IBM

Walgreens is relying on data analytics to ensure all of its IT systems are working as efficiently as possible.   Through a partnership with IBM, the drugstore chain is taking steps to drive more IT support across its enterprise. The first step is to integrate hardware and software from different vendors under one roof. This centralization will make it easier to stay abreast of performance.  

City Furniture sales associates are moving away from the cashwrap, and completing transactions directly on the show floor.  

Technology giants, including a retailer, dominated an annual ranking of the world's most valuable brands.   

This year, consumer spending for Mother's Day was on pace to reach a record high.   According to the National Retail Federation's annual study, shoppers were set to spend $23.6 billion, spending an average of $186 per mom. And everything from flowers, gift cards and clothing to jewelry, personal services and consumer electronics were on shopping lists.   But did all that shopping land the perfect gift?  

Fashion retailer abof is breaking new ground by leveraging machine learning and natural language to better service its online shoppers.    Aditya Birla Online Fashion (abof) sells apparel, footwear and accessories for men and women, and has a strong millennial consumer base. Knowing this customer segment expects a highly convenient and distinctive customer service, abof needed a way to personalize its online experience.  

The luxury brand is about to embark on the “next era” of its omnichannel shopping experience.    Extending its long-time partnership with Yoox Net-a-Porter Group (YNAP), Valentino is upgrading its omnichannel platform, a move that will give customers access to its extensive product assortment, in-store mobile features, and faster delivery through fulfillment from Valentino boutiques.   

The use of artificial intelligence has given Charlotte Russe an important competitive edge.    With its online and mobile shopping communities growing larger and their expectations for flawless services increasing,   the apparel retailer turned to IBM to prepare for the busy and critical 2016, five-day holiday shopping season kick-off. To get a jump start, Charlotte Russe launched IBM’s Watson Customer Engagement solutions in seven months. And the technology immediately gave the retailer a wake-up call.  

A new partnership will help retailers make smarter business decisions faster.   Based on a new alliance between IBM Watson and Salesforce, the companies will seamlessly connect their solutions — a move that will enable a new level of intelligent customer engagement across sales, service, marketing, and commerce, among other operations.     

Visa and IBM have a vision — that any device connected to the Internet of Things can securely process payments. And this means “any device.”