Posts by Bob McCallister

So you sell retail goods? The same can be said for your competitors. In the battle between you and everyone else in your category, your offerings are no longer the sole reason why someone chooses one retailer over another. The winning recipe can often be distilled to one element: the quality of the customer experience. Of course, the actual products themselves play a role in your success. Yet consumers, increasingly, can view specific product categories…  MORE

Since the dawn of retail, the store window has played a key role in sales. Merchandising, displays, mannequins, and other promotional tactics – when executed correctly – can lure customers and increase cash flow. We’re now witnessing an expanded function of the store window, thanks to the latest digital technology. Due to Covid, consumers today spend more time on their devices, which causes them to shop differently. In turn, retailers have been forced to create…  MORE

When considering potential technology solutions, IT leaders want to save as much money as possible. And increasingly, they also have a mandate to execute sustainable technology practices. With artificial intelligence (AI), CIOs and CTOs can accomplish both of those goals at the same time. It turns out they can achieve those objectives by writing greener code. For some time, coders have looked for ways for their work to be more environmentally friendly. But that noble…  MORE

One of the most negative concepts for IT leaders is “legacy systems.” The term brings to mind slow, outdated technology that’s ready for the scrapheap. It’s technology that must be replaced in order for the organization to remain competitive and get ahead. After all, there are new business processes to adopt, new market challenges to meet, and new employee requirements. Legacy technology, says conventional wisdom, will not only hinder growth – it will cost you…  MORE

Business leaders can’t sit still for long these days. They have to constantly assess the potential benefits of new technologies, sales strategies, marketing tactics, and brand awareness campaigns. Getting comfortable can mean falling behind. That same mindset should also apply to customer service and support. The problem, however, is that executives often look at customer care as their last priority; to many it’s a nice-to-do rather than a must-do. But that can be a costly…  MORE

Leaders across all industries understand the important role that frontline workers play in creating strong brands. Those workers greet customers, conduct transactions, and provide service – acts that inherently affect customer satisfaction and ultimately brand loyalty. But creating happy customers and strong brands isn’t as easy as it was in the past. It’s no longer a matter of simply pointing out where to find an item, ringing up sales on a cash register, and helping…  MORE

For many years, corporate America resisted the call from activists to be more environmentally conscious. They said it would be too expensive. Besides, they felt, the planet’s doing just fine. But time and facts changed the attitudes of executives. They realized that fighting off sustainability was a losing battle. In fact, they recognized that embracing environmental causes could only benefit their organizations: One hand they could improve the health of the planet, and on the…  MORE

At this point in history, nearly every executive understands the benefits of cloud computing. What was once an arcane term that required detailed explanations is now a common part of our lexicon. So much so, in fact, that you’re likely to hear your mechanic, hair stylist, and neighbor casually mention “the cloud” in everyday conversation. But as is the case with every technology, the cloud is evolving. And much of this transformation has been driven…  MORE