Data & Analytics

Supermarket giant upgrades wireless network with Verizon
Ahold USA can now boost it has “smarter stores” for its increasingly connected consumers. The supermarket giant has rolled out a new wireless platform from Verizon Enterprise Solutions across its divisions, which include Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover, and Giant Carlisle, The platform has resulted in a digitally rich in-store experience for the grocer’s smartphone-using shoppers.
Traditional Stores Get Smarter and Better Connected
In their e-commerce operations, retailers have long had access to limitless data about customers and transactions. They’ve become adept at using this information to deliver personalized communications and targeted campaigns to customers as they shop online. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for in-store shopping. Retailers have had no way of knowing what customers were doing in their stores from the time they entered the front door until they checked out at the POS system.

Home furnishings retailer develops next-gen cloud-based engagement platform

Crate and Barrel is taking its omnichannel experience into its own hands. The home furnishings chain is the latest retailer to join forces with Infor to co-develop the Infor CloudSuite Retail, a suite of application offerings that can be tailored to an individual retailer’s needs. The software prod-uct is designed to deliver superior interactions for store associates and consumers.
Holiday sales better than expected; data reveals winners — and losers

It was a less than merry holiday for some retailers, especially in the department store sector, but total sales still managed to beat industry projections, fueled by a strengthening economy. Retail sales (excluding autos, gas stations and restaurants) during November and December rose 4% over 2015 to $658.3 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. The group had forecast sales would rise 3.6% to $655.8 billion.
Survey: Shopping in stores a ‘chore’ for many consumers

When did washing dishes become more attractive than shopping? In-store shopping has lost its allure for many shoppers, who are increasingly frustrated with brick-and-mortar stores that lack the convenience of online players, according to a new global report from Capgemini’s Digital Transformation Institute.
Eight out of 10 retailers say they need stores; only half of consumers agree

An international study conducted by Capgemini found 80% of retail executives believing in the sanctity of the physical store. Only 45% of shoppers, however, felt the same way. The consulting company’s Digital Transformation Institute surveyed 6,000 consumers and 500 retailers in the U.S., China, and seven European nations and found a consumer base much more taken up with technology and online shopping than leading merchants were.
Home improvement giant to cut some jobs in new store staffing model

Lowe’s Cos. is shifting to a new staffing model for its stores that will result in the loss of some jobs nationwide. The new model will be rolled out across Lowe’s stores and is designed to free up resources to boost customer service, CNBC reported.
Amazon settles price advertising case for more than $1 million

Amazon is being penalized for inaccurate pricing practices on its Canadian website. According to the Competition Bureau, a Canadian independent law enforcement agency, Amazon will pay a $1 million penalty and $100,000 towards the Competition Bureau’s costs — punishment for violating the Competition Act, a law that ensures consumers are not misled by references to inflated regular prices.
Amazon poaches Target exec for Prime expansion

One of Target’s rising stars is joining Amazon to drive Prime membership in international markets. Jamil Ghani, Target’s former senior VP of strategy and innovation, will champion the growth of the retail giant’s Prime presence overseas. He will report to Greg Greeley, VP of Amazon Prime, and be based out of the company’s Seattle headquarters, according to ReCode.
Report: Future of retail IoT more than beacons

Omnichannel is so 2016, with mPOS, staff handhelds/wearables, camera analytics, interactive mirrors with AI, chatbots, and VR already shaping up as this year’s overused retail tech buzzwords. At least that's according to ABI Research, whose new report outlines important trends — including 3D sensing — that it believes, while still under the radar, should be top priorities on retailers' technology agendas as they move toward a “smart” retail future.
Jeweler strengthens payment security

Helzberg Diamonds is taking steps to ward off credit card fraud. The jeweler has implemented NCR Connected Payments to mitigate payment card theft and fraud risks for its customers. The cloud-based payment solution provides data and transmission protection, from PIN pad to payment processor, reducing Helzberg’s exposure to potential payment data theft and fraud.
European office supplies retailer drives customer conversions

Customer engagement requires visibility into a shopper’s preferences and path-to-purchase behavior. By using a cloud-based platform to merge experiences across a customer’s shopping journey, Office Depot Europe will better understand and meet the needs of each individual customer, regardless of where, when, and how they interact with the brand.