Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 26
GROUNDBREAKING TECHNOLOGY
How can technology
solve the biggest
retail challenges?
6 TRENDS TO WATCH FOR IN 2018
BY STUART FOXMAN
EVER hear of Walter Deubener? One hundred years ago, he found a way to address an
age-old question for retailers: how do you satisfy customers, help them shop more and
add efficiency to purchases? His low-tech answer was punching holes in a paper bag and
running cord through it to create handles.
Deubener was a grocer in St. Paul, Minnesota. He noticed that his clientele's purchases
were limited by what they could easily carry. So, in 1918, he invented a strong and convenient shopping bag. Problem solved, and new opportunities created.
A century later, retailers continue to turn to technology to benefit the business. These
days it's more complex than a better bag. Heading into 2018, which technology trends are
poised to grow? We asked some thought leaders and practitioners to list their top retail
challenges and how technology can support the solutions.
1
Leverage technologies that
can help remove friction from
the customer experience.
26 |
CANADIAN RETAILER
Retail challenge: Capitalize on moments of inspiration.
Solution: Create frictionless customer experiences.
WHENEVER consumers are moved, you better be able to respond. "If you're not able to
convert that moment into some kind of interaction with the brand you have lost," says
Shyam Thyagaraj, who leads the technology practice for retail and consumer clients at
Accenture in Canada.
He says artificial intelligence can support all sorts of efforts to guide customers to
a purchase. For instance, chatbots and virtual assistants already perform that role online. Thyagaraj foresees a growing use of AI to enable consumers to buy wherever and
whenever the mood strikes, beyond the physical store and a retailer's own website.
He gives this example: on a social media platform, a friend of yours posts an image
of him wearing a new piece of clothing from a particular brand. You love it and want
the same item...immediately. Video analytics can correlate that image to a retailer's inventory and price, and you can complete a purchase. "Inspiration comes from different
sources," says Thyagaraj, "and AI can become your new interface for transactions."
| THE TECHNOLOGY & E-COMMERCE ISSUE
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue
Editor’s Note
Retail Currents
Under the Banner
At Issue
Preparing for Tomorrow Today
Retail 2018: What the Future Has in Store
Living in the Future
Getting Results
Selling Across Borders
Don’t “wannacry” Anymore About Cybercrime?
How Can Technology Solve the Biggest Retail Challenges?
Channel Loyalty
Content Is King
Delivering Your Brand to the World
Small Business. Big Impact.
Leading Retailers in Canada
Advertisers’ Index
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Intro
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - bellyband1
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - bellyband2
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - cover1
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - cover2
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 3
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Editor’s Note
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 5
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Retail Currents
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 7
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Under the Banner
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - At Issue
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Preparing for Tomorrow Today
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 11
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Retail 2018: What the Future Has in Store
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 13
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 14
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 15
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 16
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 17
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Living in the Future
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 19
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Getting Results
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 21
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Selling Across Borders
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 23
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Don’t “wannacry” Anymore About Cybercrime?
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 25
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - How Can Technology Solve the Biggest Retail Challenges?
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 27
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 28
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 29
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Channel Loyalty
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 31
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 32
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 33
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 34
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 35
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Content Is King
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 37
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 38
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 39
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Delivering Your Brand to the World
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 41
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Small Business. Big Impact.
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 43
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Leading Retailers in Canada
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 45
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - Advertisers’ Index
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - cover3
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - cover4
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 52
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 53
Canadian Retailer - The Technology & e-Commerce Issue - 54
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