our pitch highlighted a common scenario: a busy Saturday store where staff are overwhelmed, lines are long, and customers walk away frustrated.

The cause? Poor staffing, inconsistent schedules, and a lack of visibility. The cost? Lost sales, extra hours, compliance risks, and low morale.

Orquest changes that. By forecasting demand, calculating staffing needs, and creating compliant, skill-based schedules in just a few clicks, we ensure the right people are in the right place at the right time. The impact is clear: managers save hours of admin work, employees enjoy fairer, more predictable shifts, and customers get the experience they deserve.

Winning this category was a recognition of our mission: helping retailers turn scheduling into a lever for efficiency, compliance, and high-performing teams.

A Booth Full of Conversations

Throughout the three days, our booth was buzzing with activity. From global fashion brands to fast-food leaders, we met with decision-makers eager to see how AI scheduling could free up managers’ time, reduce costs, and improve both employee and customer experiences.

It was also a chance to show how Orquest is already trusted by global leaders like Kiabi, H&M, Dior, McDonald’s, Burger King, and of course, Vicio. The conversations at the NRF Europe confirmed what we hear every day: the challenges of workforce management are universal, and the opportunities for optimization are huge.

Looking Ahead

As NRF Europe came to a close, one message stood out: the future of retail belongs to those who combine efficiency with humanity. Technology is no longer a “nice to have”, it’s the foundation for sustainable growth. But the true winners will be the brands that use it not just to cut costs, but to empower managers, elevate employees, and deliver better customer experiences.That’s exactly what we’re building at Orquest. With AI scheduling, we help retailers scale operations, ensure compliance, and keep teams motivated, because we believe that great employee experiences lead directly to great customer experiences.