Artificial Intelligence

As cost savings continue to be the name of the game in retail, supply chain has come under even closer scrutiny as a major expense to be controlled. Chain Store Age talked with George Prest, COO of the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA), about what lies ahead for the supply chain and global trade, as well as the association’s inaugural trade show MODEX, to be held in early 2012. 

What one trend do think will most shape the supply chain in 2012?

Retailers have pulled out the stops this holiday season, especially when it comes to experimenting with cutting-edge digital technologies. But innovation shouldn’t be reserved for the holidays — it is something that should be infused into the shopping experience all year long.

New York City -- Waste Management and Publix Super Markets announced the opening of the Okeechobee Organics Recycling Facility, which uses advanced aerated composting technology to process food residuals.

The eight-acre facility, located adjacent to Waste Management’s Okeechobee Landfill, utilizes a forced aeration system with computer controls to regulate airflow and air treatment to process pre-consumer food waste from Publix stores -- including produce, bakery and floral items -- with yard waste into organic compost products.

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot announced that Office Depot stores in Plano, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; and Tallahassee, Fla., won the top three spots for retail energy efficiency gains in the 2011 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star National Building Competition. The Plano and Raleigh stores were also the only retailers in the overall top 10 list.

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores has acquired Australian tech start-up Grabble for an undisclosed amount. Founded in January 2010, Grabble provides retailers a point-of-service app for purchases.

The discount giant will make the company part of its recently established Walmart Labs.

 

Cincinnati -- Bashas’ Family of Stores, which operates than 120 supermarkets throughout Arizona, will work with KSS Retail to model, measure and implement pricing strategies for its Bashas’ and Food City banners.

“Our goal is to provide our customers with a superior shopping experience,” said Robert Ortiz, Bashas’ VP sales and marketing. “Working with KSS Retail will give us the ability to better understand our customers and what’s most important to them.”
 

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM announced that AutoTrader.com, a leading online automotive marketplace, is using IBM technology for Smarter Commerce as part of its electronic sales order system to simplify and accelerate the ordering experience for its dealer and manufacturer customers.

Chicago -- Jones Lang LaSalle said Monday that it has launched IntelliCommand, the industry’s first integrated building management solution that combines cloud-based, smart-building technology with a team of engineering and operations professionals to enable 24/7, real-time remote monitoring and control of facilities and portfolios worldwide.