Which retail technology invention, first deployed in 1974, revolutionized data collection and laid the foundation for modern retail analytics?

The retail landscape has been transformed by numerous technological innovations over the decades. Some discoveries have revolutionized how retailers understand customer behavior, while others have completely changed the shopping experience. This question focuses on a pivotal invention that changed how retailers gather and analyze customer data, leading to the modern era of personalized shopping experiences and targeted marketing campaigns.

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Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode scanning
Electronic cash registers with data storage
Customer loyalty card programs
RFID inventory tracking systems