Artificial Intelligence

New payment method not for the modest
Apple Pay’s got nothing on this new body part-based method of conducting commerce.

The world of payments has become very dynamic in recent years which explains why a trade show called Money 20/20 in only its third year of existence is able to attract more than 7,500 attendees. Everyone from scruffy start-up types touting the virtues of bitcoin, to government regulators, well known retailers and major credit card issuers were on hand at the recent show in Las Vegas to gain insight into the rapidly evolving space.
Twitter in pilot to deliver discounts via Tweets; offers redeemable in stores
New York - Twitter keeps on coming up with new ways to let advertisers connect with consumers—and now it’s moving into the brick-and-mortar space. In its first On Tuesday, the social media giant launched a pilot for a new feature called Twitter Offers, which enables brands and companies to create card-linked promotions and share them directly with Twitter users. The user can redeem the discount simply by paying with the synced card in the retailer’s physical store or online shop.

Streamlining the DC

Optimized centers provide greater flexibility
Predictions

For children on a long journey, the typical refrain is, “Are we there yet?” However, for retail IT practitioners and executives, the challenge is not in waiting to get “there,” but figuring out what “there” even is. The question for the IT journey on which retailers are now traveling can be more appropriately phrased as, “Where are we going?”
Office Depot using new location-based marketing app Shazam In-Store

AUSTIN, Texas - Office Depot is currently utilizing a new location-based mobile marketing app, Shazom In-Store, in all of its Office Depot and OfficeMax retail store locations throughout the country. The solution combines Shazam, one of the world’s most popular apps, with proprietary technology from Mood Media.
Staples to showcase in-store 3D printing kiosks

MakerBot and Staples announced today that MakerBot Replicator 3D Printers and MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanners are now available in 50 select Staples retail stores across 18 states. MakerBot is Staples’ exclusive provider in-store of 3D printing hardware, with premium in-store experiences to showcase the entire MakerBot 3D Ecosystem. This partnership makes Staples the exclusive office supply company to offer MakerBot 3D printing and scanning products in the store.
TechBytes: Three Reasons Retailer Innovation Labs are a Good Idea

With the recent announcement that it will build a new digital innovation lab in Boston, CVS Health has joined the ranks of retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores and Target Corp, who have also launched similar facilities. Not every retailer is in the position to build its own proprietary innovation hot house, but there are many advantages for those with the resources to do so. Following are three key reasons that retail innovation labs are a good idea.
'60 Minutes' on the next big data breach

Americans’ well-founded apprehension about the security of their personal information received a booster shot of sorts when 60 Minutes aired a disturbing piece about the state of digital security.
Retail Strategy: Top Issues Facing Retail CIOs

Retail Strategy: Top Issues Facing Retail CIOs David Dorf, Oracle It wasn’t long ago that the main expectations for the retailer CIO were to keep the servers running, desktops patched, and store-based POS systems taking money. Today, the CIO fulfills a more strategic role, one that impacts the organization’s ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences, preserve margins and serve customers. Here is a look at the top issues facing retail CIOs today:
eMarketer: Key trends to watch this holiday season

New York - Total retail sales in the United States will rise 5% to reach $862 billion during November and December this year, according to the latest forecast from eMarketer. Among the biggest trends to watch will be the acceleration in online sales, which are expected to grow at 16.6% year over year to reach $72.41 billion, or 8.4% of all retail purchases this holiday season. It’s a considerable uptick from 2013, when online sales totaled 7.6% of all holiday retail purchases.
Macy’s launches app with image search capability

LONDON — Macy's continues to innovate its omnichannel experience with the launch of a new iOS app that incorporates image recognition and visual search software. The tool allows consumers to search through thousands of inventory items by simply using a picture snapped from their iPhone to find similar products available at Macys.com.

The photo search app was designed in the Macy's Idea Labs facility in San Francisco, and the software for the image recognition was developed and supplied by Cortexica, a leader mobile image recognition. 
The Vitamin Shoppe renews Revionics price optimization

North Bergen, N.J. – The Vitamin Shoppe has signed a multi-year renewal agreement for Revionics price optimization technology. Three years ago the Vitamin Shoppe implemented the Revionics price optimization platform in an effort to undertake a more strategic, data-driven approach to its pricing strategies and tactics.