Artificial Intelligence

PORTLAND, Ore. — ShopIgniter, a company that enables digital marketers to connect brands with social and mobile consumers, is bolstering its executive team, on the heels of updating its platform.

New York -- Chain Store Age is pleased to announce that Dan Berthiaume has joined the staff as senior editor, technology.  

Berthiaume, who started covering retail technology in 1998, brings a wealth of experience to his new position. He served as corporate content manager of Retail Systems AlertGroup from 1998 to 2006, writing and editing the company's retail tech publications and overseeing its website, and then moved on to a successful freelance career, reporting on technology for a variety of print and online publications.

TREVOSE, Pa. — Airclic, a global provider of cloud-based software that transforms the accuracy, efficiency and competitiveness of mobile supply chain and logistics operations, has appointed Charlie Virden as VP of sales.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself to you as the new senior editor of Chain Store Age, focused on covering all the news, trends and happenings in the constantly changing world of retail IT. Technology is evolving at a breakneck pace with major implications for retail. Emerging technology areas such as mobile, social and cloud are changing the very nature of customer experience, while the explosion of Big Data offers both a major challenge and opportunity for retailers that can successfully harness the immense of volume of information that is now available.

By Nish Bhalla, [email protected]

It’s hard to think of a company, retail or otherwise, that isn’t developing a mobile app these days — but the vast majority of apps are riddled with security flaws that could jeopardize the end-user and expose the company to high costs and embarrassment.

By Gregg Clark, [email protected]

ATLANTA — Supply chain solutions company Predictix has appointed Ronald P. Menich, Ph.D., as its new EVP and chief scientist. 

Predictix provides retailers and brands with platforms and tools that enable them to drive competitive advantage and market differentiation. 

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop said Monday that it will open 20 to 25 stores in 2013, all under the newly introduced store design.

The retailer opened six stores under the new design in fall 2012, and said the success of the stores prompted an escalated rollout.

The first three stores to open in 2013 are at the Mall of Georgia in Atlanta on April 26; at Orland Square in Chicago on May 3; and at Northshore Mall in Peabody, Mass. on May 10.