Artificial Intelligence

BJ’s jumps into cash automation
BJ’s Wholesale Club is knee-deep in a company-wide initiative to add processes that allow it to operate more efficiently. It has taken a major step by partnering with Glory Global Solutions to roll out cash automation solutions across its 200-plus-club chain. As cash still accounts for around 30% of consumer transactions in the U.S., it remains extremely important to retailer margins. However, the process of moving money is complex.
Amazon Web Services makes new cyber-security play
Amazon is bolstering end-user cyber-security. The online giant’s cloud services group quietly acquired cyber security firm harvest.ai, a San Diego-based startup that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyze online user behavior, according to TechCrunch.

Target execs share their ‘wow’ picks from 2017 Consumer Electronics Show

Voice-activated technology and connected devices are among the hot tech trends that caught the attention of Target executives at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Target posted the faves of some of its executives on a blog on its website. Here’s a sampling:
Tech Bytes: Top three tech predictions

As the retail industry settles into 2017, CIOs industry-wide are dusting off their To-Do lists, and creating a game-plan on how to implement this year’s top priorities. While these projects will run the gamut, retail is facing an inflection point — one that is influenced by new, “smarter” solutions that will not only change the trajectory of how businesses operate, but how chains will communicate with employees and customers.
The newest shopping channel: automobiles?

The annual consumer electronics trade show (CES) is considered a launch pad for new innovations and technology. One concept garnering attention at this year’s show: in-vehicle digital shopping. Honda and Visa presented the first proof-of-concept demonstration of in-vehicle payments at this year’s show, held in Las Vegas, Jan. 5-8.
Nike raises its retail game

Nike SoHo introduces immersive product trial experiences, 54-ft. footwear wall
Nike has seen the future of retail — and it’s immersive and digitally connected.
The athletic giant has opened a five-level, multi-sport category outpost in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood that pushes the envelope of sports retailing.
Lighting Transformed

LED options now exist for nearly every lighting application
When it comes to retail operating costs, energy is one of the top three expenses. Lighting is, of course, a component of this, accounting for 50% of energy costs for non-food retailers. The typical retail store spends roughly 71 cents per square foot per year — a cost that quickly adds up at the store and chain level.
Post-Election Fallout for Labor

As a result of the labor community’s failure to produce critical outcomes it pursued for the presidency, Congress and governorships, unions will be forced to abandon much of the political and legislative agenda they had developed in hopes of a friendly Clinton administration.
Digital disruption sets the tone for a new year — again

A new year is upon us, with new challenges and new opportunities. At the same time, retailers continue to struggle with how to embrace the digital disruptors that are redefining the retail customer and retail experience. Because one thing is clear: They are here to stay.
Indeed, these agents of change continue to pop up on a daily basis, each one designed to transform the trajectory of retail — and brands with an eye on the future should want in. After all, what retailer doesn’t want to reinvent their enterprise, drive agility and foster customer engagement in a new way?
BCBG Max Azria leverages analytics

BCBG Max Azria Group leveraged analytics when it realized its static “one-size-fits-all” e-commerce site didn’t optimize the overall shopping experience, or allow it to engage with specific omnichannel shoppers.
With a goal of personalizing the digital experience, and integrating its omnichannel journey as a whole, the women’s fashion brand added an analytics tool from Qubit. By embedding the platform’s JavaScript tags within its web pages, the technology transparently records all customer online interactions, pulling information into the cloud for reporting.
Top IT Concerns for 2017

Turning big data, social media challenges into growth opportunities
As 2017 gets underway, digital disruption continues to drive — and transform — the industry.
Besides creating a more consumer-centric, web-enabled shopping experience, digital innovations — from the Internet of Things to mobility to social media — are altering retail operations. They are also generating new challenges that retailers are unaccustomed to, or worse, still unprepared for.
Rent the Runway goes big in NYC

Online apparel-rental company Rent the Runway continues its brick-and-mortar expansion with the opening of its biggest store to date, a tech-savvy, 4,000-sq.-ft. flagship in Manhattan.
The stylish space merges the retailer’s digital assets with physical elements to create a very personalized customer experience, one based on each customer’s unique needs and past interactions with the brand.