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Professional headshot of Francois van Splunder

Francois van Splunder

Senior Product Marketing Manager, Commerce

Retail shop owner working on Microsoft 365 Business Premium a mobile phone and a Surface. Female, retail, artwork, small business
Retail shop owner working on Microsoft 365 Business Premium a mobile phone and a Surface. Female, retail, artwork, small business

Consumers and businesses are increasingly turning to digital platforms for relevant product and service information, making it critical for companies to effectively meet and exceed customer expectations through digital services and technology. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is helping organizations meet this challenge by connecting and unifying commerce and marketing activities. By bringing together solutions such as...Read more
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Female first line worker in retail store, standing directly in front of merchandising display wall filled with fabric panels while using pen on ASUS convertible laptop folded open as tablet (screen not shown).
Female first line worker in retail store, standing directly in front of merchandising display wall filled with fabric panels while using pen on ASUS convertible laptop folded open as tablet (screen not shown).

Today’s consumers want the flexibility to buy and fulfill where, when, and how they choose. As retailers have expanded on purchasing options for customers—like buy online pick up in-store—they have quickly gone from value adds or differentiators, to baseline customer expectations. For many retailers, enabling omnichannel experiences is not only a means to grow; it...Read more
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Male small business worker standing in front of three large shelves filled with dozens of wood stools. He is using an HP convertible laptop (opened as tablet) and pen. Screen is partially shown depicting bar charts and graphs.
Male small business worker standing in front of three large shelves filled with dozens of wood stools. He is using an HP convertible laptop (opened as tablet) and pen. Screen is partially shown depicting bar charts and graphs.

The last few decades have seen monumental change in the retail industry. Specifically, technology has untethered the shopper from the store and allowed retail to take place anywhere, at any time. When viewed through hindsight, these changes occurred just in time, for without the e-commerce revolution during the past two decades, retailers would have faced...Read more
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Male first line worker in commercial retail store using Acer convertible laptop folded open as tablet (screen shows PoS technology). He is standing on home furnishings sales floor, looking at a wall-mounted customer support monitor which displays an advertisement for bedding. A desktop monitor sits on a desk behind him; the screen displays the Windows 10 log in page. Internet of things photography.
Male first line worker in commercial retail store using Acer convertible laptop folded open as tablet (screen shows PoS technology). He is standing on home furnishings sales floor, looking at a wall-mounted customer support monitor which displays an advertisement for bedding. A desktop monitor sits on a desk behind him; the screen displays the Windows 10 log in page. Internet of things photography.

Many of the forces driving rapid change in B2C commerce are now propelling transformation in the B2B space. Buyers of all types demand an easy, convenient online shopping experience, a requirement that has been accelerated by the pandemic and as Millennials take the decision-making reins. Over time, the demand for an omnichannel, user-centric e-commerce experience...Read more
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Retail shop owner selling onsie to virtual customers on Microsoft Teams. 7x7 Teams Female, video, call, retail, clothing, shop, baby, onsie, remote, Covid, pandemic
Retail shop owner selling onsie to virtual customers on Microsoft Teams. 7x7 Teams Female, video, call, retail, clothing, shop, baby, onsie, remote, Covid, pandemic

Retail used to look different. It was local; it was a relationship. But new technology brought change. Trains opened the door for the Sears catalog, offering a wide array of products to distant customers. Henry Ford’s automobile led to suburbanization, malls, and department stores, changing the face of retail. And now, enabled by digital technology...Read more
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Woman shopping online from home on Dell XPS 13 7390
Woman shopping online from home on Dell XPS 13 7390

With NRF Chapter 1 starting this week, many retailers are looking to 2021 with one prominent thought: what’s next? Microsoft Dynamics 365 will again play a prominent role in Retail’s Big Show with new announcements and showcasing customer agility and innovation amidst a very disrupted market. It’s clear that 2020 was a year where the...Read more
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Mother and son wrap gifts at table in living room with fireplace.
Mother and son wrap gifts at table in living room with fireplace.

From supply chain capacity constraints to distribution channel disruptions, consumer goods organizations have had to innovate to overcome obstacles and find new ways to meet customer demands. Changes in motion Even before the pandemic struck, significant changes were underway, reshaping retail and the consumer goods industry. Over the last decade, a rise in digital connectivity...Read more
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Mother and sons inside home hanging out. Back to school. HP Stream 11. This image may also be used for M365 Consumer marketing. M365CS20
Mother and sons inside home hanging out. Back to school. HP Stream 11. This image may also be used for M365 Consumer marketing. M365CS20

The impact of COVID-19 is seen across all facets of life. This crisis has especially been pronounced for the retail industry with many businesses forced to close their doors in the short term and move their business to new platforms and channels. With no clear line of sight to a resolution to the epidemic, retailers...Read more
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