Business Intelligence (BI)

Dallas -- PeopleAnswers and Regis Corp. have announced a software licensing agreement for Regis to use PeopleAnswers as its new talent assessment software for selecting and hiring salon stylists and managers. The expected results are decreased turnover, increased customer visits and sales as well as lower operating costs.

By Kenneth A. Gruskin, [email protected]

Vienna, Va. -- Business listings identity management provider Localeze said Tuesday that casual dining restaurant Texas Roadhouse is using its local search solutions.

Since launching the local search business listings identity management, Texas Roadhouse said it has experienced a 40% increase in website traffic directly from online listings found on local search, mobile and social platforms like Google, Yahoo, Bing, YP.com and Facebook.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has named Cindy Davis EVP of its global consumer insights business unit created two weeks ago as part of a larger corporate restructuring.

Davis, who joined Walmart in 2007 and previously served as EVP membership and marketing for Sam’s Club will continue to report to Sam’s Club president and CEO Brian Cornell, although she will be responsible for understanding broad consumer trends world wide and to create advanced analytical tools to support the business.

New York City -- Information Builders, a provider of business intelligence solutions, announced that Helzberg Diamonds has standardized on the WebFocus BI platform to provide advanced analysis and reporting capabilities to managers at 230 stores across the United States.

Quincy, Mass. -- The Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. announced it is using fuel-cell technology, at its store in East Torrington, Conn.

The fuel cell, a UTC Power PureCell System Model 400, was supported with a grant from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund's On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program and is the first fuel-cell utilized by Stop & Shop. It is expected to generate over 90% of the store's electric energy.

By Lindsay Carpen, [email protected]

CHICAGO  -- Element14, a collaborative engineering community and electronics store for design engineers and electronics enthusiasts, announced that Jeri Ellsworth has joined its "ask an expert" panel to further promote the exchange of ideas among professionals, enthusiasts, and DIYers alike within the community. Ellsworth is also offering the element14 community early access to her latest video tutorial, which looks at designing a circuit that triggers sound effects, music and mechanical animation through motion.