Technology

Several months isn’t a long time, but it’s enough to totally transform the grocery store experience. Because of COVID-19, many shoppers who used to go to a grocery store every few days or even every day are suddenly thinking twice about going at all. A typical trip to the supermarket involved looking at and touching…

The COVID-19 pandemic is a once-in-a-century event that will likely change shopping patterns in ways we couldn’t have predicted even as recently as 2019. However, the virus is just the latest disruptive force in an already risky global retail environment. While we know that the crisis will ultimately end and that the business of commerce…

As consumers sheltered in place this spring, extended amounts of time at home prompted many to redecorate and take on home improvement projects. Some people tackled projects they couldn’t otherwise get to after a typical in-office work week, while others rushed to visit the websites of online retailers like Room & Board to explore the possibilities of…

Amazon Prime Day won't be the only big sales event in October. Walmart and Target have both announced plans to host their own online sales events that just happen to coincide with Amazon's annual shopping fest. On Monday, Walmart said it will be holding a "Big Save" online event that runs Oct. 11 through Oct. 15. Walmart will offer Black…

In episode 266 of Total Retail Talks, Joe Keenan interviews Shrenik Sadalgi, director of research and development at Wayfair, and chair of the Khronos 3D Commerce Working Group. Listen in as Sadalgi discusses why he thinks 3D content has yet to gain widespread adoption among retailers, how consumers aren't yet used to interacting with 3D content…

As retailers look to the future, they will need to re-examine how they can still provide an optimal in-store experience for customers while also taking pandemic-related factors into consideration. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI)- and machine learning (ML)-based technologies will play an increasingly larger role in facilitating this. For retailers across sectors, there’s a heightened…

When the first 3G-enabled iPhone launched with much fanfare in June 2008, nobody knew what an app economy could look like. Yet within a decade, the smartphone, propelled by the adoption of 3G and 4G technologies, has upended the world of commerce. The Digital Transformation Over the past decade, digital has made it easier to…

We’ll address how, through proper communication and training, Sephora was able to set its employees up for success while reopening.

Have you ever found yourself browsing Netflix in search of the TV show or film that fits perfectly with your mood? Even with nothing at stake, it’s often difficult to decide what to watch. We’re so overwhelmed by the plethora of options that we end up paralyzed — unable to get up off the sofa,…

The retail landscape looks completely different today compared to the beginning of 2020. COVID-19 has caused stores to shut down and employees to be furloughed. Retailers were already challenged before the pandemic began, and now many consumers are wary of returning to stores. Furthermore, social distancing regulations limit the number of people allowed in a…