Technology

The holiday season has always been a tricky time for retailers, and this year will be no different. With the inflation rate fluctuating between 3 percent and 4 percent, consumer spending behaviors have become increasingly unpredictable. How can retailers forecast the right products and channels to stock their shelves effectively in Q4? To stay agile…

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has set the marketing world aflame. Tools like DALL·E and Adobe Firefly have demonstrated the potential of AI to produce engaging creative from limited resources. Looking beyond that, what can it offer in terms of media efficiency for brand and retail marketers? The ability of GenAI tools to remix and iterate…

Emotions are central to how we engage, communicate with, and react to our world, motivating our behavior and deepening our interactions. Brands that lean into the intricacies of human emotions are proven to generate more sales and loyalty. According to McKinsey, 76 percent of consumers reported that receiving personalized communications was a top factor in…

The world of work is evolving rapidly, with the average professional changing careers around five to seven times over their lifetime. Whether driven by personal aspirations, industry shifts, or economic forces, career transitions can be daunting. However, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened up new avenues for individuals to navigate these changes more…

In 2024, the most forward-thinking and innovative retail organizations will recognize that it's a must to blend intelligent human insight and artificial intelligence (AI). It will become clear that unless an organization can find a way to unify the two across virtually every aspect of their business, it will suffer the consequences across both the…

As the retail industry continues to evolve, generative artificial intelligence is emerging as a transformative technology. However, before retailers decide to invest in this technology, it's crucial for them to carefully consider several factors to ensure that their investment aligns with their strategic goals and delivers the expected results. Below are five key steps that…

The end-of-year holiday season brings an extra layer of stress to the retail industry contact center agent’s work, and even if that stress diminishes after Christmas Day, the reprieve is short. Christmas quickly becomes New Year’s, then Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and so on. In our consumer-driven culture, the “holiday sale”…

Total Retail values your insights as a retail executive. As such, we request your participation in a brief survey (less than 10 minutes to complete) about your organization's technology usage and needs, both current and future. All survey data will be reported on anonymously. The survey data collected will serve as the foundation for the…

Artificial intelligence integration is coming of age in the retail industry. Eighty percent of retailers are expected to adopt AI within the next three years, and according to a recent IDC Europe study, 40 percent of retailers are already in the experimentation phase with generative AI. While generative AI (think AI assistants and ChatGPT) is…

U.S. consumers have proven themselves a resilient bunch. In the face of persistently high interest rates and continued inflationary stress, they’ve maintained spending. But as a retailer, you cannot afford to take this for granted. In fact, we’re starting to see the first signs that the American consumer might be about to buckle under the…