Retail
Finding the right fit: why AI is the solution to the sustainable fashion crisis
From personal recommendation engines to augmented reality fitting rooms, there is no doubt that emerging technologies are transforming the world of fashion. But there is a sustainability crisis casting a shadow over the industry and at this month’s London Fashion Week sustainability is going to be a hot topic – the British Fashion Council’s theme […]
Who Said Stores are Dead, Long Live the Connected Store…
As a repeat attendee at NRF’s Big Show in New York, I have seen a notable shift in theme from “omni-channel retailing” to the “Connected Store”. With retailers putting more and more connected devices and technologies in the store, and industry suppliers embedding AI in evolving solutions, it’s apparent that retailers have a wealth of […]
Understanding visibility in a time of change
From inventory levels to trade barriers, awareness of the position and flow of your supply-chain is more valuable than ever Supply-chain professionals who are looking for new technologies to lower costs and increase profits are bombarded with one term more than almost any other: visibility. It’s the catch-all buzzword in supply chain, but its meaning […]
How AI is transforming the e-commerce customer experience
As little as ten years ago, most of us did not yet own a smartphone. The idea of self-driving cars, drones and augmented reality devices still seemed like the notions of far-fetched science fiction. Fast forward a decade, and few could have predicted how quickly the pace of innovation and change would increase. From Amazon […]
What can retailers learn from Wimbledon’s fan engagement?
Like retailers, Wimbledon are in an industry going through unprecedented change where the ability to recognise – and address – market disruption is more critical than ever. Wimbledon are not only a sports tournament, they see themselves as a data-driven media business where being first to share insights and high video quality content is a […]
Blockchain: empowering retailers to forge stronger links with customers
Of all the new technologies that have come to prominence over the past decade, none has received more attention—or more hype—than blockchain. However, it’s only now that the cryptocurrency bubble is deflating that blockchain’s true potential value for businesses is coming into focus. At IBM, one of the key blockchain “centres of gravity” is for […]
Hyper-localised retail: Stay relevant with local data
Originally published in Essential Retail. Modern consumers have drastically changed the retailing landscape as their expectations can be instantly satisfied across multiple channels and locations. As a consequence, proximity and relevance are key to retailers seeking to keep their competitive edge and delight their shoppers through unique in-store experiences. Retailers aim to achieve efficiency and […]
Virtual Retail – How AI is enabling a dialogue to make customer engagement personal
Retailers are on the front line of a dramatic shift in the way customers engage with businesses. The internet and smartphones have ushered in an “always-on” culture whereby we expect to be able to find everything we want and need at the swipe of a screen, to be delivered at a time that suits us. […]
Taking the ‘e’ out of e-commerce
Why technology is the last thing retailers should consider when it comes to digital transformation Traditional retailers are facing an uncertain future. And it’s not hard to see why. Many find themselves competing with pure digital retailers for the attention of consumers who are themselves have grown up knowing nothing but digital. Most will have […]
Artificial Intelligence Bridges the Supply Chain Gap
Retail and consumer products companies continue to innovate in the area of customer engagement. It’s clear they believe if they don’t do this they’ll be left behind, or possibly even disrupted out of business altogether. At the same time, we continue to see significant investment in operations, including robotics and automation in distribution centres. But […]
Top 5 Ecommerce Solutions Retailers Should Use in 2018
Retail has been changing dramatically over recent years, just this weekend I noticed another store in my local shopping centre has closed down. As consumers, we’re digitally savy, turning to our mobile phones to research items, purchase and expect goods to be on our door step within hours. Shoppers that buy both in-store and online have […]