Oliver Guy

Oliver Guy

Oliver Guy is the global industry director, retail at Software AG, specializing in retail digital transformation and omnichannel technology strategy.

Oliver advises retailers across the globe on their technology strategy and decisions. With more than 20 years focused in technology, Oliver has worked with major names in global retail helping them improve their business through the use of innovative technology. Prior to joining Software AG, Oliver was part of the European Management team at Oracle Retail, his team being responsible for Retail focused Solution Consulting across Europe. Oliver started his career in technology implementing Supply Chain Planning and Optimisation solutions for customers across multiple industries in both Europe and Asia Pacific with Manugistics (JDA).

Returns is All in the Data … But Do We Have Enough?
May 24, 2019 at 12:43 pm

It’s amazing how seemingly crazy ideas come to you when you least expect it. This happened to me recently while reacting to a tweet from retail analyst Andrew Busby. Andrew had commented on the news that ASOS, one of the largest U.K. online fashion retailers, had changed its returns policy. ASOS was effectively reserving the…

Retailer Survival Guide 101: Rapid Digital Transformation is Key to Success
November 14, 2018 at 4:23 pm

Total global retail sales in 2020 are projected to reach $27.73 trillion, up from $24.86 trillion in 2018. It's clear consumer spending is on the rise, but retailers now need to compete against not only other retailers, but the large e-commerce giants like Amazon.com that are also looking to capture their share of consumers’ wallets.…

How Retailers Can Survive and Thrive in the Age of Amazon
January 12, 2018 at 2:10 pm

Retail has become one of the most difficult industries in which to survive. Behemoths such as Amazon.com increasingly sweep weaker competitors off the map. So, how can retailers compete in the age of Amazon? Unfortunately, there's no “silver bullet” technology that can help here. The key is being able to adapt quickly and experiment with…

Is Your Brand Ready for This Year's Holiday Retail Trends?
December 15, 2017 at 12:37 pm

No industry has been more impacted by digital transformation than retail. In fact, it’s frighteningly easy to identify which retailers have embraced change and which remain mired in technologic antiquity. There’s no better time to commit to a digital revolution than during retailing prime time: the holiday shopping season. While many big-box retailers have lost…

Afraid of Amazon? IoT to the Rescue
July 7, 2017 at 1:45 pm

Retailers may be enthusiastic about the Internet of Things (IoT), but are they actually implementing the technology and can they use it to out-innovate Amazon.com? To further investigate this topic, Software AG partnered with Retail Systems Research (RSR) in an IoT retail study to uncover the exact challenges retailers face when it comes to IoT…

Powering Emotion in the Retail Experience
July 26, 2016 at 3:02 pm

“I LOVE this shop,” my wife said when she came across a new dress shop in our local town. Love is a strong word, but that's exactly what retailers are trying to inspire in customers when they endeavor to build an emotional connection with them. The Harvard Business Review says that customers are emotionally connected…

Minimum Wage Laws Force Retail Transformation
April 20, 2016 at 2:09 pm

The looming prospect of higher minimum wage laws in the United States, whether federal or state-by-state, is forcing retailers to consider what they can do to weather the storm and stay alive. Already concerned with squeezed profit margins — thanks to higher costs associated with online delivery, processing orders and managing a massive increase in product…

3 Things to Consider for Omnichannel Success
November 13, 2015 at 3:08 pm

IT doesn’t always speak the same language as the omnichannel team. As the two departments continue to work more closely together, there are three critical areas any retail executive must understand for more seamless, efficient and productive project management with IT. Historically, enabling a consistent customer experience across channels, enabling customers to buy and return…

Ready or Not, Here Comes Retail IoT
May 22, 2015 at 7:10 pm

The Internet of Things (IoT) is coming to retail, so get ready. Digital devices (i.e., Things) are poised to revolutionize everything from inventory management to hypertargeted marketing. IoT-enabled smart shelving will lend a whole new meaning to the term “shelf life,” bringing retail shelves to life by allowing the dynamic changing of prices and the…