Retail Critical Issues

As technology becomes an ever more prevalent part of our everyday lives, there are signs that consumers are becoming increasingly accepting of its role in their shopping experience – such as through the presence of automated self-service computer screens in-store or chatbots through the online channel.

By Wayne Lam, principal analyst, mobile devices and networks, IHS Markit.

Toward the end of the Series 4 Apple Watch and updated iPhone Xs launch event in September, and after the initial fanfare of the introductions, CEO Tim Cook mentioned there was “one more thing” to be revealed.

The Retail climate is proving increasingly challenging for bricks-and-mortar stores of all sizes, with many major brands and familiar high-street names announcing profit warnings, job cuts and even store closures.

For many a business, encouraging customers to embrace newer, online-based communication channels is a key aim in plans to cut costs and increase business efficiency.

Mobile has revolutionised the way consumers interact with retailers – today’s shoppers expect a seamless omni-channel experience across all platforms, with mobile becoming a significant piece of the puzzle. In 2017, mobile commerce made up59% of all online spending and by 2021, it is expected to account for a staggering three-quarters of ecommerce.

New research from UK General Insurance in partnership with Cyber Aware released today has revealed that 79% of Brits surveyed keep emails in their inboxes that could be exploited by hackers for ID theft, fraud, or impersonation.

New research investigating UK household shoppers’ plans for Halloween has been launched today by leading retail and shopper marketing agency, Savvy. The findings, which reveal that 46 percent of UK shoppers are set to get involved in the occasion, predicts spending to reach £367m.

New research by BigCommerce, the ecommerce platform for fast-growing and established brands, reveals that convenience, price and speed of delivery are front of mind for UK shoppers whilst further illustrating the global impact of Amazon’s marketplace.

Although Brexit anxiety has led to a slowdown in consumer spending, eCommerce specialist Tryzens sees a bright future for British retailers, after a report released by Paypal has placed UK retailers at the top of the list of countries that foreign buyers purchase goods from online.

More than half of global wholesalers have witnessed manufacturers sell directly to end customers driving the disintermediation of the traditional supply chain model and increasing competitiveness between traditional partners, according to new research.