Artificial Intelligence takes the World Stage

Great little article by the folks over at Business Intelligence.  Well worth your time.

AI is where the computer program is able to learn what it needs without direct input.  This is important when sets of data get so large the human cannot anticipate the needs of the computer program.  Machine learning handles the role of the human in deciding what is relevant or not.

This short piece argues AI is not coming, it is already here.  Very true.

Here is the full article:

http://www.businessinsider.com/understanding-artificial-intelligence-impacting-world-2017-10

Here is a snippet from the piece:

While AI is having an enormous impact on individuals and the smart home, perhaps its largest impact can be felt in the e-commerce space. In the increasingly cluttered e-commerce space, personalization is one of the key differentiators retailers can turn towards to stand out to consumers. In fact, retailers that have implemented personalization strategies see sales gains of 6-10%, at a rate two to three times faster than other retailers, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group.

Now if I could just get my hands on a little real intelligence, rather than artificial, I'd be all set.

:-)

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

BRotD - Entry 0257 Modern Retail and Technology

Best Reading of the Day

This is a fine piece that attempts to explain how the best, tier 1, retailers are handling the challenges of the new connected world.

Retail in the Information Age would also be a fine title for this article.

I'm certain we will see all flavors of players.  Pure mobile, pure brick & mortar, pure eCommerce, and many combinations.  The top retailers must be all things to their customers and that's what we are seeing.  The very top is pulling away from the rest, almost creating a new top tier.  The Walmarts and Amazons of the world do it all very well.

Here is the story:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2018/05/08/taps-clicks-bricks-how-retail-giants-are-reinventing-commerce-via-mobile-desktop-stores/#7d921323c5ca

Here is a snippet from the piece:

“Customers move seamlessly between our stores, online, and mobile,” Home Depot's vice president of Online Pratt Vemana told me. “They’re using mobile within the store, and texting aisle location from their desktops to their phones.”

Home Depot is not the only one.

The term previously coined for this, maybe by folks at Forrester (?), is "Bricks & Mobile".  The author's "Taps, Clicks, Bricks" is also evocative of what is happening.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

The Information Age Continues the Revolution

I've written extensively in these pages about our entry in to the new Information Age, leaving the Industrial Age behind, and how every fabric of our lives will change in time as this new age matures.

Here is exhibit 1,734 in that vein.

The United States Marine Corps is reorganizing, restructuring, the Infantry Squad unit to account for the expected new type of warfare they will be facing and to add a drone to each squad.

I am no expert on infantry operations though I have served Active Duty in the United States Air Force (ER Medic in another lifetime), however, here is a quick overview.  The most basic unit is the 3 man fireteam. The first formal unit size is the squad, previously composed of 13 infantrymen. Then comes a Platoon of Squads, and a Company of Platoons, and a Battalion of Companies, etc, up to a Division, then Corps, and Army, followed by an Army Group.

The Marines are changing the fundamental structure of their units by altering the Squad.  The 13 man Squad will become 12 men and one of those will be a specialist with a drone assigned to him and the squad.  Wow! Information technology has come to the battlefield in a big, big way.

Here is the full story:

https://breakingdefense.com/2018/05/marines-reorganize-infantry-for-high-tech-war-fewer-riflemen-more-drones/

Here is a snippet from the piece:

Each rifle squad will get its own quadcopter mini-drone to scout ahead and a drone operator to run it. But the squad will shrink from 13 Marines (three fire teams of four plus a squad leader) to 12 (three fire teams of three plus a command team of squad leader, assistant squad leader, and “squad systems operator”).

How has your life changed in the last 12 months as a result of information technology?

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Awesome Retail Mobile App

Great little article by the folks over at ClickZ.

Want to know what a great mobile experience in retail is like when it isn't Starbucks?  Check it out.

Neiman Marcus, on the other hand, had two positive quarters in a row, citing the brand’s digital-first strategy as the catalyst for the turnaround.

In a way, Neiman Marcus’ app epitomizes that digital strategy, focusing more on where their customers are (online and offline, often at the same time) rather than where they used to be (the mall). We’ve mentioned some of its features before, but here’s a deeper dive into the app and what retailers can take away from it.

Here is the full article:

https://www.clickz.com/neiman-marcus-mobile-app/214155/

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Basics of eCommerce Personalization

Get your house in order first.

That should always be the rule to live by.

Low hanging fruit, etc.

However it is shocking to find basic advice along those lines is still necessary especially when its something new involved where we lack a basic comfort level with the subject.  The reactionary response is to seek help from outside to address this new "something".

Try looking inside first. 

Good little article:

https://www.clickz.com/5-first-party-data-strategies-personalization/213990/

Here is a snippet from the piece:

Every brand understands—or should understand—the importance of data. And no data is more valuable than first-party shopper behavior data, which is derived directly from your customers. Since first-party data comes straight from the source, this eliminates any games of telephone, enabling marketers to better understand—and build stronger relationships with—their customers.

Clearly brick & mortar retailers want the same approach but it is far more challenging when dealing with in-store interactions.  This article's value is best seen by the online players or the omnichannel play for traditional retailers.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

BRotD - Entry 0256 Smart Clothing

Best Reading of the Day

This fine little write-up is well worth your time.

Smart Clothes.

Okay, okay, yes it sounds ridiculous and probably will be for a while yet but crazier things have happened.

What is the utility?  That's the key.  Do we find some in this article?  Judge for yourself.

Here is the full article:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/levis-smart-jacket-changed-how-i-use-my-phone/

Here is a snippet from the piece:

The cuff on the left arm is woven with a conductive fiber, as well as a special-grade polyester that allows it to act as a touch sensor; the rest of the jacket is traditional Levi’s cotton-based denim. You can feel a slight difference in material when you touch the denim part of the jacket, and then touch the cuff. It’s not easily noticeable, though, which is important to maintaining a traditional look.

I've seen a bit on smart clothing and when it comes to these, even the classic electric blanket, I have to admit I have visions of being enmeshed in electronic clothing that catches fire.  Ugh.  Not a pretty picture.  People, well, most people, got over that for the electric blanket lines.  If there's sufficient benefit to this line of connected clothing then people will buy them.

This prototype takes the same basic approach as the smart watch.  It isn't a replacement for your smart phone, it complements it so you don't have to reach for your phone.  Yes, that right there might be enough to sell units. Not bad.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Mobile Retail

The Mobile Marketing folks recently organized a summit on "Mobile Retail" and captured what they consider the best quotes from the summit.  It is worth a read for anyone interested in tech, mobile, or retail.

Here is the full story:

http://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/the-10-best-quotes-from-our-mobile-retail-summit

Here is a part of the piece:

Our day was kicked off by Jat Sahi of Fujitsu, who explored how mobile and digital was disrupting not just traditional working practices, but entire sectors and business models, and what retailers can do to keep pace with the speed of change.

I'm of course solidly in the camp that sees how disruptive technology is.  However, it is the customer that matters.  Tech alone will not solve problems.  How we provide for people, their wants and needs, does matter.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant