Consumer chatbot adoption facing some hurdles

February 13, 2018

While artificial intelligence and chatbots are clearly proving useful for retailers when it comes to improved customer enagement and experience, consumers are…

Retail 2020: A sneak peek at the future of retail workforce management

Jennifer Johnson, director, retail and hospitality practice group, Kronos Inc., takes a look at what the retail experience could look like in 2020 and how…

Survey: Data, top tier buy-in are key to successful customer experience

February 9, 2018

Retailers aiming to shore up the customer experience, and return on investment with CX technology, need to focus on getting executive support and ensuring…

Apparel sales on a comeback, claim industry watchers

February 9, 2018

The robust holiday sales season at the end of 2017 is likely spurring what some are calling a comeback for the retail apparel sector.

Insights from NRF's Big Show: Key retail tech trends to watch for in 2018

Matt Sebek, vice president of digital, World Wide Technology Asynchrony Labs, pinpoints the big trends coming into play for customer experience from NRF's Big…

Consumers love online search but are still buying in stores

February 8, 2018

A new research report reveals seven in 10 consumers are searching online for products but are heading into a brick-and-mortar retailer to make the purchase.

Best Buy doling out employee bonuses

February 8, 2018

The country's top consumer electronics retailer intends to hand out bonuses to more than 100,000 employees due to the new corporate tax reform law.

Retailers need to double down on digital for next holiday season

Bryce Tolman, thought leadership manager at Isobar US, explains why retailers can't sit back and relax and why they need to gird up for this year's holiday…

A CES lesson: Why more is not better — only better is better

by Chris Petersen — Owner, IMS

Chris Petersen explains why adding more technology does not mean consumers will come or buy.

Consumers like self-service more than associate interaction, reveals survey

January 24, 2018

If consumers have a choice they're more likely to tap self-service technology versus interacting with a retail sales associate, according to a SOTI survey.

Business agility key priority but no one wants to spearhead it

January 23, 2018

A West Monroe Partners survey reveals that while business agility is a top focus, few executives are willing to take ownership of the critical strategy.

Study: Retail industry sales growth to hit 3% annually through 2021

January 23, 2018

The retail industry sales outlook is pretty healthy, with a 3 percent annual growth rate through the next three years, according to a Zebra Technologies-IHL…

Brick and mortar retail getting a second chance

Rob Zomok, president, global operations at Inmar, believes there's a very bright spot along the retail horizon and its location will be a surprise to many: the…

The changing world of retail: 4 ways to defend against Amazon

Jeff Anulewicz, executive strategy director at MXM, explains how retailers, both online and offline, need to crack Amazon's dominance of the retail landscape.

JD.com debuts first store in new high-tech supermarket chain

January 8, 2018

Chinese ecommerce player JD.com is opening the first of what will be a chain of high-tech supermarkets in Beijing.

Store closures will hit 12K in 2018

January 5, 2018

The start of the new year will bring a "rash" of bankruptcy filings and store closing announcements, according to a Business Insider report that cited data…

Why Amazon may lose its influencer title in 2018

by Judy Mottl — Editor, RetailCustomerExperience.com & DigitalSignageToday.com

While the ecommerce retailer won top shopping destination this past holiday season, and dozens of headlines related its innovations, Amazon is not immune to…

Tax bill may impact retailer strategy in several ways

January 4, 2018

Retailers will likely be hiring less workers and embracing automation technology due to the new federal tax laws.

National Returns Day will be busy, claims UPS report

January 3, 2018

Tuesday, Jan. 3, is National Returns Day, and it's expected to be a record setter as UPS predicts 1.4 million items will be returned. That represents an …

Kagan: Think retail is dying? Think again

by Jeff KAGAN — Wireless Analyst, Telecom Industry Analyst

Analyst Jeff Kagan explains why there is no death knell to be rung for retail. Sure there is intense pressure, and certain retailers are folding, but others…