Boone, NC, May 30, 2025 – ECRS announces a new milestone: its advanced business intelligence and AI solution, CATAPULT Cognition, is now live at over 600 independent retail store locations across 36 states, the Caribbean, and Canada, with 62% of stores utilizing at least one of its artificial intelligence features, including AI Demand Forecasting with DemandFill® 3.0 and shopper personalization with Artemis™.
With Cognition’s reporting and analytics, Richard Cashion, Chief Operating Officer of Curby’s Express Market, has already experienced significant time-savings and valuable data-driven insights. “I spend 3 minutes a day with Cognition, when I would have spent 8 hours trying to find just one answer out of my old systems. I’m excited to see what Cognition will do for me going forward,” said Cashion.
“We’ve observed widespread adoption of Cognition among independent retailers,” said Daniel Smith, ECRS Analytics and Reporting Business Unit Manager. “Our business intelligence and AI solutions are designed to provide practical and impactful benefits, and the positive feedback from retailers confirms that we are on the right track.”
Since its launch in September 2023, ECRS has consistently expanded upon Cognition with 23 updates, each bringing new functionality to the platform. The solution now includes:
- 16,000+ Unique Data Links: Enabling comprehensive data integration and analysis.
- 25 Out-Of-Box Role-Based Dashboards: Providing tailored insights for various retail roles.
- 210 Pre-Built Retail Data Visualizations: Offering actionable insights to drive decision-making.
These features empower retailers to leverage data-driven insights and AI capabilities to optimize their operations and enhance the shopping experience for their customers.
“Independent retailers are increasingly recognizing the importance of incorporating AI into their technology stack,” added Smith. “Cognition makes it easy for retailers to access advanced AI functionalities with minimal setup, allowing them to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.”
With CATAPULT Cognition, ECRS continues to support the community of independent retailers by providing cutting-edge practical AI solutions that are impactful. As the product grows and evolves, ECRS remains committed to delivering innovative updates to Cognition that will help retailers thrive and win in a competitive marketplace. For more information and to discover how AI-powered insights, demand forecasting, and shopper personalization can help you save time, make smarter decisions, and stay ahead in a competitive market by visiting ecrs.com
About ECRS
Family-owned since 1989, ECRS is a Certified Evergreen® retail transactions and artificial intelligence solutions provider, offering simple, practical solutions that unify operations and empower independent retailers to thrive. ECRS’ revolutionary CATAPULT® POS platform, powered by Unified Transaction Logic®, is the market’s only truly unified transaction platform that seamlessly connects all retail touchpoints. With CATAPULT, all retail touchpoints—including point of sale, back office, self-checkout, deli scale, fuel pump, pharmacy, inventory, loyalty, eCommerce, and enterprise management—share one single transactional logic. Unifying hardware, software, and services, ECRS offers friction-free, cost-saving solutions that make advanced automation accessible while transforming the consumer experience.

Contact
Brittany Benton
Managing Director of Marketing
800.211.1172
newsroom@ecrs.com