Joseph Pekala

Statista reported that in 2023, 41% of Americans were using "wearables." That's right. 41% of us were sharing our biometric data. And yet Target, Rite Aid, Best Buy, Walmart and several others have come under fire for their use of biometric data. Why? Is it because they didn't tell us they were using it? It can't be because we don't want to share our personal information (including biometric data). After all, wearables, social media and TSA/Clear would suggest otherwise (to name a few). How should businesses use biometric data and is it worth the trouble? Read RetailWire's article and see what the BrainTrust had to say. https://lnkd.in/gXk4Yt9C

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Are online shoppers getting the personalization they want? Unsurprisingly, the answer is "no". For instance, in a retail store, the clerk can quickly determine if you're more of a data person or style person --- or whatever. And then the clerk can tailor their help to you ---- but online, we're generally overwhelmed by information-- and too much data is as bad as no data. Most online sites have meager if any true personalization. Customers want it, merchants want it -- and AI will likely help close this gap in online service over the coming years. Thanks Dan for the interesting article! #customerexperience #ecommerce #retail #retailtech #shopping

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A bold move in the retail landscape! 🚀 After four years of progressive growth, Home Depot takes a strategic pivot, unveiling Orange Apron Media. This isn't just a rebrand; it's a statement. The retail giant is not just reacting to the evolving market; it's setting the pace. With this transformation, Home Depot positions itself not just as a retailer but as a forward-thinking media player. In a world where attention is currency, aligning with Orange Apron Media means tapping into a rich vein of engaged consumers. For marketers, this is the golden ticket. 🎫 Why does this matter for us in IT, Cybersecurity, and Event Management? Because it underscores a universal truth: adaptability is key to survival and success. As technologies and consumer behaviors shift, so must our strategies. Home Depot's move is a reminder to stay agile, innovative, and always customer-focused. Whether it's in retail, cybersecurity, or event creation, the principle remains the same. Let's take a page from their playbook. 📖 What's your take on this strategic rebranding? Is your organization poised to adapt in a similar fashion? Check this out: https://lnkd.in/dTe7N34j

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We published a #RetailTech report today titled, "RFID Is the Technology That Keeps on Giving to Retailers (and Associates and Consumers)." It has three main points: 1. RFID-Driven Inventory Accuracy Opens the Door to a Slew of Other Benefits for Retailers 2. RFID Can Improve the Associate Experience 3. RFID Enables the Services that Make Customers Happy The report also discusses implications for retailers, brands and technology vendors. https://lnkd.in/eCAPNu5t Take a look here: https://lnkd.in/eCAPNu5t #rfid #retailtechnology

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What’s new at ASG: Empowered by a dynamic team of 20 ASG consultants, we revolutionized pricing operations for a major retail chain. By transcending manual processes, we elevated efficiency and bolstered profitability across 115 stores in four distinct markets. Our modernization efforts didn’t just streamline operations; they fostered a culture of satisfaction among customers and employees alike, driving a new era of retail excellence. Connect with us to see how we can help transform your operations and ensure your business achieves its strategic objectives #BuildyourteamswithASG #Retailsector #Pricing #Tech #hiring #retailchain #committedtoexcellence #staffingexpertise #Staffingprofessionals

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NEW PERSONAL VIDEO: Why is Retail RFID a Winning Technology? https://lnkd.in/gfJtu8bK Retail companies that are using RFID in their retail operations averaged profit growth that was 57% higher than those which did not. For 2024, the same companies are expecting profitability to be 88% higher than those not already using RFID #retail

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"We've been able to see a five times improvement in our inventory process" Joseph Warakomski, CIO of Romark Logistics, discussed how our solution has improved their productivity in this SupplyChainBrain case study interview with our VP of Customer Success, Sean Mitchell. In addition to the productivity improvements, Joe and Sean also discuss: 1. How easy our solution was to implement and that Romark needed to make very few changes to their environment. 2. How excited the employees were and how there was a renewed interest in the inventory analyst roles at Romark. 3. How Romark's customers love the solution because Romark can complete the inventory counts much quicker and because of the high level of fidelity with the inventory recognition Watch the case study here 👇 https://hubs.li/Q02C8wwb0

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Carhartt, the iconic American workwear company, is proving that age is just a number when it comes to embracing cutting-edge technology like AI. Under the leadership of their new CIO, Carhartt has moved over 90% of its apps to the cloud and is now embarking on a transformative AI and data analytics journey. As a Microsoft evangelist, I'm thrilled to share their story and showcase how Microsoft can help your organization achieve a unified data estate that unlocks the full potential of your data. Click the link to read the full post and discover how Carhartt is leveraging AI to stay ahead of the curve >> https://lnkd.in/gB7h5Qjy #AITransformation #DataAnalytics #UnifiedDataEstate #BusinessIntelligence #DigitalTransformation

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Key EMARKETER stat: US ecommerce resale volume will hit $80.60 billion this year, a growth of 3.4% YoY, per our December 2023 forecast. Beyond the chart: Ecommerce resale volume is returning to growth after a 6.9% dip YoY in 2022 and a 2.5% one in 2023, per eMarketer forecast. But it still hasn’t returned to its pandemic high of $85.87 billion in 2021. Growth in the number of online fashion buyers has slowed, leading platforms to search for strategies to boost order values by offering luxury goods and courting wealthy shoppers. #ecommerce #resale #retailsales

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𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐫 could be a cover story every month in convenience. This month it 𝘪𝘴 the cover for CStore Decisions. 🌐 "Since the arrival of the pandemic" – 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲! – "technology evolution has been on fast-forward for convenience stores." C-store retailers are navigating all sorts of tech, all in a race against the rest of their local market. 🔮 Artificial intelligence 📲 Mobile apps 💳 Self-checkout systems 💫 Loyalty programs ⛽ Fuel dispensers 🔌 EV chargers This quote from Todd Hauptmann, VP of IT for Road Ranger sums it up well: "If you love change, this is a great time to be involved in technology." #convenience #digital

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The retail return problem. This is not a new problem but the way some big box retailers are handling it could actually hurt them in the long term, specially when it shows up in mass media coverage like this https://lnkd.in/gsE6yhg8 And another big problem is how outdated and draconian terms-of-use policies are, expecting users to read that entire document in small print when they want to make a needed purchase. Definitely room for an innovating TOU solution to clearly point out key issues users might want to be aware of.

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Today, we welcome a new CEO, Michael DeSimone! 🎉 Mike is a seasoned C-suite executive with extensive experience at commerce technology organizations. He is the perfect person to guide us through our next growth stage 🚀, with a focus on innovation and creating sustained value for the world’s greatest retail brands. Learn more about Mike’s appointment in our press release. And, get to know him (🛍️🏃🎾) in a blog Q&A with our CMO Phil Granof, link in comments. #unifiedcommerce #omnichannel #digitaltransformation #CEO #leadership

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My colleagues @Brian and @Catherine delve into the importance of practicality in Retail's AI-driven future. Emphasizing the significance of informed decisions based on tangible business advantages over unrealistic hype and speculation. Discover how pairing AI with practical strategies success.

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AI is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for enhancing efficiency across different organizational levels. How is your company implementing AI, and are you seeing positive results?

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