Artificial Intelligence

Some of the biggest names in e-commerce are part of a new investor index designed to track the performance of the online retail market.

San Diego-based EQM Indexes LLC, created the index (ticker symbol: IBUYXT) to track the combined performance of 40 to 50 global stocks that derive at least 70% of their revenue from online retail and virtual commerce including the online retail, online marketplace and online travel market segments. The companies that make up the index can be seen here.

We often talk about how to avoid, deter and block bots. But much opportunity lies in figuring out how to distinguish between good and bad bots, and to understand how the distinctions change across applications and environments, especially within the retail industry.

For all their talk about the customer, most retailers have yet to evolve to a business model that is truly customer-centric.

That’s the conclusion of a new industry study by strategic consulting firm The O Alliance that was created in partnership with Revmetri.

For all their talk about the customer, most retailers have yet to evolve to a business model that is truly customer-centric.

That’s the conclusion of a new industry study by strategic consulting firm The O Alliance that was created in partnership with Revmetri.

Specialty beauty retailer Sephora is launching a new mobile tool that eases the process of selecting a lip color.

Sephora is now offering a feature called Sephora Visual Artist on its existing Sephora To Go consumer mobile application. Sephora Virtual Artist utilizes a smartphone’s camera to map a user’s lip location and shape using technology developed by facial visualization provider ModiFace.

Vertical omnichannel footwear retailer Allen Edmonds Corp. needs to ensure brand and price consistency across a dizzying array of consumer touch-points.

Port Lake, Wisconsin-based Allen Edmonds is using the Ugam brand intelligence solution to monitor channel pricing, enforce minimum advertised price policy and manage channel relationships. Allen Edmonds needs to manage these activities in its 59 corporate stores and e-commerce site, as well as with third-party retail partners.

The number of U.S. businesses with solar energy installations grew to a new high in 2015. Enterprises ranging from family-run companies to some of the country’s biggest corporations are producing their own energy, cutting operating expenses, and achieving environmental sustainability.

A recent report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) provides data and insights into the diverse mix of corporate offices, office buildings, retail, manufacturing, data centers, distribution and logistics centers, and convention centers that have gone solar.

When one looks at the hot topics in retail today, no shortage of economists, journalists, industry thought-leaders and technology pundits are talking about the future of payments. One topic that many aren’t really discussing is managing large volumes of cash receivables.

After two years of development, Walmart’s OneOps cloud management and application lifecycle platform is being made available to the open source community in a move that highlights a sharp distinction with Amazon Web Services.
 

Google is being secretive about its “Project Wing” delivery drone program, but a patent filing gives some additional information about the effort. According to Fast Company, Google hopes to use remote wheeled delivery receptacles that will automatically guide drones to drop their packages. The receptacles will then complete the delivery on the ground. [Fast Company]