Artificial Intelligence

New York -- The Ikea Group plans to become energy and resource independent by 2020, according to the chain’s new “People & Planet Positive” sustainability initiative.

Making better business decisions requires retailers to break down silos between company divisions, and deliver scalable predictive tools that allow managers enterprise-wide to sift through mission-critical information.

Chain Store Age talked with Andrea Morgan-Vandome, VP retail strategy and solution marketing, Oracle Retail, about the importance of business intelligence (BI).

What is the biggest change today related to retail analytics and BI? 

AT&T’s first-ever flagship is designed to immerse customers in everything AT&T. The 10,000-sq.-ft. emporium, located at 600 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago, also offers shoppers a peek into the future, with the first-ever retail demonstrations of the company’s new digital home security system and an example of how wireless technology can help driving via an on-site “connected” car.

Eager to make more effective business decisions, many retailers are reevaluating their business intelligence strategies. With a renewed focus on breaking down enterprise-wide silos, retailers are making a move to the next generation of BI, which includes giving line and store managers access to predictive analytics tools and multifunctional views of data.

Energy conservation remains a key priority for retailers as several factors, including new power plant regulations, threaten to increase volatility in the electricity market. Along with being a significant cost driver, energy management advances environmental goals. Indeed, it is typically the most cost-effective activity a retailer can undertake to become more sustainable, according to Marcus Boerkei, general manager of Siemens Retail & Commercial Systems, who spoke with Chain Store Age about how retailers can reduce their energy use.

As convenience store operator Wawa expanded, it faced a logistics challenge: The company was adding more new stores, and its manually operated chilled warehouse had run out of room. Its production had outpaced its storage capacity, and the chain’s products were now being produced, staged on the warehouse floor and quickly shipped to make room for milk, teas and juices that were newly coming off the line. The distribution center’s storage space had surpassed maximum capacity.

Dallas -- Dave & Buster's Inc. said Monday it has named Kevin Bachus as its senior VP entertainment and game strategy, effective immediately.

Bachus is co-creator of the Xbox videogame console system. He joins Dave & Buster's from social network Bebo, where he was chief product officer.
 
In the newly created Dave & Buster’s role, Bachus will be responsible for driving the evolution from on-premise-based entertainment to multi-platform gaming, including mobile and online.
 

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. — Samsung Electronics America has launched its cannister vacuums in the United States. The three new models feature reduced noise levels and innovative ergonomic design.

According to the company, the innovative airflow design reduces excessive noise, cutting down on the roaring vacuum sounds that can disturb everyone in the house. The units also feature unique design components with a carrying handle.