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Microsoft Industry Blogs > Retail & Consumer Goods

Retail & Consumer Goods

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Introducing Microsoft Cloud for Retail 

  • Author avatar of Shelley Bransten
    By Shelley BranstenCorporate Vice President, WW Retail & Consumer Goods Industry
If 2020 taught us anything, it was that no business is resilient to everything. But those that had laid their digital tracks early were better positioned to recover, and in some cases, even speed ahead. In fact, one retail expert said that we had “witnessed a 10-year evolutionary leap toward digital” in retailing. That’s quite a leap. And as a retail industry, we need to approach the new world we are...Read more
WIN21_HOL_Dell_XPS_13_7390_1740

4 ways to make the most of this year’s virtual NRF 

  • Author avatar of Shelley Bransten
    By Shelley BranstenCorporate Vice President, WW Retail & Consumer Goods Industry
NRF 2021 is going to be a first for all of us. I know I’m going to miss seeing many old colleagues and friends this month. NRF BIG Shows for me are just as much family reunion as they are industry conference. But as we’re all discovering, virtual conferences have some real advantages. And, in...Read more
1. A man in a holiday sweater holding a credit card and using his smartphone.

Holiday 2020: Five consumer habits that are transforming retail 

  • Author avatar of Cath Brands
    By Cath BrandsIndustry Marketing Director – Retail and Consumer Goods
2020 has already triggered unprecedented agility and innovation from retailers, but the year’s greatest test comes as the holidays approach. Even the most reliable shopping patterns have transformed as consumers keep safety and convenience top of mind. Their holiday plans won’t look the same, but they’re still searching for ways to spread cheer. Now is...Read more
a man standing in front of a building

Walgreens: transforming customer experience in the COVID-19 era 

  • a man smiling for the camera
    By Colin WrightGlobal Director Business Strategy CPG & Retail Industry, Microsoft
For Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), it’s always been about serving people and communities. Even before the pandemic, this global pharmacy retailer took great pains to be close to the people it serves. Today 80 percent of the population in the US live within five miles of a Walgreens store, while in the UK, over 90...Read more
person in a clothing store looking at a tablet

Three ways to accelerate your ‘buy online, pick up in-store’ evolution 

  • Professional headshot of Shanthi Rajagopalan
    By Shanthi RajagopalanBusiness Strategy Leader – Reimagine Retail Microsoft WW Retail and Consumer Goods
The retail landscape has changed dramatically as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced store closures and brought about new consumer needs. Both online purchases, as well as requests to pick up purchases in-store (BOPIS), have experienced high growth rates from February 2020 to April 2020. And the Forrester Q1 2020 Omnichannel Panel Survey recently revealed that...Read more
Small business owner

Navigating COVID-19: Best bets for Retailers facing tough choices 

  • Brian King headshot
    By Brian KingPartner Group Program Manager, Shopping and Commerce team
Positioning to win, today and tomorrow The overnight shift to a digital economy is driving retailers to make difficult decisions about how they adapt. It’s digital transformation at an unprecedented velocity. To cope with change, industry experts are encouraging retailers to look to the next horizon of retail and reimagine their business. That’s no simple...Read more
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