Data & Analytics

Redmond, Wash. -- Microsoft Corp. announced three new global partnerships Wednesday with the Organization of American States, Europol and FIS to increase cooperation between international law enforcement and the private sector in combating cybercrime and helping build a safer Internet.

Reston, Va. -- comScore promoted president Serge Matta to the role of CEO as the digital measurement firm swung to a profit in the fourth quarter.

Matta fills the position occupied by Dr. Magid Abraham who, along with Gian Fulgoni, co-founded the company. Abraham will relinquish the CEO role and serve as executive chairman of the board of directors, assuming a position currently held by Fulgoni who will become chairman emeritus. All appointments are effective March 1.

New York - A new Verizon report has found that too many businesses, following their annual assessment for meeting the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, fail to maintain ongoing compliance – putting the businesses at an increased risk for data breaches, and financial and reputational damages.

Ottawa, Canada - Price and product intelligence technology vendor 360pi has launched 360insights, a suite of integrated visualizations and dashboard reports that gives retailers real-time visibility into how they can immediately increase revenues and margins through adjustments to their pricing and product mixes. Retailers can have this same visibility into their own competitor and category set and the power to identify opportunities and take meaningful actions that will drive revenues and margins.

By Branden Jenkins, General Manager Retail, NetSuite

A retailer’s inventory is typically its top expense, and managing the right range of merchandise across channels and locations is a delicate balancing act. That balancing act only becomes more difficult when faced with today’s consumers who shop across multiple channels and have little patience for retailers who cannot meet the challenges of managing inventory and delivering real-time visibility across those channels.

By Dr. Paul Helman, KSS Retail

Before 2013 was over, prognosticators were making bold predictions about retail margins in 2014. As technology disrupts the market and chains feel the squeeze, a number of key areas will demand attention in the coming months.

Rock Bottom Pricing

San Bernadino, Calif. – Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. reported a substantial increase in net income, for the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Net income more than doubled to $11.1 million from $5.4 million in the same period a year earlier. Net sales rose almost 2% to $984 million, to $968.7 million.  

Same-store sales grew 1.4%. Jack H. Brown, chairman, president and CEO of Stater Bros., credited the supermarket retailer’s maintaining of a low-price market strategy during difficult economic times with boosting financial performance.

White Plains, N.Y. - IBM has unveiled the ‘Ready for Smarter Commerce’ program, a new ecosystem that gives clients access to certified pre-built partner solutions with integrated cloud, mobile and social capabilities. The ecosystem features partner-led solutions built on IBM Smarter Commerce capabilities such as IBM Commerce and IBM Digital Marketing Optimization.   

Indianapolis – Hhgregg has promoted Kevin Lyons to senior VP e-commerce. Lyons joined Hhgregg in May 2013 as VP e-commerce, and has since led the e-commerce team’s creation of an online development and promotional strategy.

Kevin Lyons to senior VP e-commerce. Lyons joined Hhgregg in May 2013 as VP e-commerce, and has since lead the e-commerce team’s creation of an ambitious online development and promotional strategy.

Washington, D.C. – During a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 11, the National Retail Federation called for widespread adoption of chip-and-PIN payment card technology by U.S. retailers and their partners.

“The chip validates that it’s the real card,” said Tom Litchford, VP retail technologies for NRF. The PIN provides two levels of validation.”