Bain & Co.

Chain Store Age recently spoke with Jason Miller, chief commerce strategist of Akamai Technologies, about how mobile technology can serve as a key component of omnichannel customer engagement strategies.

The concept of mobile first has been around for a while – most notably when Eric Schmidt announced Google would focus on ‘mobile first’ back in 2010. However, the concept still means different things to many different people.

It’s not far-fetched to say that mobile technologies have permeated our lives. You no longer go online, you are online and you carry it around in your pocket. Just like Dr. Michio Kaku says, “Today, your cell phone has more computer power than all of NASA back in 1969, when it placed two astronauts on the moon."

It is no secret that the retail landscape has – and is – rapidly evolving, in large part due to the explosive growth of mobile. While it is certainly common now for retailers to have an online presence, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re all catering to the complex needs of today’s shoppers.

Technology leader Samsung Electronics has introduced a new line of small interactive digital displays to replace printed posters and help brands and retailers  drive sales.

The new 22 inch and 10 inch displays Samsung introduced to its Smart Signage product lineup are designed to drive increased interactivity thanks to Wi-Fi connectivity and touchscreen technology.

New York -- Ninety percent of mobile phone users and 80% of tablet users are still “purchase holdouts” and have not made a purchase on these respective devices in the past three months, according to a Forrester survey of more than 4,000 respondents.    Some 53% of holdouts cite that they avoid "checking out" on mobile devices simply because they are either used to buying, or find it easier to buy, on a PC. 

Coty has appointed Mario Reis as EVP, supply chain, effective May 1. Based in Geneva, Reis will join the executive committee and report to CEO Michele Scannavini.  

Reis will replace Darryl McCall who will work on the transition and other projects to ensure continuity in supply chain performance before his retirement Dec. 31.

San Francisco – More than 70% of time on responsive web design (RWD) is spent on the back end in areas such as integration and infrastructure. According to a new report from Moovweb and Forrester Research, 63% of 146 surveyed U.S. companies using RWD today believe that this technique is not suitable for long-term use, suggesting that RWD is largely viewed as a short-term, tactical approach to enterprise mobility.

When U.S. retailers launch global e-commerce efforts, they often start with countries that have a long-standing trade history with America. Shipments to Canada are soon followed by expansion into the United Kingdom, Australia or other English-speaking areas.

Some organizations stick with this strategy — where few barriers to entry, cultural similarities and overall market understanding provide for a “safe” selling environment.