Data & Analytics

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM announced that Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is working with IBM software to help the company transform its online business to achieve greater speed and efficiency. The initiative is part of Abercombie's strategic goal to expand its direct-to-consumer capabilities and drive its e-commerce business to $1 billion.

SAN FRANCISCO — In an effort to help the thousands of troops returning home from serving overseas, Banana Republic has announced “Our Duty to You,” a program created to help military personnel prepare for their next professional opportunities. 

NEW YORK — Retail industry sales are expected to rise, albeit not at the same pace as 2011, according to the National Retail Federation.

Retail industry sales will rise 3.4% to $2.53 trillion, NRF said, compared with a pace of 4.7% in the year-ago period. The expected slowdown in consumer spending, NRF said, will be influenced by a number of factors, including stalled unemployment rate and lack of newly-created jobs. But despite the lower projection, the industry is expected to garner stronger numbers than other industries, NRF said.

By Kiran Kumar MN, [email protected]

DULUTH, Ga. — NCR announced Monday the introduction of a point-of-sale system that will allow independent retailers to manage transactions, track sales and inventory, process credit cards and market to customers on both touch-screen terminals and Apple mobile devices.

The system is a cloud-based platform that NCR said would give independent retailers a multichannel "sell anywhere" capability.

New York City -- Kronos Inc. said Monday that Family Dollar is using its suite of workforce management solutions to control labor costs, minimize compliance risk, and improve productivity of more than 55,000 Family Dollar employees across 7,000 stores.

NEW YORK — Retailers that are looking to access their store sales and foot traffic now can do so anywhere and anytime with a new, free mobile application from ShopperTrak.

ShopperTrak said its new mobile app provides retailers with remote access to the following data &mdashh; key metrics, hourly performance and ShopperTrak Power Hours — which are displayed in an easy-to-navigate graph enhanced by charts. Additionally, the app also provides free weekly foot traffic reports for five major U.S. markets for non-ShopperTrak customers.

New York City -- National Retail Federation officials said Monday that a record crowd of 24,000 attendees is expected to converge on its 101st Annual Convention & Expo, which kicked off Sunday at the Jacob J. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The exhibit floor officially opens on Monday.