In my opinion: time to get real about chatbots, says VoiceSage
VoiceSage’s Lee Trenam discusses why naive AI hype will hamper the reception of this useful technology
Articles in category: In my opinion
In my opinion, retail industry executives and experts give Retail Times readers their views, insights, and analysis on the latest retail trends.
How to compete with national retailers by utilising the power of PPC: a guide for small retailers
What is PPC? Pay-Per-Click advertising is a form of online advertising in which you pay a certain fee each time someone clicks on one of your ads. In simple terms, if you create ad copy that contains the word “summer
Retailtainment: a new in-store approach beckons, says Retail Store
A new experiential retail approach, dubbed Retailtainment, is now an essential requirement, argues Ian Tomlinson, CEO RetailStore
In my opinion: retailers could benefit from a ‘TripAdvisor-style hub’, says S4RB
Within the four walls of most major retailers, customer feedback is predominantly categorised as ‘complaints’. As customers, we sometimes fall into the same trap in our own communications, because it is the vernacular used. But it isn’t only complaints. It is feedback, which includes the
In my opinion: a connected shopping journey is key to retail success, says Salesforce Commerce Cloud
Last year Amazon launched its first bricks and mortar store in Seattle. Earlier this year, the e-tailer was reportedly looking to set up its first Amazon Go convenience store in London. With in-store sensors linking to shoppers’ mobile apps, customers’
Adapt or die – this is how Britain’s consumers are shaping the FMCG sector
Our position at The Sterling Choice between client and candidate gives us a unique insight into the FMCG sector. Working closely alongside established brands and retailers, we are witnessing, first-hand, the challenges that the industry is facing and where changes
Don’t stand too close to me – big data in retail, is there such thing as too much personalisation?
By Gary Brooks, creative director at KHWS The surge of digital is our modern day industrial revolution. From the constantly updating streams of content broadcast on social media, to e-commerce chatbots, it has changed every aspect of our lives. From
In my opinion: retailers can flourish at festivals, says RetailStore
Ian Tomlinson, CEO of RetailStore (powered by Cybertill) started his cloud solutions business 15 years ago and has seen first hand the positive impact festivals can have for brands. He said: “Retailers across the globe caught on to this phenomenon
In my opinion: step-by-step, data-driven price optimization is vital retail approach, says Revionics
Retailers must adopt a step-by-step, data-driven price optimiazation strategy in order to compete, says Anastasia Laska, VP marketing for EMEA at profit optimization software company Revionics In one of my favorite quotes, Jack Welch said: “Change before you have to.”
In my opinion: mobile charging could help airport retailers’ sales take-off, says ChargeApp
With millions of travellers heading for UK airports in the peak holiday season, there is an untapped opportunity for retailers operating in this unique retail environment. 268 million people travel through UK airports every year, offering a ‘captive audience’ of
In my opinion: Northern businesses proving to be hardier and smarter than ever, says ChannelAdvisor
Despite an ever-changing retail climate, the North is proving as resilient as ever as businesses based in this region are getting to grips with new digital strategies help weather the storm. Ahead of the company’s Catalyst 2017 e-commerce event in
In my opinion: move from survival mode to immersive retail experiences, says Prism Skylabs
New research out from CapGemini revealed that a third of consumers surveyed would rather wash dishes than go shopping. Before you dismiss their responses as possibly being a bit sarcastic, consider this: washing dishes can be a tedious chore, but
In my opinion: retention marketing is key in retail, says Big Data for Humans
Catching and re-engaging customers whose shopping habits are slowing down or are at risk of stopping altogether is both easier and more cost-effective than recruiting new ones, argues Peter Ellen, CEO and founder, Big Data for Humans
In my opinion: reducing risk in the retail environment can improve profitability, says Pinkerton
The majority of retailers may assume that the biggest threat to their profitability is consumer theft. In fact, the biggest risk arises from the retailers’ own staff. So what can you do about it? Weynand Haitjema, region managing director EMEA
In my opinion: Amazon air cargo could be a step too far if the online giant can’t ensure fulfilment on the ground, says Peoplevox
In taking to the air Amazon must also ensure sufficient fulfilment cover on the ground, says Jonathan Bellwood, founder & CEO, Peoplevox
In my opinion: dating websites can teach retail about personalised matching, says Neo Technology
Retail can learn from the highly personalised matching used by dating sites, says Emil Eifrem, CEO of graph leader Neo Technology
In my opinion: Black Friday is re-writing the rule book on peak planning, says Wincanton
The festive season is well and truly upon us. It’s the time of year that retailers have been both eagerly anticipating and dreading. Events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have kicked off the busy retail period this year,
In my opinion: Black Friday, “back” Monday – how online auction marketplaces are easing the retail returns epidemic
With another Black Friday behind us, retailers will no doubt be wondering whether this year’s sales bonanza has been as profitable as years gone by. As many retailers will know, the post-purchase remorse that kicks in the week following Black
Joining retail’s digital transformation movement can be easier than you think, says Pentaho
By Paul Scholey, vice president EMEA and APAC, Pentaho There’s endless hype over and interpretations of digital transformation so it’s easy to dismiss it as just another technology fad. Those people, companies, industries, governments and even whole countries that do,
In my opinion: it’s time to rethink retail, says solutions provider Cybertill
Cybertill CEO Ian Tomlinson talks omni-channel retailing: blurring boundaries, converging sectors and convenient choices. Here are five things to consider in 2017 In May 2013 the Retail Research Centre forecast a bleak high street by 2018 with a very much reshaped
In my opinion: manage the innovation leap to fast fashion, says Intelligence Node
How can retailers deliver what customers want as quickly as possible? For Sanjeev Sularia of data analytics leader Intelligence Node, the prize of fast fashion can only be won by better use of technology sanjeevsularia_sm-249x300 Fast fashion: the way brands like Zara,
In my opinion: performance matters more than ever on this side of the retail ‘looking glass’, says Varnish Software
Retail isn’t just changing; it’s traversing ‘through the looking glass’ to a place where everything is different. New technologies, the global economic crisis and changing shopping habits have fuelled this journey. Omnichannel, for years a fashionable buzzword, is now manifesting
In my opinion: retailers of the future need to be more proactive with customers, says VoiceSage
VoiceSage’s Steve Robertson says recent analyst insights echo the breakthroughs of his own firm’s retail customers in an important aspect of customer outreach
In my opinion: connect the online and offline worlds via retail analytics, says Intelligence Node
Many companies still treat online and offline worlds as separate entities, hampering any chance of success, warns Intelligence Node’s Sanjeev Sularia
In my opinion: PayPoint reveals what convenience retail must learn about the user experience
2016 has so far been a year of significant change in convenience retail. Convenience multiples (+10.6%) and supermarket multiples (+4.0%) grew the fastest of any convenience sector players, growing by almost 13,000 stores to date, while over 18,000 unaffiliated convenience stores closed.
