Technology

Saks Fifth Avenue is over halfway through a multiyear, multifront, multimillion dollar transformation into an omnichannel enterprise. The retailer has already deployed approximately 2,000 iPad tablets in its stores to facilitate associates’ communication and engagement with customers, and will be launching an e-commerce site for its OFF 5TH outlet banner this fall.

Shoppers at Rite Aid stores in New York and Los Angeles will get a dose of glasses-free, holographic 3-D videos and images, thanks to the pharmacy chain's multiyear agreement with Provision Interactive Technologies. Provision announced that 200 Rite Aid stores will deploy their proprietary 3-D Rewards Center kiosks. In addition to the 3-D holographic images that project in front of the screen, the kiosks feature 2-D interactive touchscreens that provide access to wellness information, Rite Aid promotions, rewards, coupons and product samples.

DSW continues to invest in IT, devoting 25 percent of its first quarter CapEx to enhancements in three areas, including supply chain, customer service and omnichannel. The retailer has also begun to reap the benefits of its size optimization system that was implemented in mid-2012, which will eventually allow it to be smarter in allocating sizes by store. Capital expenditures for the first quarter were relatively flat to last year at $19.8 million, of which $14 million was for opening and remodeling stores and the balance for IT projects.

Amazon.com is joining Google, Facebook and Twitter as companies that want to be your one true login. Amazon announced "Login with Amazon," a service that will allow consumers to sign into websites, apps and games with their Amazon credentials instead of having to remember a unique password. Login with Amazon will be based on the OAuth 2.0 authorization framework, similar to what other companies use for verification services.

Digital technology is forcing retailers to redefine how they market and sell to consumers. That means embracing digital channels like social media and mobile. We've heard the sob stories of retailers like Borders and Circuit City that inevitably failed because they didn't embrace digital fast enough. Digital is a must, both online and offline, and only some retailers are starting to get that. Here are some alarming facts about retail in digital

A store in Australia made headlines earlier this year for charging consumers $5 to just walk through the door. The decision was made following the growth of "showrooming," a familiar concept when a person heads into a physical store to check out merchandise before finding the same product at a cheaper price online. Thanks to free shipping and returns, as well as low or no taxes — hello, Amazon — it makes sense for consumers to do online price comparisons before making a purchase.

One of the more interesting developments to come out of the IBM Smarter Commerce Global Summit in Nashville this week, from which I've just returned, is the launch of IBM Watson Engagement Advisor. The "super computer," named after IBM founder Thomas J. Watson, was designed as a computing system that could rival the human brain's ability to respond to questions posed in natural language with speed, accuracy and confidence.

To manage SKU plans and forecasts across its brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce business, Pier 1 custom built a proprietary planning system tailored to the "unique complexities" of its business and flexible enough to accommodate future growth. When designing the new system, the retailer factored in its six DCs and the various transit times necessary to maintain optimal inventory levels at each, plus ocean transit and vendors' lead times, Michael Benkel, EVP of planning and allocation, said on a recent analyst call.

Some retailers aren't sold on the concept of digital channels being the primary driver of future growth at the expense of stores. But most do see the value of digital channels in driving traffic to stores, and they have some thoughts on which work best once the consumer is actually in the store. Results from RSR Research's "The Relevant Store in the Digital Age" reveals that nearly all retailers see their e-commerce sites as having a lot (58 percent) or some (38 percent) value in driving traffic to stores.

OfficeMax is investing in digital platforms to drive growth through multichannel and omnichannel offerings, company executives said in a recent call with analysts. In this year's first quarter, OfficeMax executed five upgrades on its e-commerce website that improved content and site navigation and streamlined the checkout process, which helped lead to double-digit sales growth, higher conversion rates and increased site traffic, said Ravichandra K. Saligram, OfficeMax's president and CEO, on the analyst call.