WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation and the Object Management Group (OMG) announced earlier this month that they had formed a partnership to manage some activities performed by the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) division of NRF.

“This arrangement will allow NRF to focus on ARTS’ core mission of collaboration, education and research while ensuring that standards developed over the past two decades are maintained and continue to evolve along with the retail industry,” said Tom Litchford, vice president for retail technology at NRF, the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants, and internet retailers from more than 45 countries.

“Retail is a highly innovative industry that uses the latest technology to continually serve its customers, and NRF remains committed to keeping merchants on the cutting edge,” Litchford said.

OMG is an international, open membership, not-for-profit technology standards ­consortium.