Data & Analytics

Under Armour is undertaking an ambitious effort to provide extremely personalized health and fitness coaching, assisted by IBM.

Under Armour has entered a strategic partnership with IBM to create and provide data-backed health and fitness insights, powered by IBM Watson's cognitive computing technology. The partnership will combine Under Armour’s new UA Record personal fitness app with an IBM Watson Cognitive Coaching System.

Whole Foods had a difficult 2015 that included falling sales and stock value, as well as a pricing scandal. However, as Marketplace Business reports, Whole Foods is looking to regain its footing in 2016 with help from a redesigned, IT-centric customer experience. [Marketplace Business]

Walgreens Boots Alliance on Thursday reported net sales of $29 billion, representing an increase of 48.5%, for the first quarter 2016 that ended Nov. 30, 2015. The significant growth was attributed to the inclusion of Alliance Boots consolidated results, the company reported.

The numbers are in and one specific device clearly served as a major catalyst for increased e-commerce sales during the 2015 holiday season.

According to the MarketLive 2015 Holiday Flash Report, smartphone revenue during the just-completed holiday season (Nov. 23, 2015 – Jan. 3, 2016) increased 50%. Overall e-commerce revenue grew 8% during that period.

Consumers are changing the way they browse and shop for goods using mobile devices.

According to the State of Retailing Online 2016 study from Forrester Research, Shop.org and Bizrate Insights, growing use of smartphones by consumers, a shift in investments by technology companies and continued optimization strategies from retailers has landed smartphones on top as a driver of mobile sales and traffic for retail companies.

Everyone knows mobile will have a huge influence on commerce and customer engagement this year.

But what specific mobile trends will have the most impact in 2016. Enterprise mobile and Big Data solutions and services vendor Digital Management Inc. (DMI) has released a list of the top 10 mobile trends for the coming year. They are:

Same-store sales declined 11% at Hhgregg during the company’s third quarter ended Dec. 31 with the retailer of appliances, electronics and furniture citing competitive pressures as the source of weakness.

Having just inked a deal to serve as a mobile and online payment platform for Walmart, MasterCard is looking to devices to widen its range in the digital payment space and has even launched a new grocery initiative.