Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Retail in the 2020s: The death of consumerism?
Thanks to new technologies and rising customer expectations, retailers have become experience hubs for millions of shoppers around the world. It's no secret that retail has fully embraced digital transformation, leading many experts to speculate about where the industry is heading next and what to expect from retail experiences going forward.
In this article, you'll learn about the six main forces that will play key roles in determining this decade's retail technology.
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The challenges faced by today's retail stakeholders
As digital transformation touches every aspect of the retail industry, it's in retailers' best interest to embrace innovative applications that add customer value and improve operations. This is easier said than done, though, because the specific needs of individual retail stakeholders must be taken into consideration in planning and executing every digital initiative.
In this infographic, we'll take a look at the needs of the industry's main stakeholders and how customer-facing solutions can help them meet the main challenges of their various roles.
How to Create Content that Generates Exposure, Loyalty and Sales
Good content strengthens relationships with your customers. "If you hit the right emotional buttons, your content allows people to engage, to trust you and to want to talk with you," writes Cheryl Snapp Conner, CEO of SnappConner PR. Trust and engagement—isn't that what we desire from prospects and current customers?
Some people hesitate to create content because they don't understand the payoff for the investment. A great article will likely include research and several edits, but as Snapp Conner points out, "When it's complete, you can break the 1,000 words into a series of tweets. You can do a short video on the topic. Even better, embed the video into the article. Talk about the theme on a podcast." One piece of content can work hard for you, building trust and creating engagement in multiple arenas.
Read "How to Create Content that Generates Exposure, Loyalty and Sales" for more tips from Snapp Conner, as well as insights from Jeremy Knauff, CEO of Spartan Media. Together they offer fresh perspectives on why your business needs to provide content as part of its marketing campaign.
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Maximize threat detection during attack stages with Microsoft's comprehensive suite of security solutions. Unmatched volumes of data inform Microsoft security solutions. Learn how you can harness decades of security experience with Microsoft Advanced Threat Protection.
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Complement your in-store experiences with interactive customer applications. Get started with Microsoft Retail Solutions.
Not long ago, retailers feared online stores would render their businesses obsolete. Thankfully, the industry quickly adapted to living in an online, mobile world, and consumers have proven they can't get enough of the unique experiences provided by innovative retailers. That being said, the industry is moving at an unprecedented speed, and always-on digital solutions are no longer the exception, but the norm within the retail industry.
Subscribe now to learn how you can use digital transformation to increase sales, ensure returning customers, and secure your business with Microsoft Retail Solutions.
Why Your Elevator Pitch Isn't Working
The easy part is remembering what an elevator pitch is: a short, catchy way to describe your business when you don't have time to elaborate details (as in an elevator ride). The difficult part is knowing how to deliver one. This article highlights a few aspects that can go wrong with your elevator pitch, along with solutions to make sure that in your short window of time, you're communicating an intentional message.
For example, author Anna Johansson writes that too often the "bottom line" of a pitch isn't apparent, and though it will vary depending on your audience, it should also be clear what it is: "For investors, it's either profitability or longevity. For clients, it's often a proposed solution to a real problem." As Johansson states, you must know who you're talking with—and adjust your pitch accordingly. Easy to understand, harder to do. She provides good tips on how to create, polish, and tweak a distinctive elevator pitch
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Leveraging Your Microsoft Assets in this Remote Access World
More of the workforce is working remotely than ever before. Organizations are adapting and implementing new remote access solutions. Now is the time to evaluate the Microsoft tools you already have at your fingertips and leverage the built-in remote work security features and capabilities. Read more in this article from National Law Review.
Kroger: Next-gen mobile shopping
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Security Power
Securing your systems with a data driven, human guided security approach allows you to detect and respond to attacks more quickly and accurately. This infographic outlines how the global network of real time threat intelligence from Microsoft continues to evolve, anticipate, and stay ahead of risks.
6 retail tech trends to watch for that go beyond competing with Amazon
It's been made clear that focusing on their customers' experiences is every retailer's top priority. However, part of the reason why this challenge is so complex is due to the logistics of running a retail business. Backend logistics, manual tasks, paper-intensive procedures, and item return processes are just some of the factors that decision makers and employees must manage daily, which takes away time from strategy or innovation.
Thankfully, emerging technologies are enabling businesses to automate the least creative aspects of their daily operations. This, in turn, empowers their workforce to truly focus their attention on what really matters: their customers. In this article, you'll learn about the 6 most defining and value-adding tech trends available for retailers at the turn of this decade.
BP deploys Microsoft 365 to improve user experience and security
Every day, BP manages the difficult business of finding, producing, marketing, and moving energy around the globe. Core to success is the modernization and digitization of the business, while being able to defend a vast digital perimeter against cyberattacks. This video shows how BP is migrating its work environment to Microsoft 365 Enterprise E5 to take advantage of a platform approach.
The retail industry is evolving
It's no secret that the retail industry has evolved significantly since the turn of the century. Heavily influenced by the digital business revolution that took every industry by storm, retailers have seen perhaps one of the most drastic changes in their customer base than any other type of business. So, what are the defining factors that have driven change in the way the retail industry operates? Find out by reading this infographic.
The 'Superhero Fallacy' and Other Storytelling Mistakes Marketers Make
Humans love stories. More marketers are utilizing storytelling to connect with consumers, yet they're discovering it's not as easy as it sounds.
Businesses make mistakes with storytelling, and in this article Matthew Luhn, a story-branding consultant and writer of storytelling in the business world, shares his insight with author Kimberly A. Whitler. Luhn says one example of a common error is when companies make a statement rather than tell a story. They write, "We have a great story," but then fail to tell the story. "Having a story," says Luhn, "isn't the same as saying that you are telling a story."
Read The 'Superhero Fallacy' and Other Storytelling Mistakes Marketers Make" to learn about other common faux pas marketers make when using stories to connect with customers.
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Enable machine learning, video analytics, and the cloud to create alluring in-store experiences. Learn more about Microsoft Retail Solutions.
Insights are digital transformation's best friend. With accurate insights, you obtain a deep understanding of your environment as well as what your customers want and expect from your business. In other words, they're a key enabler for all your digital initiatives and are crucial in the development of new business opportunities.
Subscribe now to stay updated on how you can leverage data-rich sources, advanced analytics, and Microsoft to improve your retail environment and enhance your customers' experiences.
Go The Extra Mile - It's Never Crowded
The competition is bubbling with businesses trying to replicate successful products and services. What's not easy to copy is a unique, stand-for-something brand that customers associate with your company. This article shares three fundamental topics to help you navigate toward unique: Does your brand and core value permeate your staff, culture, and communication? Do you have an in-depth understanding of your target market? How is your brand differentiated from competition? Read Andrew MacKenzie's "Go the Extra Mile-It's Never Crowded" for insight on finding your clear differentiator—one that your customers will recognize and appreciate—and then be willing to go the extra mile for them.
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Kroger: Video analytics for action
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Kroger's smart shelves ditch the paper, drop the lights, and delight the shoppers
Successful digital transformation initiatives are all about efficiency, customization, and complementing human ingenuity. They also strive to create more sustainable businesses, and their impact usually has disruptive, long-lasting effects that cascade across multiple industries, especially those in which processes were hard to update because of technological limitations.
In the supermarket industry, for example, paper price tags, coupons, and pamphlets with weekly offers were the norm for decades. Because of this, the shopping experience was pretty much the same—until now.
In this article, you'll gain insights into Kroger's Enhanced Display for Grocery Environment (EDGE) and how it leverages Microsoft Azure and IoT sensors to create a unique, personalized shopping experience for consumers—all while saving more than 1.7 billion kilowatt hours since its implementation.
Construction giant gains competitive edge with zero-trust approach to security
When The Walsh Group—one of the largest construction contractors in the United States—moved to the cloud, it realized it needed better ways to manage who accesses its systems. The company set up identity as the control plane—with Microsoft Azure Active Directory at the center and a zero-trust security stance to better protect access to all its resources. Now, The Walsh Group CIO says the company leads the industry in securing access to its hybrid environment, giving it a competitive advantage. Read the article for more.
View: Construction giant gains competitive edge with zero-trust approach to security
Take advantage of three emerging technologies driving change in retail
Now, more than ever, consumers expect convenience when it comes to buying products and obtaining services. For retail businesses, this means accurately predicting what customers want before they even set foot in the store, and delivering it in a way that requires the least amount of effort on their part. Thankfully, digital has empowered retail stores with innovative tools that can deliver relevant offers while creating memorable experiences that generate great customer reviews.
In this infographic, you'll learn about three emerging technologies available within Microsoft Dynamics 365 that are driving the evolution of retail experiences.
View: Take advantage of three emerging technologies driving change in retail
Stop Marketing to Millennials or Gen-Z and Start Marketing to Tribes
This year, "Gen-Z are set to overtake Millennials as the biggest generation globally," writes Kian Bakhtiari of CMO network. He adds, however, that we shouldn't think of young people as a marketing segment, because they're not: "The digital age has enabled the creation of modern tribes, united by a shared mindset, rather than age or location."
Demographic information alone is no longer as important. Add in different behaviors, attitudes and needs of young people, along with the fact that they are often "invisible" and populate social media platforms—and you have a more complicated yet authentic way of understanding your customer base. The fact that Bakhtiari's byline in Forbes magazine states he writes about marketing through a "Millennial and Gen-Z lens" is proof of his message. Read his entire article, "Stop Marketing to Millennials or Gen-Z and Start Marketing to Tribes" to better understand this mindset shift.
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Wednesday, November 18, 2020
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Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Use digital transformation to deliver outstanding retail experiences. Learn more about Microsoft Strategic Retail Solutions.
It's no secret that modern consumers are unforgiving. But then again, never before have businesses been armed with so many options for creating exceptional experiences, and becoming more efficient organizations.
Digital transformation has become the great equalizer between large and small to medium-sized retailers, and thanks to tools like Microsoft Dynamics 365, turning revenue-increasing initiatives into reality is easier than ever.
Subscribe now to learn more about the digitalization of retail and how you can get started re-envisioning your business with Microsoft.
Five Tips to Enhance Your Company's Value Proposition by Defining Your Core Values
More than salary, benefits, and work schedule, your company's core value system is what sets it apart from others. How you define your core values so potential employees choose you—and stay with you - is crucial to your success. Employees want to know what their company stands for. Read Karen Rice's article "Five Tips to Enhance Your Company's Value Proposition by Defining Your Core Values" to help you clarify your company's value proposition, so you can make sure your prospective and current employees clearly understand the values that distinguish you from the rest.
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Kroger: Digital shelves entice customers
Company Culture and Core Values
Your company culture should be "saturated with the principles that matter most," according to Karen Rice's article in Forbes magazine titled, "Five Tips to Enhance Your Company's Value Proposition by Defining Your Core Values." Rice suggests that you talk about core values at team meetings and discussions about strategy and performance management. This helps your employees understand the company's core values; if they don't know them, it's likely your customers and prospects won't either.
Your core values will help guide your value proposition for all your sales and marketing materials, so it's worth the investment of time and energy now!
Monday, November 9, 2020
AI-Studio MLOps
Honeypotz Inc is developing a new AI-Studio platform for MLops that enables enterprise clients to train and deploy AI models at scale.
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