Data & Analytics

BCBG Max Azria leverages analytics
BCBG Max Azria Group leveraged analytics when it realized its static “one-size-fits-all” e-commerce site didn’t optimize the overall shopping experience, or allow it to engage with specific omnichannel shoppers.
With a goal of personalizing the digital experience, and integrating its omnichannel journey as a whole, the women’s fashion brand added an analytics tool from Qubit. By embedding the platform’s JavaScript tags within its web pages, the technology transparently records all customer online interactions, pulling information into the cloud for reporting.
Top IT Concerns for 2017
Turning big data, social media challenges into growth opportunities
As 2017 gets underway, digital disruption continues to drive — and transform — the industry.
Besides creating a more consumer-centric, web-enabled shopping experience, digital innovations — from the Internet of Things to mobility to social media — are altering retail operations. They are also generating new challenges that retailers are unaccustomed to, or worse, still unprepared for.

Rent the Runway goes big in NYC

Online apparel-rental company Rent the Runway continues its brick-and-mortar expansion with the opening of its biggest store to date, a tech-savvy, 4,000-sq.-ft. flagship in Manhattan.
The stylish space merges the retailer’s digital assets with physical elements to create a very personalized customer experience, one based on each customer’s unique needs and past interactions with the brand.
CFO Spotlight

Finance chiefs play expanded role in managing the retail transformation
With the retail environment undergoing the most complex changes in our generation, the sustainability of the current retail economic model is in question.
Historically, retail CFOs, as the principal financial officers, were primarily responsible for more traditional finance, treasury, regulatory, information delivery and related functions.
Adobe: Holiday online sales ‘historic’

Holiday online sales surpassed predictions, generating $1 billion daily for the majority of a two-month period.
Target Open House closed — but just for a couple of months

Target Corp. its updating its experimental concept store in San Francisco, Target Open House, which opened in summer 2015 as a showcase for smart, “connected” home technology. In a blog on its website, Target said Open House has closed for a significant remodel project. It will reopen to the public on Friday, Feb. 10.
Report: Gadgets, robotic toys are best-sellers on Amazon this holiday season

Amazon set new records this holiday season, and its first-party sellers, especially those selling gadgets, are reaping the rewards. Besides shipping more than 1 billion items worldwide the week follow-ing Christmas, Amazon welcomed 3 million new Amazon Prime members who signed up in the days leading up to Dec. 25, according to the retail behemoth.
Home furnishing retailer delves deeper into augmented reality

Wayfair is extending its commitment to 3D technology — again. The online furniture retailer expanded the library of its WayfairView augmented reality app by “thousands” of products. The app is also now available on the Asus ZenFone, a smartphone that is equipped with Google’s Tango and Daydream virtual reality functionality.
Exhibitor to share ‘experiences’ at NRF’s upcoming Big Show

One technology provider is forgoing a traditional show floor exhibit to illustrate how innovation will drive the next-generation retail experience.
Amazon Restaurants invites Alexa to dinner

Amazon’s new service is helping Prime members to get dinner on the table faster. By integrating Alexa into Amazon Restaurants, the retail giant now enables Prime members to voice-order their next meal through their Alexa-enabled devices, including the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot. Customers can place orders from any restaurant available on the service in more than 20 cities by saying, “Alexa, order from Amazon Restaurants.” Any meal they’ve ordered before will delivered to their door for free in an hour or less.
Report: Department store retailer losing top digital exec

The chief technology officer of Nordstrom is leaving the company after less than a year on the job. Kumar Srinivasan is leaving the upscale department store company effective Friday, Jan. 7, to return to India, GeekWire reported. Srinivasan, who joined Nordstrom in March, after serving as the co-founder and CEO of software company Evocalize. Prior to that, he was the former general manager at Amazon Payments Merchant Solutions unit
Mortgage expert: Look to unsexy cities for retail growth

Retailers and developers looking for potential expansion spots in the coming year should bypass Gotham and head to Grand Rapids.