Digital Innovation

2023 is Retail’s Pivot Point for Digital Innovation
May 13, 2021 at 2:38 pm

Retailers are two years away from the most pivotal acceleration of digital innovation they’ve ever seen. Some realize it; many do not. A rare confluence of groundbreaking technologies — 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), voice, low-code, and blockchain — continue to advance at an incredible…

How COVID-19 is Accelerating Retail’s Transformation ... and What That Means for Brands
May 12, 2021 at 12:10 pm

After a year of social distancing, quarantines, and Zoom calls, it's no wonder people are yearning for human contact and physical experiences more than ever. In fact, 25 percent of online shoppers agree that online shopping is less satisfying than visiting a brick-and-mortar store, according to Kantar’s COVID-19 Barometer. However, the brands that thrive moving…

3 Digital Commerce Disruptions Driving Revenue Opportunities for Brands
May 5, 2021 at 12:31 pm

COVID-19 is the ultimate change agent, and implications have hyperaccelerated shifting consumer behaviors, catching brands unprepared. In 2021, marketers must implement digital innovations to drive commerce now and into the future. Here are three consumer-centric digital commerce disruptions brands must pay attention to for revenue generation and fostering loyalty. Evolving Consumer Attitudes Are Fueling Flexible…

Making COVID-19 Experiments a Seamless Experience: How to Succeed in Innovation and Rollout
April 28, 2021 at 5:38 pm

2020 might have seemed like a year of forced innovation for retailers. But in truth, many were already experimenting with new channels and customer experiences before coronavirus entered the picture. What changed last year was widespread demand and fast-paced adoption. Suddenly these experiments with customer experience — grab-and-go, BOPIS, contactless payments, dark stores — were…

One Year Later: Retail’s Jump Into the Future
April 26, 2021 at 9:23 pm

A little more than one year ago, COVID-19 presented itself as an unlikely disruptor for retailers. Government safety measures changed the retail landscape seemingly overnight, and in doing so, forced a shift in customer needs and shopping behaviors. The past 12-plus months saw the accelerated adoption of long-predicted technology needs that enabled many retailers to…

Nordstrom Extends Digital Capabilities With Livestream Shopping
April 14, 2021 at 5:56 pm

Nordstrom announced last month the launch of Livestream Shopping. This new shopping channel will give customers real-time access to Nordstrom employees and brand partners as well as experts in the beauty, fashion and home categories. During these shopping events, customers can seamlessly shop the products they see and ask questions via live chat of the experts hosting the…

Retail Redefined: Balancing Technology and Authentic Experience, Part 2
April 14, 2021 at 1:14 pm

Local retailers serve a critical role in our lives as places that feed and nurture us, supply our basic needs, and contribute to the local and national economy. This interview is the second in a three-part series with my friend and mentor Jocelyn Mangan, CEO and founder of CEO and founder of Him For Her, a social…

Details Often Overlooked When Moving Your Business Online During COVID
April 13, 2021 at 5:15 pm

As the one-year anniversary of COVID-19 has recently passed, most businesses that have survived have moved their operations online. Consumer behavior has been forever changed by the conditions brought on by the pandemic, which require remote and digital fulfillment of all kinds of goods and services. One study by Shopify showed that over 50 percent…

TEKsystems Execs Share How Retailers Can Continually Drive Digital Innovation
March 31, 2021 at 6:50 pm

In this episode of Total Retail Tech Insights, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Megan Cohill, director of strategic accounts and head of retail, and Travis Salazar, regional sales director of enterprise applications, data analytics and insights at TEKsystems, an industry leader in full-stack technology services, talent services and real-world application. Listen in as Cohill and Salazar discuss…

New Commerce Experiences Give an Edge to Women-Owned Businesses
March 24, 2021 at 4:52 pm

As we turn the page to an ever-important Women’s History Month, there's a heightened focus on better understanding why women-owned businesses continue to be hit harder by the pandemic. According to new data revealed in Facebook’s State of Small Business Report, women-owned small businesses are closing at a higher rate (28 percent) than those run…