In 1947, America’s first self-service gas station opened in Los Angeles. The concept of customers doing it themselves has come a long way since then, as we have all experienced with grocery stores, banking, and other types of business-to-consumer interactions. But self-service is no longer strictly reserved for the general public. Take self-service IT. Self-service IT solutions are precisely what the label implies: employees can resolve IT issues on their own rather than involving IT…  MORE

Confidence is a key attribute for any IT leader. To be successful, they must firmly believe in their vision and ability to execute. Yet based on a recent survey, over 70% of technology executives believe there’s a chance their projects will fail. This brutally honest opinion is why tech leaders carry out pilot projects before committing to a full-scale initiative. Small projects determine the feasibility of a major project, and can shed light on both…  MORE

Not so long ago, a retailer’s brand perception was based solely on the quality of their products. But the criteria for how one views a retailer is no longer so simple. Today, from the consumer perspective, it’s all about the experience. People want a quick and intuitive way to browse and buy. They want to automatically be served complementary options. They want hassle-free options for interacting with customer support. All of these demands make up…  MORE

In the 21st century, retailers are constantly adapting to new market conditions by implementing ever-innovative technology. One primary – and very recent – example is how brands are adjusting to the rise of the “deskless” employee. Deskless workers are just that – they spend most of their time on their feet, interacting with customers and products. And retailers are counting on them more this year, as we continue to see a post-pandemic increase of in-store…  MORE

As technology evolves, so does the world of commerce. And as business evolves, so does the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). People with that executive-level job title used to be, for the most part, in charge of a team of order-takers. Install a network, provide more laptops, onboard new employees with email addresses. Those sort of tactical to-dos. But the “information” aspect of the CIO role has run its course. CIOs are now…  MORE

Technology can do wonders for growing retail operation. The right combination of software and systems improve the customer experience, enhance employee productivity, and optimize the supply chain. Cutting-edge technology can also provide another key benefit: frictionless shopping. “Frictionless shopping” means eliminating unnecessary steps or obstacles between a consumer’s desire to buy and the completion of the transaction. There has always been “friction” in retail, ever since the first medieval merchants set up shop hundreds of…  MORE

When it comes to technology, success isn’t strictly determined by the products you create or the services you offer. Competitive advantage, and the profits that come with it, often stems from the strength of your business partnerships. But developing a valuable alliance requires more than a handshake over coffee. Many estimates show that nearly 70% of strategic partnerships end in failure. That’s due to unrealistic expectations, misaligned objectives, and lack of precise communication. Don’t let that…  MORE

Ever since the pandemic of 2020, retailers have been challenged with both hiring and retaining frontline workers. Employees had concerns about safety and wages. But it turns out they also left their jobs for another significant reason: Not enough technology to able to adequately perform their work. This notion came through in a global survey by Scandit, a barcode scanning platform for mobile enterprise apps. Of many key findings, the survey showed that 40% of retail…  MORE