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In an effort to encourage appropriate and effective governance of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, promote consumer trust, and facilitate innovation and beneficial use of AI technologies, the National Retail Federation (NRF) has published a  series of guidelines called Principles for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Retail Sector. Developed through NRF's Center for Digital Risk &…

Gen Z and millennials are known disrupters — and the retail landscape is their latest target. Specifically, their payment choices signify a shifting consumer spending landscape this holiday season. While the economic projected outlook is tentatively positive — despite inflation stubbornly persisting and an increasingly volatile economic landscape — Adobe expects U.S. online holiday sales to hit…

In a media cycle full of daily shocks and surprises, there’s comfort in the mania of the holiday shopping season. Each year, we know a few things will happen — endless speculation on consumer spending habits, earlier-than-ever deals and sales, and a frenetic spin-cycle of shopping and returns that ultimately deposits us into the darkness…

In one of the most anticipated and least surprising moves in recent years, TikTok has officially rolled out its commerce offering, TikTok Shop, to the U.S. market. For brands looking to amplify their efforts in the upcoming holiday season, it’s the perfect opportunity to invest in TikTok, even if they’ve mostly stayed away until now.…

Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are making strides with online shopping as new features become available. For example, TikTok Shop provides consumers easy access to purchase products directly through the application. As we head into the holiday season, 48 percent of Gen Zers are already planning to use social channels for end-of-year shopping.…

As the excitement of Cyber Monday builds, are you properly leveraging data to maximize your online sales? According to Bain & Company, the forecast for U.S. retail sales is a modest growth of 3 percent — the slowest since 2018. However, there’s a silver lining: online spending is predicted to soar by a robust 5…

The benefits of artificial intelligence are only expected to grow over time, with generative AI adoption outpacing that of smartphone and tablets in the U.S. While AI has been a buzzword for years, only now are marketers grasping the reality of what it can offer. Alongside growing adoption, we've seen an influx of players across…

Amazon.com is partnering with the buy now, pay later (BNPL) service Affirm to offer small business owners an alternative checkout option, CNBC first reported Thursday. While Amazon already offers customers the option to pay with Affirm if they have at least $50 worth of eligible items in their shopping cart, this expanded relationship with the…

To understand the profound impact that generative artificial intelligence is having, and will continue to have, on online shopping, consider this simple question: When buying an article of clothing, which would you prefer — something off the rack or tailor-made? Undoubtedly, the latter option holds great appeal. This is where the exciting promise of generative AI…

Today, more and more chief marketing officers (CMOs) are trying to navigate the change in customer relationship ownership from being sales owned to marketing owned. To stay ahead of the curve, modern CMOs must fully embrace data integration and analytics to deliver personalized experiences, optimize campaigns for maximum impact, and drive business growth. Furthermore, CMOs…

Whether you call it Christmas, the holidays or simply time to re-watch "Home Alone," that time of the year is creeping up on us fast. ‘Tis (almost) the season for serious shopping — and retailers need to make sure their customers’ online experiences are merry and bright. However, as readers of this article well-know, the…

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), retail crime led to over $112 billion in losses in 2022, up from $93.9 billion in 2021. The NRF also reported that the average shrink rate for retailers increased from 1.4 percent to 1.6 percent over that span, with organized retail crime (ORC) cited as one of the…

As artificial intelligence tools go mainstream and companies look to harness their full potential, it’s logical for online retailers to integrate the technology into their selling strategies. E-commerce already offers key benefits around data collection, and AI’s capabilities promise to make vendors smarter and more agile in improving their approaches. However, that doesn’t mean that…

Many CFOs don't have a firm grasp on how to budget for technology costs in a rapidly advancing ecosystem since, traditionally, finance and technology have operated in silos. This has got to change if CFOs are going to be able to budget for the true costs of technology. To glean some insights on how this…

The artificial intelligence-enabled e-commerce solutions market size is projected to reach $16.8 billion by 2030, growing at a rate of 15.7 percent CAGR in the next eight years. AI is an asset to companies, providing relevant data and insights that can help retailers improve financial performance and customer satisfaction. However, it's crucial that companies couple…

Customer service has crossed a threshold thanks to the rapid ascent of generative artificial intelligence. Retailers can tap the powers of generative AI to automate internal and external customer service processes, improve and personalize experiences, and elevate problem-solving. However, integrating generative AI into customer service processes requires careful planning and implementation. Decision-makers must develop a…

Every retailer with a well-run transportation fleet regularly reviews its operational and systematic data to identify key trends and opportunities to improve its overall efficiencies and the bottom line. However, with so much change taking place within the transportation and equipment finance industries, how can retailers be sure they're evolving and adapting in the right…

As with any hypercompetitive field, e-commerce strategies are constantly evolving. Certain metrics such as bounce rate, time on page, and cart abandonment rate have been studied for a long time and, while still important to track, no longer grant the competitive edge they once did (when everyone is looking at the same data, they’re probably…

Digital fraud is at an all-time high, and in no other industry is the threat more pronounced than retail. In the first half of 2023, a TransUnion analysis found the rate of suspected digital fraud attempts in retail was 10.6 percent globally. That’s not only enough to lead all industries; it’s double the global average…

It’s time for retailers to rethink the adage, “the customer is always right.” This saying initially came from a desire to keep shoppers happy and ensure top-notch service. However, this practice leaves retailers vulnerable to unnecessary loss and fraud. On the contrary, overcompensating and creating restrictive policies to catch potential fraudulent returns can hurt loyal…