Articles By Erin Harris

  1. The Case For A Voice Strategy 3/1/2018

    I’m willing to bet decent money that you’ve come across articles to the effect of “Top X Technologies and Trends in 2018,” and that voice technology has ranked high on those lists. Some articles on voice and its impact on the retail industry deliver a terrifying and threatening sense of urgency, especially for CPGs. While retailers (and CPGs) need to have their finger on the pulse of voice technology, let’s take a big, collective deep breath. There’s only one way to compete in voice shopping, and that’s to develop a solid strategy.

  2. The Future Is Facial Recognition 1/2/2018

    Once privacy and security concerns and kinks in the technology are overcome, facial recognition technology will change retail.

  3. Office Depot's Push To Standardize Product Information Across All Channels And Increase Speed To Market 7/3/2017

    Maintaining accurate, standardized product data across all channels is a priority, as consumers have learned to expect a seamless retail experience. Sam Copeland, vice president of merchandising operations for Office Depot, Inc., took time to discuss why expanding assortments and the demand for personalization are placing additional emphasis on the need for centralized master data.

  4. The Role Of The Modern CIO 6/20/2017

    Today’s retail CIO must be equal parts technologist, trusted advisor, and business co-creator.

  5. Big Changes To IRT 6/19/2017

    This is the last issue you’ll receive of Innovative Retail Technologies.

  6. Startups – From Gamble To Sure Thing 4/19/2017

    In today’s customer-engagement race, seasoned retailers have come to understand the value and opportunity startups offer.

  7. Inside Lionel's Omni-Channel Growth 4/19/2017

    Here’s how an improved e-commerce strategy fueled the legendary train maker’s growth in just four months.

  8. Pay Attention To Startups And D2C 4/6/2017

    Ever since I returned from ShopTalk, I’ve dedicated time to learning more about the startups that exhibited at the show, as well as others in incubation labs around the country. You’ll read more about startups in the May/June issue of Innovative Retail Technologies.

  9. ShopTalk 2017: IoT And AI Dominate 3/23/2017

    It shouldn’t surprise you to hear that ShopTalk 2017 was a hit. I walked away from the show more informed on the future of retail than when I was when I walked in. I suspect there are quite a few meetings and conversations taking place as retail execs share what they learned with their teams. In a nutshell, the content was top notch. Here are some of the sessions I attended and what I learned:

  10. Ensuring End-To-End Digital Transformation 3/8/2017

    Our friend, Miya Knights, global retail technology director at Planet Retail, in partnership with Digimarc, just released an insightful report titled, “Harnessing the Power of Digital Transformation: The Ultimate Retail IT Therapy.” In her report, Knights explains the importance of harnessing digital transformation in omni-channel retailing. She writes, “Only through the digital modernization of their own automated systems will retailers truly be able to grow sales efficiently and enrich shopper engagement effectively at any and every physical and digital touch point.”