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Retail

woman in mask accepting a package

The coming wave of retail returns 

  • a man smiling for the camera
    By Greg JonesDirector Business Strategy—Retail & CG
Entering 2020, the retail world was already dealing with tremendous growth in merchandise returns, with fraud and overall costs to the retailer increasing at an exponential rate due to the growth of online sales. In 2015 the total value of merchandise returns was estimated at $643 billion globally. By the end of 2019, this figure...Read more
grocery store employee stocking shelves

Retail in the time of COVID-19 

  • Author avatar of Shelley Bransten
    By Shelley BranstenCorporate Vice President, WW Retail & Consumer Goods Industry
COVID-19 has impacted our lives in ways many of us couldn’t have imagined. From how we interact with our friends and family to working from home and so much more. For me personally, juggling the joys of homeschooling my teenage boys with a packed work schedule has been a true personal test. Yet I know...Read more
overhead view of a busy mall interior

Getting ready for EuroShop 2020: European retailers embracing tech intensity 

  • Author avatar of Shelley Bransten
    By Shelley BranstenCorporate Vice President, WW Retail & Consumer Goods Industry
With the excitement of NRF 2020 barely behind us, we are heading to Düsseldorf, the fashion capital of Germany, for the EuroShop Trade Fair, February 16-20. Being at the fair will give EMEA-based retailers a chance to follow-up on conversations started at NRF, and for those who didn’t attend, a chance to see and experience...Read more
Shelley Bransten at NRF

Takeaways from the National Retail Federation’s big show 

  • Author avatar of Shelley Bransten
    By Shelley BranstenCorporate Vice President, WW Retail & Consumer Goods Industry
It’s always exciting to go to an event like NRF! But there was something in the air that made NRF 2020 bigger and better than ever before. There were over 38,000 attendees who experienced three days of inspiring discussions and get a perspective on improving customer engagement. This year we highlighted how retailers can gain...Read more
Two customers shopping for headphones wearing VR devices

4 must-do’s (and 3 trends to watch) for your trip to NRF 2020 

  • Author avatar of Shelley Bransten
    By Shelley BranstenCorporate Vice President, WW Retail & Consumer Goods Industry
The world’s largest retail conference is fast approaching and we want to make sure you make the most of it. I love going to NRF because not only can we celebrate what went well coming off of our busiest time of year, but we can look forward to an exciting year ahead. I don’t know...Read more
Three supply chain employees packaging appeal for shipment

How to deliver on the promise of intelligent retail 

  • Author avatar of Shelley Bransten
    By Shelley BranstenCorporate Vice President, WW Retail & Consumer Goods Industry
There has never been a more exciting time to be at the intersection of retail and technology. Challenging? Certainly. Opportunity? Absolutely, in fact full of it! Technology is enabling retailers to reimagine every aspect of the value chain. From delivering amazing customer experiences and empowering employees with data and rich insights to optimized operations and...Read more
a group of people in a room

How smart is your supply chain? 

  • a man smiling for the camera
    By Colin WrightGlobal Director Business Strategy CPG & Retail Industry, Microsoft
Customer expectations are higher than ever but with the right technology, there are limitless ways to delight customers at every step of their journey. Historically, many have considered retail to be a simple business with a great deal of the strategy based on old-fashioned experience, gut instinct, and long-standing supplier relationships. But to compete in...Read more
Store owner using device at register counter

Your employees are your brand ambassadors 

  • a man looking at the camera
    By Paul KingBusiness Strategy Director, Microsoft
Store associates are the face of every retail brand, yet they are often the most disconnected from the technology that could help them do their jobs better. Learn how you can help your employees become your brand ambassadors....Read more
Two people shopping at a furniture store

Customers first, last—and everywhere in between 

  • head shot of a woman
    By Megan WalshGlobal Director Business Strategy - Consumer Goods & Retail Industry
During the last 15 years of my career in the tech sector, I’ve focused on developing innovative customer experience solutions and overarching digital transformation for the retail industry—and I’ve never been more excited about the opportunities. It feels like we’ve always known the potential of digital tools, but now we’re finally at the place where...Read more
Two people shopping together and using cell phone in grocery store market

Winning the modern-day consumer in the world of consumer goods 

  • Author avatar of Cath Brands
    By Cath BrandsIndustry Marketing Director – Retail and Consumer Goods
Eighty percent of consumer goods CEOs think their operating model is at risk.1 Why is that? Simply put, given how fast consumer preferences and the retail landscape are evolving, consumer goods businesses are being challenged to keep pace like never before. Consumer motivations and expectations are rapidly evolving. Good for me and good for the...Read more
Visualization of data in a shopping mall

Key use cases for modern and intelligent loss prevention in retail 

  • Author avatar of Sahir Anand
    By Sahir AnandPrincipal Retail and CPG Industry Lead, Cloud Commercial Communities Team
The National Retail Federation completed a loss prevention survey of 63 retailers in 2019. The top two risks (and therefore priorities) for 50.8 percent of retailers in the last five years were internal theft and cyber-related incidents (such as data breaches). Retailers reported an average inventory shrink of 1.38 percent, which is on pace with...Read more
Shopper using a cellphone while looking at a price tag

Think outside the retail box (and bag and cart) 

  • Author avatar of Cath Brands
    By Cath BrandsIndustry Marketing Director – Retail and Consumer Goods
In the current “experience economy,” where the most important currency is social currency, the ability to provide an Instagram-worthy experience is priceless. Learn more about how you can reimagine retail, and how technology fits in....Read more