Sandeep Unni

Just back from the phenomenal #CGFSummit in Chicago. It was inspiring to see manufacturers and retailers discussing #sustainable #growth on a common platform. My key takeaways : 1. AI is revolutionizing personalization and customer experience. 2. Ethical use of AI for data analytics is crucial. 3. Cross-collaboration across business functions is needed for integrated environments. 4. Multi-channel retailing is the new buzz specially when manufacturers are turning to be retailers by going online. 5. Supply chain integration is vital for D2C and bringing stores closer to the customers. 6. Drone and Autonomous vehicles are likely to be the future of last-mile delivery. 7. Sustainability and responsible sourcing with improved use of technology were key topics. AI, Collaboration and Sustainability were big themes. Exciting times ahead for the C&R industry! #AI #GlobalSummitVoices #KPMG #KPMGINDIA

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I’ve avoided this conversation in an attempt to remain an unbiased co-host but as we approach season 4; who am I kidding. If you follow me, I am biased and been talking about taking a unified approach since 2011. I am passionately biased that the only way to futureproof your business is to go back to the foundational framework of your techstack and rebuild for a unified commerce experience. Supply chain, on demand manufacturing, circularity, sustainable forecasting, customer experience, clienteling, experience management, AI, IoT, rfid, web3, AR, VR, holograms, nanotech receivers, blockchain authentication. Tune in with us for our first Unified Commerce Conversation on the Retail Razor 🏷 Razor podcast. It’s only a shopper journey to the person not living it. Otherwise, it’s life and you’re either winning as a brand by providing value or taking value away with friction. Experiences should compound, if a customer has to start from scratch each time you are degrading value from every interaction. Without a unified system and approach to your business, creating compounded experiences is impossible. Essentially, the backbone of our commerce thesis when building a new foundational infrastructure for luxury brands.

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Amazon Dominates Home Furnishings Market as Walmart Struggles to Keep Up Amid Growing Consumer Demand for Discounts. 👉 Amazon is becoming dominant in the furniture and home furnishings market, holding nearly three times Walmart's market share. 👉 Amazon's market share continues to increase while Walmart's is declining. 👉 Amazon is doing everything possible to drive up its share of spending in the category, including launching its first-ever "Big Spring Sale" event, offering up to 40% off select home products. 👉 Consumers are looking for deals, as economic challenges limit shoppers' purchasing power, and both Amazon and Walmart have seen success with their savings events. 👉 Walmart is looking to drive revenue in other ways, such as integrating AI features into its app to improve the online shopping experience and selling its AI-powered truck Route Optimization software to other companies. #amazon #walmart #ecommerce #retail #homegoods

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Interesting article by The Wall Street Journal about Walmart feeling the burn of Amazon displacing it as the largest retailer in America. Retailers are looking for anything in their power to make the shopping experience in their retail stores more engaging and more enticing for spending.   To fight over customers, bring new ones and keep old ones retailers need to know what's happening in the store, to collect data and to digitally engage with customers. Tablets or other I/O devices that the customers can interact with, get promotions on, respond to, query, maybe even do all of this in a fun /playful way may be critical for the future of the supercenter. Getting power to the aisles and shelves in thousands of existing locations may be the critical challenge that Wi-Charge can help with.   #smartretail #wirelesspower #wirelesscharging

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We've heard a lot about Chinese sellers in the e-commerce marketplace, such as Temu and SHEIN. Now Walmart is helping Indian sellers be introduced to the global e-commerce market. How long before an Indian seller as big as Temu or SHEIN unveils itself on the global stage? How are you competing against these global sellers in an increasingly competitive market? #ecommerce #worldcompetition #itsaglobalmarket

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Walmart Embraces the Metaverse to Captivate Gen Z Shoppers #walmart #amazon #retail #metaverse To attract younger shoppers, Walmart has launched Walmart Realm – a new digital shopping experience. It features virtual stores created with popular social media personalities. The goal is to appeal to Gen Z, who use social media for shopping ideas. The three virtual environments on Walmartrealm (.) com showcase fashion and beauty products. This shows that Walmart is committed to embracing the virtual world and creating engaging e-commerce experiences. Research shows that 68% of Gen Z consumers look for products on social media, and 22% of them end up buying something—the highest rate across all generations. Moreover, 3 out of 4 Gen Z consumers plan to make purchases on social media, compared to less than half of the overall sample. Additionally, nearly 40% of Gen Z consumers use TikTok and Instagram to discover products instead of using traditional search engines like Google. Walmart's Chief Marketing Officer, William White, says, "We're embracing innovation at Walmart with e-commerce experiences designed for the virtual world." This places Walmart at the forefront in retail, using social media influencers and digital experiences to attract and keep the attention of Gen Z. As Walmart and Amazon compete for the spending of younger shoppers, we will see how other large retailers respond. Walmart Realm's success could set a new standard for attracting Gen Z consumers in the digital age. It will be exciting to see how the retail landscape continues to change in the years to come.

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At continuation of a previous post on #subscription market, it is interesting to note how Amazon keeps on investing and investigating into this model, leveraging its amazing #Prime customers base. The attempt to apply it on the grocery market might be disruptive, as this is definitely a vertical where such offers are clearly making sense. Amazon has rolled out a new grocery subscription service for Prime members and customers using EBT (electronic benefits transfer for government assistance programs). The key details are: - $9.99 per month for Prime members, $4.99 for non-Prime EBT customers - Provides free #grocery delivery on orders over $35 - Covers Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, and partnered grocers like Cardenas Markets - Available in over 3,500 U.S. cities and towns - Includes benefits like 1-hour delivery windows and priority for recurring orders - Builds on existing Prime grocery perks like Whole Foods discounts - Part of Amazon's efforts to enhance its grocery offerings and drive Prime memberships - Follows recent moves like removing Just Walk Out tech from some stores and offering Dash Carts to other grocers - Amazon has been adjusting grocery delivery minimum spend thresholds and expanding access to non-Prime customers The new subscription aims to provide a "best-in-class" grocery experience by combining selection, value and convenience for Amazon's diverse customer base. It represents Amazon's latest play to sharpen its grocery operations and grow its share of the lucrative grocery market. https://lnkd.in/esjWqyHZ

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#AD 📽 Have you seen my interview for Verizon Business on the future of luxury retail?   Consumers today are super-charged, conscious and connected. How should luxury retailers cater to these rapidly evolving shopping expectations? From augmented reality to spatial commerce, which technologies and innovations will be most impactful in terms of elevating the customer experience? How can retailers utilise tech to offer next-level personalisation?   We discuss all of this and more in the full video: verizon.com/gb/retail   You can also explore the series to hear from other industry experts and thought leaders, such as retail futurist Howard Saunders, fashion psychologist Shakaila Forbes-Bell, Dr Helen Crowley, a biologist and sustainability consultant, and Matthew Drinkwater, a 3-D guru from the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London.   #FutureOfLuxuryRetail 

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We are moving towards an “Experience Economy” where the value exchange between the brand and the customer is going to change completely. I sat down with RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Experts (TRE) to discuss the current state of the retail industry and how technology partners are helping retailers drive digital transformation to meet evolving customer expectations. In this article, I reflect on the past, present and future of our industry and what it means for retailers looking to stay ahead in our ever-changing world. 👉 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/emwnMsPe.

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When a harmful product is sold on a 3rd Party Marketplace, who exactly is responsible when someone gets hurt using that product #ecommerce #safety #compliance #justic 👉 15 individuals purchased a chemical from Amazon that can be used for food preservation or in medical lab settings 👉 The chemical was sold with 99% purity and was determined to be the cause of death for 15 individuals who ingested it 👉 The families of the deceased individuals have sued Amazon in six separate cases, alleging the company is responsible for the deaths 👉 The plaintiffs claim that Amazon mislabeled the product, deleted reviews that warned others how it could be used, and leveraged marketing tactics to remind shoppers of the chemical they may have left in their cart 👉 Amazon changed the way it sold the chemical in 2022, making it only accessible to customers who had set up a business account 👉 Amazon argues that it can't be held responsible for how its customers use its products, particularly if those customers choose to misuse them 👉 The outcome of these cases could impact how Amazon monitors the products it sells and what happens when one is misused 👉 The lawsuits highlight an unresolved question of who is liable when a product is intentionally misused, especially when it comes from a third-party vendor using a platform like Amazon to reach its customers 👉 Amazon faces several product liability lawsuits, but those revolve around defective products 👉 Consumer Reports' policy counsel focused on product safety said the series of lawsuits Amazon faces are "falling in line with a long list of product liability cases coming up" 👉 There is an effort at the federal level to set a precedent on how much responsibility online platforms like Amazon have when something goes wrong.

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Retail Technology Show 2024 highlights the urgent need for adaptability! 🚀 🔹 Flexibility Is Key: From mobile and digital wallets to QR codes and BNPL options, the diversity in payment methods is not just a convenience but a necessity. 🔹 Integration Challenges: Incorporating these varied options requires strategic integration, both in-store and online, to enhance customer journeys. 🔹 Open Banking: Embracing open APIs could significantly reduce transaction costs, making a strong case for more widespread adoption. 💡 Insight: With Gen Z leaning towards cryptocurrencies and challenger banks, staying ahead means embracing these trends to cater to the next wave of digital consumers. 🤔 Is your strategy aligned with these emerging trends? #RetailTechnology #PaymentSolutions #CustomerExperience #DigitalInnovation #Ecommerce

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The landscape for retailers is challenging. Put store associates at the forefront of your business with the right solutions that enhance communication, scheduling, and compliance while also reducing turnover. Read on to learn how AI is reshaping the future of retail. #AI #Microsoftpartner

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The reports of the death of American malls may have been premature #malls #retail The American mall is evolving. Department stores are struggling to compete against new online direct-to-consumer competitors and smaller brick-and-mortar retailers. Top-tier malls are replacing department stores with grocery stores, casinos, gyms, ice skating rinks, and, in some cases, even residential apartments. Mall traffic has bounced back to near pre-pandemic occupancy levels, with customers embracing the experience-focused model. However, lower-tier malls are feeling the effects of department store closures more acutely.

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Today, driving digital transformation is a key responsibility for CMOs, requiring a blend of strategic vision, technological savvy, and customer-centric thinking. 1. One of the most crucial aspects of my role is to champion digital innovation. This means staying ahead of industry trends, adopting cutting-edge technologies, and constantly seeking new ways to engage with our audience. From leveraging AI for personalized marketing to utilizing data analytics for insightful decision-making, embracing innovation is key to staying competitive. 2. Customer Experience. As a CMO, I focus on creating seamless and personalized experiences across all touchpoints. By integrating CRM systems, marketing automation tools, and social media platforms, we can deliver targeted content that resonates with our audience, driving engagement and loyalty. 3. The availability of vast amounts of data has transformed marketing into a more precise and strategic function. I rely on data analytics to understand customer behavior, measure campaign effectiveness, and optimize our marketing strategies. This data-driven approach allows us to make informed decisions that drive growth and improve ROI. 4. Digital transformation is not confined to the marketing department; it requires collaboration across the entire organization. I work closely with the IT, sales, and product development teams to ensure our digital initiatives are aligned with our overall business goals. This cross-functional collaboration is essential for creating a unified and coherent digital strategy. 5. Driving digital transformation involves leading change management efforts within the company. This means fostering a culture of innovation, encouraging continuous learning, and empowering teams to embrace new technologies and methodologies. As we move forward, the role of the CMO will continue to evolve, becoming even more integral to driving digital transformation and business success. I'm excited to be part of this journey and to help shape the future of marketing in the digital age. What about you? #CMO #CMOInsights #Marketing #CustomerExperience #DataDriven #ChangeManagement #DigitalAge #TechSavvyCMO #roi

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🌐 Diversity Matters: In Teams and AI Agents 🌐 In today's fast-evolving tech landscape, diversity is more crucial than ever—both in our real-world teams and in the multi-agent systems powered by Large Language Models (LLMs). A recent study (https://lnkd.in/eAuZ-jEd) highlights the transformative impact of LLM-driven multi-agent systems in cybersecurity. These sophisticated agents, working in tandem, can identify and exploit zero-day vulnerabilities at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional human-driven methods. With AI-driven pen testing costing approximately 94% less than human efforts, it's clear that multi-agent diversity brings efficiency and innovation to the forefront. Why is this important? Just as a diverse team brings varied perspectives and problem-solving approaches, diverse LLM agents specialize in different vulnerabilities, enhancing overall performance and success rates. This synergy allows us to tackle complex challenges more effectively and efficiently. At AlixPartners, we believe in the power of being a "one firm" firm: "We offer a comprehensive, cross-border, and integrated range of expertise that leverages our financial, operational, and digital knowledge—always tailored to your specific needs." This approach not only fosters innovation but also drives better business outcomes. 🔹 Key Takeaway: Embracing diversity in both our human teams and AI agents not only drives better outcomes but also paves the way for groundbreaking advancements in cybersecurity and beyond. Let's continue to champion diversity, innovation, and collaboration in every aspect of our work! #Diversity #AI #Cybersecurity #Innovation #TeamWork #LLM #MultiAgentSystems #AlixPartners

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Macy's Santosh Subramanyam shares connected fitting room test results in their 2 store test. 💲 Average Order Value ⬆ in basket size by 5%, ⬆ Units/transaction by 16% 💲Net Promoter Score (NPS) ⬆ of 9.6 points to 80.0 💲Conversion ⬆ 68% when shoppers used fitting room service This data aligns very well with industry connected fitting room data: 👗 20% of customers visit fitting rooms 👗 40% of total store revenue comes from fitting rooms shoppers 👗 Shoppers visiting "connected" fitting rooms convert 55% higher, spend 25% more Matthew Cyr Sarah Breneman James Morin Marshall Kay John-Pierre Kamel Paula Rosenblum Pareiya Gupta Troy Siwek Doug Shonka Carl Boutet

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Category-leading companies are made of unstoppable leaders who build unbeatable teams. Uniphore demonstrates unprecedented scale as an #EnterpriseAI company with more than 1,500 enterprise customers who #trust us because of our innovation. Leading Uniphore’s #innovation agenda and product strategy is my business partner Tushar N Shah who was recently recognized as a top Chief Product Officer in the 2024 CPO Awards. This award, hosted by Products That Count, Capgemini, and Mighty Capital, is a testament to Tushar's unwavering dedication to identifying and delivering what our enterprise customers need most on their AI journey. Being awarded the 2024 CPO Award is yet another example of Uniphore's dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible with Enterprise AI. Congratulations, Tushar! This recognition is well-deserved, and we are incredibly proud to have you as part of our leadership team. Your vision and expertise continue to inspire us all.   #2024cpoawards #CPO #ProductLeader #Leadership #enterpriseAI #unstoppable

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