Systems Integration

Integrated Supply Chain Pays Off for Nebraska Furniture Mart
March 6, 2017 at 10:35 am

In episode 82 of Total Retail Talks, Scott Hansen, general manager, supply chain and logistics at Nebraska Furniture Mart, the largest home furnishing store in North America, discusses how the company has benefited from implementing an integrated supply chain for its online and brick-and-mortar operations.

Data at the Center of Hickory Farms’ Transformation
January 19, 2017 at 11:37 am

In episode 70 of Total Retail Talks, recorded at this week's National Retail Federation Big Show in New York City, Gordon Jaquay, director, information technology at Hickory Farms, the specialty foods retailer, talks about how breaking down data silos is helping the organization become more efficient while also providing a better experience for its customers.

Saving a Soccer Dad: How to Deliver a Superior Customer Experience
November 10, 2016 at 8:00 am

In a recent attempt to get his daughter the correct gear before her soccer practices started, a friend of mine drove to the local sporting goods chain to pick up a pair of cleats and shin guards. The minute he stepped through the automatic doors, he regretted not thinking ahead to purchase these items online. Shoes…

IRCE 2016: A Technology Recap
June 15, 2016 at 12:38 pm

The crowded aisles and booths in Chicago last week were again a reminder of the longstanding industry presence of the Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition (IRCE) within the maturing digital marketplace. The list of exhibiting companies ran the gamut from niche startups to established platforms. The historically B-to-C-driven conference continues to broaden its appeal beyond…

Interconnected Digital Store Platforms: The Holy Grail of Customer Service
August 26, 2015 at 11:30 am

We’ve been hearing about the "Store of the Future" for some time now. Retail executives have spent the past 18 months experimenting with digital store technologies such as contextual digital displays, in-store sensors, beacons and analytics. These early pilot projects have yielded some successes, increasing customer convenience and unlocking new value as shoppers opt to…

5 Reasons to Marry Beacons With Wi-Fi
July 9, 2015 at 2:30 pm

This June, the headlines exploded with story after story about Facebook offering free beacons to retailers. Finally, the potential to bring e-commerce-level shopper engagement to brick-and-mortar stores through beacons became more plausible. Since Facebook has a massive, always-on user base, this opens doors for widespread beacon use, overcoming the major hurdle of beacons relying on…