Business Intelligence (BI)

Toronto -- Canadian Tire has opened a digital development lab in Communitech, a start-up incubator that is home to some 100 startups and small businesses along with such “strategics” partner companies as Google Inc. and Intel Corp.
 
Communitech supports tech companies at all stages of their growth and development in the commercialization of innovative technologies.

IRVINE, Calif. — Software solutions provider, Island Pacific, a division of 3Q Holdings Limited, announced that Sur La Table has decided to deploy Island Pacific's SmartRetail browser based User Interface and Data Warehouse solutions, as well as the latest release of Island Pacific Merchandising System (IPMS) and Merchandise Planning solution (IPP).

ServiceSource, a provider of recurring revenue management, has announced that Robert Ashe, a proven industry software CEO at Cognos and former IBM executive, has joined its board of directors. Ashe’s appointment adds key talent to continue building leading edge functionality into Renew OnDemand, the world's only cloud application designed to increase recurring revenue, and to rapidly deploy customers on this new SaaS platform.

ATLANTA — Innotrac Corp., a best-of-breed commerce provider integrating digital technology, fulfillment, and contact center solutions to support global brands, has announced the appointment of Steve Keaveney as its new CFO.

Keaveney brings to Innotrac more than 25 years of experience in finance, accounting and operations for both publicly and privately held companies.  He has extensive experience in financial leadership, revenue growth, analysis and budgeting.

SAN FRANCISCO and NEW ORLEANS — InsideView, a provider of customer intelligence, announced that one year after introducing a multi-faceted partnership with Microsoft to integrate InsideView's curated content into Microsoft Dynamics CRM, demand for the joint solution has exceeded expectations, and has provided an opportunity for Microsoft Dynamics channel partners to bring additional value to their CRM customers.

Automated tools deliver on customer service and leverage operational efficiencies

Retailers are putting an increased emphasis and value on how and when they use their workforce. And in doing so, they are on the right path, according to research from The Wharton School. The study found the associate payroll was the most important factor in determining revenue. A mere additional dollar (properly applied) on labor could reap rewards of $4 to $28 in return.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Shopatron, a provider of cloud-based, e-commerce order management solutions, has launched its allied commerce initiative – the next wave of its broad market expansion on the heels of a $4 million venture debt financing it completed in December 2012. 

By Greg Kefer, [email protected]

The latest study on the risk posed by supply chain disruptions by Deloitte just hit the news. Executives were surveyed regarding feelings (or fears) about their exposure to unexpected events in their global supply chains. As you can imagine, most feel unprepared and report disruptions have become more costly. Negative outcomes in the global supply chain like costly margin erosion and demand change are all too common for most companies.