Retail Critical Issues

By Jason Kay, CCO, IMS Evolve.

Technology investment within food retail is predicted to increase by 3.6 per cent within the next 12 months and, according to Gartner research, similar growth rates are expected over the next two years.

Hefty fines, criminal investigations, consumer backlash and job losses hit the business headlines in 2018 with the impact of some major corporate scandals leaving shockwaves across several sectors.

It is vital to understand and keep pace with the moving tech landscape. Moreover, it is not only the type of changes, but the rate of change itself that is speeding up. Businesses that understand the role of technology in logistics, and are able to adapt are significantly more likely to survive the next decade of changes than those who don’t.

By Graham Woods, Managing Director of W3Partnership.

No-one talks about retail in terms of online and offline anymore. The word omnichannel entered and left our parlance with equal speed. Retailers are now focussed on providing customers with the choice, experience and delivery they want, when they want it – regardless of the channel on which any part of the customer journey takes place.

Global POS Software 2018, the new study by strategic research and consulting firm RBR, shows 3.4 million installations at major grocery, convenience and drugstore retailers as of June 2018. This makes the combined Grocery+ segment larger than General Merchandise and Hospitality+.

Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke to a number of key spokespeople from the vendor and analyst communities about recent developments in the world of supply chain management-related software – including those involving mobility, SaaS/Cloud, Big Data and Digital Transformation.

Participants include: Gartner, Panorama Consulting, Aberdeen Group, Cap Gemini, Frost & Sullivan, Access Supply Chain Software, Manhattan Associates, BEC (Systems Integration) Ltd, DynaSys, TIMOCOM, Honeywell.

A new study from the Capgemini Research Institute has dispelled some of the mystique around AI’s value to retail businesses and revealed a path to tangible growth opportunities.

It’s no secret, the festive shopping frenzy is in full swing! Retailers are still competing to offer good deals and a bargain on the high street, following a 12% drop in the value of Black Friday sales this year compared to 2017

The international parcel delivery comparison site ParcelHero is warning that there are hidden costs on Christmas gifts sent and received from outside the European Union (EU). It’s revealed its top Customs hacks that will stop Brits and their overseas friends and relations having to pay unexpected duties and tariffs on presents this year.

With November reported to have the lowest shopper footfall since the 2008 recession and in store sales predicted to get worse in December, a new in-depth research study into how retailers are gearing up their online customer service this Christmas has found that nearly three quarters are investing in Artificial Intelligence in the call centre, driven by consumer demand and changing shopping habits - saving over 1 in 3 retailers £100,000 or more a year.