OPERATIONS / SUPPLY CHAIN

Study: Majority of retailers feel 'vulnerable' to a data breach
While the number of cyber-attacks have declined in the last year, a majority of companies still feel susceptible to data threats. This was according to the “2017 Thales Data Threat Report, Retail Edition,” from Thales e-Security and analyst firm 451 Research. The study is based on responses from more than 1100 senior security executives, including in the retail segment, from across the globe.
Visa program streamlines global QR code payment adoption
A new service is helping retailers adhere to newly introduced interoperability standards related to QR code-based payments. In a move to standardize emerging cashless payments, EMVCo, the global technical body that manages the EMV Specifications, released new global QR Code Payment standards — a move that will allow retailers to process mobile payments made through the two-dimensional machine-readable barcodes. Visa and the other EMVCo members worked to develop these new globally interoperable EMV specifications.

GameStop does an about-face on Thanksgiving

It's only July, but GameStop has jumped into the ongoing debate about whether stores should be open on Thanksgiving Day. After keeping its stores closed on Thanksgiving for the past three years, the retailer has told its employees that stores will be open for this year's holiday. The change was first reported by gaming website Kotaku.
The Rush to Deploy the Latest In-Store Technology is Compromising IT Security

Digital transformation is accelerating the pace of change within the store environment.
Best Buy to restructure its tech army

Best Buy's Geek Squad is undergoing some changes. The consumer electronics retailer is eliminating about 400 Geek Squad positions, the StarTribune reported. The affected jobs are on the Geek Squad’s covert team, employees who mostly work from their own homes to provide remote technical support. The work will be outsourced to a third party, according to the report.
Lifeway’s merchandising gets a new plan

Lifeway Christian Stores’ shoppers’ needs differ from store-to-store — a factor that pushed the chain to revamp its merchandising processes. For the specialty retailer, this has meant pursuing macro- and micro-localization strategies. From the macro level, the company still wanted to manage assortments that deliver a consistent brand experience – not only in terms of the products offered, but also in how they are stocked and presented.
Amazon still exploring ‘cashier-less’ checkout projects

Don’t expect Amazon to stop experimenting with cashier-less grocery stores anytime soon. Despite announcing in June it would acquire Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion, the online giant will continue evolving its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go concepts, among other efforts. Its goal: to reinvent the way consumers shop for food, according to Business Insider.
Department store chain improves inventory accuracy with RFID

The Bon-Ton Stores is speeding up how it restocks merchandise. The department store chain is replacing its manual, paper-based restocking process with a radio frequency identification (RFID)-based system. The solution, from Zebra, enables store associates to fully restock merchandise displays in a fraction of the time — a move that increases productivity and enables associates to spend more time servicing shoppers.
Online giant to open robotics-based facility in Michigan

Amazon is expanding its distribution fleet in the Wolverine state in a big way. The online giant plans to open an 855,000-sq.-ft. fulfillment center in Romulus, Michigan — it’s second in the state. The facility will create more than 1,500 new full-time associate roles. Associates will pick, pack, and ship smaller customer items, such as books, electronics and toys. However, these tasks will be streamlined by technology from Amazon Robotics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amazon.com.
Aldi’s newest fulfillment center planned for Arizona

A German discount grocer is buying up land in the Grand Canyon State — but not to open stores. Aldi is planning to open a regional fulfillment center in Goodyear, Arizona. The facility will house an office and distribution center, and will create 132 jobs, according to the Phoenix Business Journal.