Data & Analytics

How Walmart built the fastest growing retail app
Walmart has figured out how to tap into its shoppers’ offline habits to drive more engagement online, according to a new report from Quartz.

Walmart has managed to do something very few retailers have accomplished: Convince millions of people its mobile app is useful enough to snag a prime spot on their phones’ home screen.

Read more about Walmart's strategy by clicking here.
Ascena weighed down by writedowns in Q4
Justice continues to be a drain for the Ascena Retail Group, but in the fourth quarter Lane Bryant also proved to be a burden, as the company reported a drop in same-store sales.

The operator of Justice, as well as stores under the Lane Bryant, Cacique, Maurices, Dressbarn, and Catherines brands, said combined same-store sales declined 2% during its fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 ended July 25.

Target looking for a few good tech start-ups

Target Corp. has operated an innovation lab in San Francisco since 2013, but now the retailer is eyeing a more accelerated and outward-focused approach to innovation.

In collaboration with Boulder, Colorado-based startup accelerator Techstars, Target is creating a new retail accelerator program that will launch next year in Minneapolis.
Target employee fitness takes high-tech turn

Target Corp. is going high-tech with efforts to improve employee fitness. All 335,000 U.S. employees of Target will be offered free or subsidized wearable digital activity trackers from Fitbit Inc.

As part of the program, management will have a dashboard that can track individual employees by activities such as how many steps they take in a day. The basic FitBit Zip device will be provided free, or Target will help employees pay for a costlier FitBit wristband device.
Report: Topshop pins favorite customer colors
Study: Most Americans online, mobile

As statistical revelations go, the fact most Americans use the Internet and mobile phones is not especially surprising, but still significant for omnichannel retailers.

According to the latest Global Media Intelligence Report from eMarketer, 80.8% of the U.S. population, or nearly 260 million people, will go online at least once a month in 2015.
Android Pay gains processing support

The newly launched Android Pay mobile payment service from Google is gaining a supporter in the crucial area of processing.

As Google continues its roll out of Android Pay, Atlanta-based e-commerce technology provider First Data Corp. is supporting the new service for in-store transactions.
Sports Authority asks customers to get fit and reap the (retail) rewards

The Sports Authority is teaming up with Under Armour and MapMyFitness on a new fitness rewards program.

The retailer says rewards members soon will be able to earn retail rewards for completing activities within the MapMyFitness app.
Report details four ways retailers build customer loyalty

There are four key elements that sustain a customer’s loyalty over the long term (and price is not one of them), according to the newest research from Synchrony Financial.

According to Synchrony Financial’s 2015 Customer Experience and Impact Study, which examines 27 elements of the shopping experience, four experiences stand out as most valued by customers and translate into greater spend and loyalty for retailers.
NRF: Chip-and-signature not cutting it with customers

While the financial industry is supporting the use of chip-and-signature cards to meet the upcoming Oct. 1 EMV mandate, consumers are less convinced.

According to a new survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF), 62% of U.S. consumers believe new credit cards being issued by banks don’t go far enough to protect card data or prevent fraud.
Study: Contactless mobile payment set to grow

NFC-enabled contactless mobile payments, such as those enabled by smartphone-based digital wallet services like Apple Pay and Android Pay, currently make up a tiny fraction of card transactions. However, a new study from Indian mobile solutions provider Mahindra Comviva suggests contactless mobile payments are set to grow quickly.
Coupon printing just got easier

New York-based coupon publisher News America Marketing, which produces billions of coupons annually in the U.S. and Canada, is making the printing of online coupons easier for consumers.

News America Marketing is using new coupon printing technology for it SmartSource.com website that allows consumers to print coupons without having to download coupon printing software. The solution was soft-launched in August, and has seen print success improve by rates approaching 100% from the previous solution.