Cross Channel White Papers

  1. Why Isn't Retail High-Tech? 11/17/2017

    Ask most retail store employees today what’s the most high-tech equipment they use in their jobs on a regular basis and they’ll probably tell you it’s their handheld barcode scanner; technology widely adopted and reliably deployed since 1982 — the same year the Commodore 64 was released. This is not an industry that quickly embraces new gadgets. By Justin Patton, Director of the Auburn University RFID Lab

  2. What's “In Store” For Retailers This Black Friday? 11/7/2017

    This year Black Friday falls on November 24. To help retailers prepare to gear up for the big day, Periscope By McKinsey conducted its second annual research into consumer expectations surrounding Black Friday, including whether consumers intend to shop and, if so, their motivations for doing so as well as their desired shopping channel. What follows are some of the top-level findings from the research. By Channie Mize, General Manager for Retail, Periscope® By McKinsey

  3. Is E-Commerce Really All That Different From Brick-And-Mortar? 11/2/2017

    Believe it or not, e-commerce isn’t that much different than brick-and-mortar retail. While e-commerce is a completely different medium and shopping experience physically, it shares the same principles that make a retail store successful. Crazy? Maybe. But, while most retailers believe they are a completely different experience, the factors that drive why customers decide to purchase are the same. What really makes a consumer shop online at a particular website versus another are the same reasons they would shop at a particular retail store over another: customer experience. By Ryan Alovis, LensDirect

  4. Winning In An Omni-Channel Retail World 10/24/2017

    The concept of omni-channel retail has evolved rapidly over the last few years. Once considered an over-hyped trend, it’s become the new retail paradigm, driven by customer shopping habits that increasingly engage across multiple devices and shopping venues. It’s no longer an option to deliver a consistent and ubiquitous shopping experience across channels; it’s a matter of survival.

  5. The Platform That's Bringing Shopping, Travel, And Entertainment Together In A New And Innovative Way 4/6/2017

    Marcia Favale, Founder & CEO of digital video streaming, advertising, marketing and eCommerce platform, Blingby, shares the inspiration and vision for her company’s “advert-less” platform that’s proving to be a big disruptor in retail and several other markets.

  6. How Augmented Reality Is Impacting Online Shopping 3/28/2017

    Check out this infographic to see how retailers are feeling the squeeze, why shoppers choose augmented reality, and augmented reality's impact on retail.

  7. Best Buy Sales Slide As Customers Turn Online 3/17/2017

    Revenue missed expectations for holiday period, leading to new strategies to recover.

  8. Walmart Expands Mobile App To Include Prescription Refills And Money Services 3/16/2017

    Walmart has announced the addition of new features to its mobile app for its pharmacy and money services customers, including new ways for shoppers to skip regular checkout lines. The expansion means that now Pharmacy customers can use the Walmart app to refill prescriptions, track order status and view pricing and pickup details, then use express lanes to pick them up. It also allows customers using the retailer’s money services at its 1,200 wire-transfer centers to cash checks, pay bills and send money without paperwork, using the app to complete their transactions, and those services will have new express lanes to speed things up.

  9. Amazon Drops Free Shipping Threshold To $35 In Battle With Walmart's New Policy 3/15/2017

    Online retail giant Amazon has quietly dropped its free shipping threshold from $49 to $35, apparently in an effort to challenge Walmart’s new policy. Walmart announced in February that it has scrubbed its ShippingPass in favor of free two-day shipping in its battle for customers. In a conference call, Marc Lore, CEO of Walmart US eCommerce explained that as two-day shipping becomes a customer expectation, “we don’t think it’s necessary to charge a membership for it.”

  10. Target Announces Big Changes In Wake Of Slumping Sales 3/14/2017

    Target vows to slash prices, refurbish stores, and open smaller urban locations to better compete.