Aggregated enterprise architecture wisdom
If we want to build a data-driven business, we need to appreciate the various roles that data and intelligence can play in the business – whether improving a single business service, capability or process, or improving the business as a whole. The exam…
Best Buy has made yet another startup acquisition that enriches its customer value with innovative digital products – GreatCall, a San Diego-based startup offering health and medical-alert devices and services. Most retailers “innovations&#…
Grocers Are Partnering For Digital Growth The last few months have been a watershed of new deals around grocery fulfillment. Walmart is partnering with DoorDash, Kroger is investing in Ocado, Target is acquiring Shipt, and Amazon is delivering groceri…
The internet has enabled brands to sell more of their products to an ever-expanding universe of shoppers, but digital distribution has also added complexity to the relationship between brands and retailers and other channel partners. All brands need to…
In digital transformation, there’s a fine line between fearlessness and foolishness. Bad decisions can have all the trappings of a bold new strategy: A costly acquisition, suddenly pivoting to an unexpected new product offering, an ambitious new vision…
I recently spent two weeks in China to attend an event hosted by eCommerce company JD.com for analysts and retail thought leaders. Here are my takeaways on the state of eCommerce in the world’s largest eCommerce market: Customers in China seek no…
Direct-to-consumer (D2C) commerce is not a new concept for branded manufacturers, but there is certainly renewed interest and more options to choose from. With consumers ever more digitally connected, branded manufacturers are enticed by direct digital…
Retail digital business executives must challenge the status quo and deliver omnichannel excellence across the customer lifecycle. Changing consumer behaviours, new technology, and an evolving competitive landscape mean that traditional organizational …
From twenty years of trying, I know this about covering Amazon: It’s tricky. Our report process can take months during which we comb through our extensive Technographics data to find patterns or we interview executives. Not to mention the time it…
The National Retail Federation’s Big Show attracted tens of thousands of attendees . Far from resigning themselves to conquest by market places they are determined to make the right investments to thrive and survive. Three years ago we found retail CIO…
Not surprisingly, artificial intelligence in all forms was on full display this year at the NRF Big Show. One AI application that caught my attention was facial recognition technology. Last year, 23% of business technology decision-makers said their fi…
Good news for luxury brands – Luxury will see continued growth for online sales and for in-store sales that are influenced by digital touchpoints, per Forrester’s newly updated Global Luxury Retail Sales Forecast 2017 to 2022. So that’s great – but, as…