Salesforce

Black Friday is still No. 1 when it comes to setting sales records.   Black Friday, which falls on Nov. 24 this year, will be the busiest digital shopping day in U.S. history, exceeding Cyber Monday (Nov. 27) for the second year in a row, according to a report by Salesforce.  

Amazon could be the newest player in the consumer messaging game.   The online giant is considering a new messaging platform that will rival the likes of Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. The full-featured standalone messaging app will be accessible via smartphones, tablets, PCs and smart watches, according to TechCrunch.  

Amazon may be looking to bolster its enterprise services offering with an innovative addition.   Corporate chatroom startup Slack Technologies has received inquiries of late about a potential takeover from technology companies, including Amazon. The company is valued at approximately $9 billion, according to Bloomberg.  

To the key to omnichannel success is having access to synchronized, and up-to-date business information.   Mattress Firm is partnering with Visionet Systems to create a centralized information repository that integrates all business information across retail channels in near real-time — a move that will improve operational efficiency enterprise-wide.  

Every year, 30,000 retail industry professionals descend on Manhattan for the National Retail Federation’s “Big Show.    It’s a once-a-year opportunity to take the pulse of one of our most familiar industries. Amazon conspicuously abstains from the event, but it is nonetheless the focus of many conversations, distracting some retailers from the real opportunity: innovations in customer experience. Thankfully, this year a healthy shift seems to have begun.  

The trends featured at the annual NRF Convention & Expo never fail to get the tech juices flowing, and this year was no exception.    Sessions and the expo floor illustrated how retail technology has changed dramatically in a very short time. However, the event also relayed a sobering message: the industry needs to greatly evolve to keep up pace with customer expectations, and remain relevant in the long-term.  

Digital commerce stole the show during the 2016 holiday shopping season, and mobile and social had the biggest impact on shoppers.   That’s according to data from Salesforce Commerce Cloud, which reports digital commerce was up 34%  globally over last holiday — well surpassing last year’s 24% growth rate.  

As consumers connect with their favorite brands, they expect a consistent shopping experience.   With the help of Salesforce.com, The Aldo Group consolidated shopper data across its enterprise so it can create a singular shopping experience. By adding a cloud-based platform, Aldo gained 360-degree views of each shopper, a move that provides better insight into their preferences and allows the chain to engage with consumers more effectively.