From cloud computing to data analytics, emerging technologies are driving major changes in the retail industry.

1. Emerging technologies
changing the retail landscape
Anurag Rana, Seema Shah, Poonam Goyal
Bloomberg Intelligence Analysts

2. Robots, hackers, Amazon and the cloud are revolutionizing retail

3. From cloud computing to data analytics, emerging technologies
are driving major changes in the retail industry.
Same-day delivery by Amazon.com and its e-commerce peers
poses a huge challenge to the incumbents, and historically
brick-and-mortar retailers are aggressively adopting advanced
security measures, analytics, robotics, mobile solutions and
connected devices to bolster sales and supply chains to counter
the threat.
That’s driving growth for tech companies, particularly software
and IT services providers.

4. Retailers are embracing robots to speed fulfillment, boost sales

5. The declining cost of sensors and data storage, along with the
ubiquity of wireless networks, is speeding the proliferation of
connected devices among retailers.
This growth in the Internet of Things, coupled with advancements
in machine learning and artificial intelligence, is creating new uses
for robotics in the industry.
They’re being used to replenish inventory, both inside the store
and in the warehouse, and to improve the customer experience
inside the store, driving sales.

6. 70% of Apple, Amazon and Target customers shop
via mobile app

7. Retailers must continue to invest in mobile apps by improving the
shopping experience as consumers spend more time browsing on
the mobile device.
Amazon’s 175 million unique visitors, the most among e-commerce
sites, come via desktop, mobile or both, according to a March
ComScore survey.
For Apple, 99% of shoppers’ time is spent on mobile browsing.
Target is also making investments in mobile, offering Cartwheel,
a coupon app that helps shoppers save money.

8. Unique Visitors by Platform & Time Spent on App

9. Macy’s same-day shipping edge arises from early IT investment

10. Same-day delivery should help increase market share for retailers
that offer it. Macy’s has expanded its same day shipping offer to
17 U.S. markets, up from eight last year, to meet growing demand.
Same-day delivery is possible for Macy’s because of earlier
investments made to its inventory management systems,
which operate seamlessly between stores and online.
Rival retailers are still investing in their systems and offer the
ability to buy online and pick up in-store as an alternative to
same-day shipping.

11. Select comfort mattress sleep analytics build loyalty and sales

12. Select Comfort’s SleepIQ technology uses sensors within its
mattresses to track and analyze sleep habits, allowing users
to better understand how sleep is affecting other aspects of
their lives.
Growing consumer interest in health and quality sleep places
a premium on this type of personalization, endearing the brand
to users and building loyalty.
Repeat customers already account for 30% of Select Comfort’s
sales, which it hopes to expand through its new line of
children’s mattresses.

13. Apple, Intel’s data encryption helps retailers improve security

14. Increasingly frequent cyber-attacks are forcing retailers to adopt
emerging security technologies to protect their networks and
customer data.
They include tokenization, end-to-end encryption, virtual
security appliances and greater safeguards in the cloud and
for mobile devices.
Retailers are also increasing use of security-as-a-service to
monitor advanced threats that cannot be detected through
traditional firewall and signature-based techniques.

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