Technology

Prioritize CX With No-Code Automated Software Testing
January 17, 2023 at 12:33 pm

In today’s retail environment, few things kill a sale and the customer experience (CX) more than software glitches and 404 error pages. Consumers expect seamless, personalized, on-demand digital solutions. In fact, 86 percent of customers say they would leave a brand after as few as two poor experiences, according to one 2022 study. The pressure…

Walmart Inks Deal With Salesforce to Sell its Tech to Other Retailers
January 12, 2023 at 5:51 pm

Walmart wants to sell more of its technology and services to other companies. On Thursday, it announced a deal with Salesforce to ramp up sales of its GoLocal delivery service, which drops off purchases at customers’ doors; and Store Assist, which helps employees more quickly and accurately pick and pack orders for curbside pickup and delivery. Starting this…

How to Ensure Your Tech Stack is Sustainable for the Future
January 12, 2023 at 4:10 pm

Dara Meath is the former divisional chief information officer and development leader of digital and e-commerce at Conair LLC. Earlier this week she was named the new senior vice president and chief technology officer for Build-A-Bear Workshop. While attending Total Retail Tech last fall, Meath sat down with our editorial team to discuss how technology influenced her…

Change Ahead on Main Street: Survey Gives Small Businesses Insight Into What’s to Come
January 12, 2023 at 3:55 pm

There’s no doubt small businesses are a large part of the American economic fabric. In fact, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office reported 32.5 million small businesses in 2021, comprising 99.9 percent of companies nationwide and employing 61.2 million people. This year, Cox Business released results of its 2022 consumer sentiment survey, focused on uncovering…

Natural Language Processing: Guiding the Way for Retail CX
January 10, 2023 at 7:07 pm

With unprecedented worker shortages coupled with a surplus of inventory, retailers are bracing for a challenging start to the new year. While Black Friday discounts (that seem to creep earlier and earlier before Thanksgiving every year) incentivize consumers to a certain extent, many retailers are finding themselves strapped for customer service and sales staff —…

Tech Advisor Carol Schuster on Building Superior CX at Lafayette 148 New York
January 5, 2023 at 5:11 pm

Carol Schuster is the technology and business information advisor at Lafayette 148 New York, a luxury womenswear brand. While attending Total Retail Tech last fall, Schuster sat down with our editorial team to discuss her role at Lafayette 148 and how it's evolving amidst the face-paced retail technology sector. She shares the technology solution she believes will have…

The Little-Known Secret to Retail Resiliency? Quantum Computing
January 5, 2023 at 4:24 pm

Against a backdrop of inflation, weakened consumer spending power, and lingering supply chain disruption sparked by the pandemic, retailers continue to face growing complexity and uncertainty. Traffic routing, inventory management, omnichannel purchasing, staff scheduling — all have contributed to increased challenges for the industry. Forward-looking retailers are embracing new technologies to help navigate today’s dynamic…

Retailers and AI in 2023: Focus on Supply Chain Efficiency and Interactive Store Experiences
January 3, 2023 at 4:11 pm

Predictions for 2023 seem pretty dismal right now. As the recession and labor shortage continue to batter retailers, however, there are a few things they can do to become more efficient while setting themselves up for a more promising 2024. Supply chain efficiency will be one of the biggest challenges facing retailers and impacting consumers.…

Bridging the Gap: How to Prepare for the Future of Demand Planning
December 30, 2022 at 11:18 am

Retailers’ bearings for demand forecasting are now better calibrated than they were just a couple of years ago, although shockwaves from supply chain and distribution disruptions persist in some areas. These challenges create a disconnect between what retailers think is the "new normal" vs. what their actual "new normal" likely is. This dichotomy hinders their ability…

AI Brings Holiday Joy to the Retail Contact Center
December 22, 2022 at 4:24 pm

While the holidays are a joyous season for most of us, they can feel like a lump of coal for retail contact center agents. Between Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Christmas rush, retail contact centers are bombarded with calls from customers making returns, asking questions about products, or not-so-politely complaining. This spike in volume…