Digital Innovation

A new study from IDC predicts retailers will spend $5.9 billion this year alone on artificial intelligence (AI) tools like automated customer service and product recommendations. Furthermore, 79 percent of retail and consumer products companies expect to use intelligent automation to learn more about their customers by 2021. Yes, retailers are making big investments in…

Today’s consumers don’t differentiate between retail channels. They’ll jump between mobile, online and in-store to curate each individual purchasing journey according to their needs. It's becoming clear to retailers that shopping for them is all about ease, immediacy and the instant gratification of desires. For these empowered multichannel shoppers, convenience conquers all. Whether that’s finding…

Forward-thinking retailers are constantly being challenged and enhanced by technology. As online and mobile shopping continues to disrupt the “traditional” retail experience, retailers are relying on new technologies to better delight customers, attract them back into stores, and ultimately succeed in the multichannel environment. So, the real question is which technologies help retailers attract and…

A question we hear frequently from clients is: “How do I become a digital Genius?” In our research, Genius brands represent the leaders in digital media, e-commerce, product innovation, and organizational structure. For the majority of brands and retailers, particularly those that fall into the “Average” or “Challenged” categories from a digital performance standpoint, the…

As Jeff Bezos expands the Amazon.com empire, its dominance is impacting consumer behavior as well as legacy business models across more business sectors than we could have originally imagined. It’s been referred to as the Amazon Effect. One notable ripple of the Amazon Effect has been felt by traditional retailers. The profound impact has been…

Let’s be real: the state of brick-and-mortar retail in 2019 is equally exciting and terrifying. Amid widespread closures, uncertainty and the ever-present behemoth that is Amazon.com, there's an amazing wave of innovation in mobility that has the potential to transform — and yes, save — the retail experience for a new generation of consumers used…

Walmart announced Tuesday a partnership with Google to bring voice-activated grocery shopping to customers using Google Assistant, reports CNBC. The feature will launch this month, and will be available on any device with Google Assistant, including Home Hub, Android phones, iPhones, watches, and more. Consumers will be able to add products to their Walmart grocery…

During the 2018 holiday season, retailers saw stellar e-commerce year-over-year growth of over 15 percent. This upward trend was seen across retail categories, desktop and mobile. Average order values also indicated that even though shoppers took advantage of sale items, they spent their savings and then some on additional items. Of course, some retailers didn't…

This past year, Lord & Taylor announced it would close its flagship store in New York City, as well as 10 of its other retail locations through 2019. While many long-established retailers have struggled to keep up in an increasingly omnichannel retail environment, the announcement still came as a surprise for many people as the…

In episode 187 of Total Retail Talks, Total Retail Executive Editor Joe Keenan is joined by Steve Pinder, managing director of Kurt Salmon, part of Accenture Strategy. Listen in as they discuss the increasing influence of digital in the grocery space; what Amazon.com buying Whole Foods has meant for traditional grocers; and what grocers should be…