Technology

Top Retail Trends of 2016
May 24, 2016 at 9:51 am

I recently received a really interesting whitepaper titled "The Top 10 Retail Trends For 2016" from Synchrony Financial that included a list of the top 10 technology, marketing and consumer trends that Synchrony predicts will have an impact on retail sales in 2016. Here are five of the key trends highlighted. Are any of them affectingโ€ฆ

Google, Leviโ€™s Partner on a โ€˜Connectedโ€™ Jacket
May 23, 2016 at 10:22 am

At Googleโ€™s I/O conference, Googleโ€™s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) research unit offered an update on its interactive textiles project unveiled last year, Project Jacquard. ATAPโ€™s Ivan Poupyrev announced that the company was collaborating with iconic clothing company Leviโ€™s to launch a โ€œconnectedโ€ smart jacket aimed at urban cyclists that will allow wearers to doโ€ฆ

Lโ€™Orรฉal Invests in Founders Factory Digital Startup Incubator
May 13, 2016 at 11:44 am

Lโ€™Orรฉal, the worldโ€™s largest cosmetic company, has announced an investment in the Founders Factory, a global multisector digital accelerator and incubator. The investment makes Lโ€™Orรฉal Founders Factoryโ€™s exclusive partner for investments in beauty tech startups worldwide, fulfilling part of Lโ€™Orรฉal CEO Jean-Paul Agonโ€™s vision of the transformative power of digital for the beauty category.

GameStop Increases Profits Through Brand Diversity
May 12, 2016 at 11:31 am

In an industry that saw a 15 percent drop in physical retail sales in 2015, one brand continues to grow profits. For the third year in a row, GameStop profits per store increased. The electronics retailer reported profits of $176,000 per store, on average, or nearly 15 percent for each of its more than 6,600โ€ฆ

Why Planning Systems Must Be Priority for Retailers
May 11, 2016 at 8:55 am

Itโ€™s no surprise to learn that retailers are in a rapid investment period in terms of IT systems. Historically slow to invest in technology, retailers are now playing catchup in an arena that punishes slow-movers. A retail CIO is faced with the daunting challenge of solving a myriad of complex issues fast, including: delivering theโ€ฆ

User Friendly?
May 10, 2016 at 2:02 pm

Much has been written about the customer experience and its importance to retailers, but itโ€™s just one of many elements required to be successful. Another important aspect, which is often overlooked by brands, is the user experience (i.e., the experience that employees who are directly or indirectly serving customers have when using enterprise software). Manyโ€ฆ

Target is Testing Robot Employees In-Store
May 3, 2016 at 9:28 am

Don't be surprised if you bump into a robot next time you shop at Target. The retail giant is testing robots for a week at one of its San Francisco stores to help stock shelves and take inventory, according to Fortune. Simbe Robotics, a Silicon Valley startup, built the robot called "Tally," which can move aroundโ€ฆ

Wal-Mart Wants a Few Good Startups
April 29, 2016 at 1:49 pm

Wal-Mart has joined a growing list of retailers issuing calls for a few good startups to help solve some sticky technology problems and create more compelling shopping experiences. The worldโ€™s largest retailer is hosting an open call, inviting startups to its Bentonville, Ark. headquarters to pitch to top executives. The program is being led by Wal-Martโ€™s Labโ€ฆ