Data & Analytics

The recent introduction of Retail Site Intelligence (RSI), a store technology platform based on the ZigBee wireless standard and collaboratively released by Kroger, EInfochips and Wincor-Nixdor, reinforces the coming explosion of sensing technologies in retail.

Coupons.com is rolling out a service that lets consumers use the Coupons.com website or Coupons.com mobile apps for iOS and Android to add digital coupons to their credit or debit cards from Visa, MasterCard or American Express for automatic redemption at checkout.

Offers are available for restaurants and specialty retailers such as Gap, Old Navy, The Body Shop, Tilly's and Travelocity. The service incorporates technology from the company's recent acquisition of Yub that links offers to payment cards.

Hormel Foods Corporation recently awarded 90 suppliers with a 2013 Spirit of Excellence Award for their roles in the company’s continuous improvement process throughout the last year. These suppliers are from a variety of areas, including contractors, pork procurement, provisions, ingredients, packaging and transportation.

Wilson plans to introduce a sensor equipped basketball that can discern between made and missed shots and then feed information to a smartphone or tablet.

Due for release later this year, the new product is the result of a partnership with SportIQ, a Finland-based company focused on artificial intelligence, and Wilson’s recently established digital division.

SPAR Group, a leading supplier of retail merchandising and other marketing services throughout the United States and internationally, has appointed Panos Mastrogiannis as chief information officer and executive officer.

The company also provided shareholders with an update on its technological advances.

Merrimack, N.H. -- Specialty retailer Brookstone Holdings Corp. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with a plan to sell itself to Spencer Spirit Holdings, owner of the Spencer’s retail chain, for about $147 million. The purchase price comprises $120 million in cash, $7.5 million in new notes and about $18.5 million of assumed liabilities.

Under the agreement with Spencer Spirit, Brookstone would continue to operate its stores in malls and airports, along with its catalog, website and wholesale business, under the Brookstone brand.

Washington, D.C. -- The Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS), a division of the National Retail Federation, is releasing its Change4Charity Standard. If adopted by point-of-sale vendors and donation processors, the standard will lower costs for retailers and support greater participation in charity programs by smaller retailers and non-profits.

Hickory, N.C. --Third-party logistics (3PL) provider Transportation Insight is introducing a line of end-to-end e-commerce solutions. As a full-service 3PL providing domestic transportation, international logistics and warehousing services, Transportation Insight collaborates with e-commerce clients' existing transportation departments.  

The strategic partnership uses the best of the shipper's historic practices and advanced third-party logistics processes to achieve cost reductions, improve supply chain visibility and enhance customer service.

Cologne, Germany -- EVO Payments International, a card payment acquirer and payment service provider operating in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, is releasing a new graphical user interface called Clever Pay GUI in Europe. EVO designed this new interface to make payment acceptance for online businesses easier and faster.

Holmdel, N.J. — Levin Management has been named the exclusive leasing agent for Holmdel Crossing, a planned 140,000-sq.-ft. retail development in Holmdel, N.J.

According to Levin, pre-leasing efforts will focus on identifying anchor or junior anchor tenants that will drive the remaining retail tenancy,