Data & Analytics

New York - The use of cloud-based enterprise storage and production applications, as well as enterprise spending on cloud technology, has increased in the past year to a tipping point. According to the Verizon 2013 State of the Enterprise Cloud Report, between January 2012 and June 2013 the use of cloud-based storage grew 90% and use of cloud-based memory increased 100%, mostly due to the shift of business-critical applications to the cloud.

Other findings of the report include:

Columbus, Ohio -- Express Inc. reported a profitable second quarter of fiscal 2013, with year-over-year increases in net income, net sales and same-store sales. Net income rose 7% to $16.8 million, in line with Wall Street expectations, from $15.9 million. The retailer raised its full-year guidance and also announced plans to launch its outlet business in the second quarter of next year.

Net sales for the quarter increased a better-than-expected 7% to $486.2 million, from $454.9 million.

San Francisco – Twitter has reportedly hired former Ticketmaster president Nathan Hubbard to take the new role of head of commerce. According to Bloomberg, the 38-year-old Hubbard will oversee an effort to enable direct shopping through postings within tweets.

Hubbard is quoted as saying he does not seek to directly compete with established e-commerce retailers and payment providers but instead hopes to collaborate with them, possibly through a revenue-sharing model. He will report to Adam Bain, head of global revenue at Twitter.

The Fresh Market is hungry for market share in the natural foods space and on the heels of solid second quarter growth said it was accelerating an already ambitious new store opening schedule.

The operator of 139 stores said sales for the second quarter ended July 28 increased 13.3% to $354.8 million and same store sales advanced 3.4%. Profits increased to $15.6 million, or 32 cents a share, compared to $13.3 million, or 28 cents a share the prior year.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Skava, a leading provider of mobile, tablet and in-store technologies for U.S. online retailers, have appointed Vivek Agrawal, a 17-year veteran of commerce and omnichannel solutions to leading brands, as the company’s global VP of operations.

Walgreens has entered into a partnership with Orlando Health, a comprehensive nonprofit healthcare organization based in Orlando, Fla., to provide coordinated and expanded healthcare services to its customers. 

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax Inc. announced the opening of its first Chicago-area Business Solutions Center format, with a 3,900-sq.-ft. location in the Streeterville neighborhood.

Fort Myers, Fla. -- Chico’s FAS reported an 18.4% decline in second quarter net profit, after increased promotional activity took a toll on same-store sales. 

Chico’s net income totaled $43.6 million from $53.4 million in the year-ago period.