International Museum Day: How Technology Powers Museum Retail

International Museum Day has been celebrated since 1977 and serves as a key day for the global museum community. This year, it takes place on Sunday, the 18th of May, and celebrates the vital role of museums. The theme for 2025 encourages important conversations around protecting cultural heritage while also embracing innovation and inclusivity.

Beyond their exhibitions and educational programs, museums rely heavily on their retail operations to generate revenue that supports their missions. As visitor expectations rise and retail environments become increasingly complex, effective stock management and streamlined sales processes are more important than ever.

By adopting modern solutions and innovative technology, museums can protect cultural heritage while enhancing visitor experience and building a more sustainable future.

Sustainability is important in the current climate, and this year’s theme aligns with three of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the SDG's is 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation. By embracing modern technology in their retail and operational systems, museums can boost engagement, accessibility and innovation, which are key pillars of SDG 9.

One notable example of innovation in museum retail management is the adoption of modern Electronic Point of Sale (EPoS) systems, like those offered by Cybertill. By embracing technology, museums have transformed the way they manage retail operations across multiple locations, including shops, distribution centres and even e-commerce platforms. This not only enhances efficiency but also supports long-term sustainability goals, which is increasingly important to general consumers, with 78 percent stating that sustainability matters to them.

Smart Retail Strategies for Peak Museum Periods

Special events, anniversaries and celebrations often lead to an increases in visitor numbers. During peak times, having a reliable retail system is essential, to handle increased transaction volumes smoothly. With cloud-based EPoS solutions, museums can ensure seamless sales processes, efficient stock management and consistent customer experiences across all sites.

For example, museums that implemented Cybertill’s EPoS system ahead of major events were able to manage operations with precision, ensuring retail outlets remained fully stocked, checkout lines moved quickly and inventory levels were tracked in real time.

Managing thousands of product lines across several museum sites can be challenging. However, with the right EPoS system in place, museums have successfully:

• Reduced excess stock by adopting more efficient just-in-time purchasing strategies

• Gained access to a detailed audit trail of all transactions, enabling smarter purchasing and merchandising decisions

• Centralised stock control to ensure resources are used effectively across all locations

These improvements align with SDG 9 by fostering innovation and building resilient retail infrastructure, and with SDG 8 by supporting economic growth through more efficient retail practices and improved operational performance, which is exactly what International Museum Day aims to promote. In addition, by minimising waste and reducing staff pressure during busy periods, museums contribute to SDG 3 by promoting a healthier and more sustainable working environment for their teams.

Real-Time Data, Real-World Results

On International Museum Day, we celebrate the role of museums as cultural hubs and how technology enables them to thrive. With a smart EPoS system, museums have the opportunity to view and manage sales and inventory data on the go, no matter where they are.

This level of flexibility helps museum retail teams:

• Quickly identify top-selling and underperforming items.

• Adjust product ranges to better meet visitor demand.

• Ensure stock is replenished where and when it’s needed most.

Given the seasonal fluctuations and event-driven spikes common in the museum sector, these capabilities allow museums to stay relevant and efficient while fostering creativity and engagement.

As we Celebrate this day, it's a reminder of the evolving role museums play in our communities and the importance of embracing innovation to enhance their impact.

To learn more and get involved, visit the official International Museum Day page.

Want to Improve Your Museum’s Retail Operations?

At Cybertill, we provide EPoS and retail management solutions designed to streamline operations and enhance visitor experiences in museums. Whether you’re managing on-site shops or optimising stock across locations, we can help.

Contact us to find out how we can support your museum’s growth and efficiency.

📞 Phone: +44 151 545 2050
📧 Email: enquiries@cybertill.co.uk
🌐 Website: cybertill.com