User Experience

4 Keys to Delivering Next-Generation Customer Experiences
April 29, 2016 at 2:19 pm

If you asked passengers on a plane if they booked their tickets online, over half are likely to answer “yes.” And if you asked those who didn't complete their ticket purchase online, over 80 percent are likely to say they abandoned the purchase because they were surprised by the price — either the price changed…

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 world’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-Mart’s Lab…

Mapping Out Your Digital Commerce Strategy
April 28, 2016 at 10:17 am

In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, often referred to as the “Age of Amazon,” it's become increasingly important for companies to envision and implement comprehensive commerce strategies to better connect with consumers in a meaningful way. However, only a quarter of executives at major enterprises believe their organizations are on the right track in this…

Wal-Mart, Visa Are Fixing the Worst Thing About Chip Credit Cards
April 20, 2016 at 10:38 am

If you're tired of how much longer checkout at a store is taking since the rollout of new chip-enabled credit and debit cards, relief may be on the way. Visa said on Tuesday it had upgraded its software to improve the processing of chip-enabled cards and reduce checkout times. The payments company said the upgrade will…

The Forecast for E-Commerce
March 28, 2016 at 12:10 pm

E-commerce took a couple big leaps forward in innovation and efficiency in 2015. While it’s easy to examine past success and the trends of the previous year, the most important thing retailers can do now is use that knowledge to stay ahead of the curve. Here are three of the most important trends that online retailers…

Amazon.com Goes Down for 20 Minutes, the World Freaks Out
March 11, 2016 at 8:14 am

Amazon.com went down for some users on Thursday afternoon for approximately 20 minutes before being restored. Users trying to access the Amazon website as well as the mobile app at around 2:20 p.m. ET were greeted with error messages. During the outage, many users took to Twitter to vent their frustration.

How to Identify and Act On Behaviors That Improve Customer Engagement
February 26, 2016 at 11:00 am

There's not one defined path for increasing customer engagement. This makes perfect sense — a manufacturing company and a financial services firm don’t operate from the same playbook. Your businesses has to determine the most important factors or “key drivers” that speak to your customer experience. Key drivers pinpoint the behaviors that support customer engagement…

Barnes & Noble CEO: Focus on Experiences vs. Price
February 24, 2016 at 10:51 am

Retailers today have to differentiate themselves with experiential products and services, since most can no longer win on price. This was the key message delivered by Ron Boire, CEO of Barnes & Noble (B&N), during a fireside chat with James Green, CEO of Magnetic, during a session at eTail West yesterday. During the chat, Boire…

Samsung Opens Flagship Store With No Products
February 24, 2016 at 10:37 am

On Monday, Samsung opened a new 40,000-square-foot store in New York’s Meatpacking District. Across the street from the High Line and a block away from the Whitney Museum of American Art, it’s a prime piece of retail space. But one pursuit "the flagship" isn't focused on, says Zach Overton, its general manager, is retail. Yes, you…