Artificial Intelligence

Retailers are poised to benefit from a new deal between Accenture and Javelin Group, a UK-based retail strategy consulting and digital transformation services provider.

The acquisition will expand the capabilities of Accenture Strategy to help the world’s leading retailers and consumer brands accelerate their digital transformation. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, and completion of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

By Steve Sell, Director of Marketing, Retail, Tyco Integrated Security

The shift towards an omnichannel retail environment is no longer a theory; it’s a reality that customers are expecting higher levels of customer experience and savvy retailers are responding to as fast as they can. As the lines between brick-and-mortar, online and mobile shopping continue to blur, retailers must deliver an exceptional customer experience across all channels.

London - Accenture is expanding its retail practice with an agreement to acquire Javelin Group, a U.K.-based retail strategy consulting and digital transformation services provider. The acquisition will expand the capabilities of Accenture Strategy to help retailers and consumer brands accelerate their digital transformation.

San Jose, Calif. – In one more sign the long-discussed eBay-PayPal split is really on its way, PayPal has announced it will trade on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol “PYPL” once it is spun off from parent company eBay. PayPal was initially founded as an independent company in 1998 and joined eBay in 2002.

PayPal intends to become a platform for a world in which all commerce is performed digitally.

By Mike Kercheval, International Council of Shopping Centers

As tens of thousands of retail real estate industry members head to Las Vegas for ICSC’s annual RECon event, I find myself reflecting on the evolution of the industry and the fundamental changes that will affect the shopping center business over the next five years.

Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. has confirmed that there was an “illegal intrusion” into the company’s payment card systems. It is the retailer’s second data breach in a little over the year. Here are insights on the breach from four security experts:

Steve Hultquist, chief evangelist at RedSeal, the security analytics company:

London – U.K. home and garden retailer Homebase is using IBM Commerce to provide more personalized shopping experiences by integrating in-store, online and mobile channels.

As a result, Homebase has achieved double-digit sales growth in all digital sales channels and a 30% increase in online visitors. With more than 40% of its customers now visiting online, Homebase collaborated with IBM to help redesign how its digital channels could offer more help, advice and inspiration.