Integrating Systems Is the #1 Technology Challenge in Omnichannel Retailing

Today’s IP news roundup highlights some of the latest headlines in omnichannel technology, network security and more:

• According to a new report from EKN Research, retailers “lack the technology integration and business processes that are needed for customer-centric, omnichannel retailing”. According to the State of the Industry Research Series: Omnichannel Merchandising report, “72% of respondents rate integration of systems across channels as their #1 technology challenge in omnichannel merchandising, and 1 in 3 retailers still use a home-grown system as their core merchandising platform.” The report also revealed that this lack of technology integration affects all areas of retailing – from promotions to forecasting to customer insights. For more information, click here to learn more about the State of the Industry Research Series: Omnichannel Merchandising report.
• Customers want a seamless omnichannel experience. With the holiday shopping season under way, more customers are demanding a seamless experience across all of a retailer’s channels. According to a Kronos Incorporated survey, shoppers are planning to use multiple channels to make purchasing decisions this holiday season. For example, many will order online and ship products to their home, office or nearest store.  Meanwhile, 68% of the respondents said “that a negative shopping experience within a single channel negatively impacts their perception across all shopping channels including physical stores, online, mobile, phone centers, and catalog.” It takes only 2.2 of these negative experiences for a customer to stop purchasing from a retail brand. This means that it’s more important than ever for retailers to deliver a seamless omnichannel experience. For more information, see the “Holiday 2013: Top Trends to Watch” survey press release.
• The SC Magazine threat of the month is an IE zero-day vulnerability. The vulnerability impacts IE versions 6-11 and allows attackers to “execute arbitrary code on a user’s system when viewing a specially crafted web page.” SC Magazine stated that Microsoft has released a temporary “fix it” solution for 32-bit versions. For more information on how to protect yourself from the IE zero-day vulnerability, see SC Magazine.
• And finally … you will soon be cleared to use your electronic devices on flights during takeoffs and landings. According to Computerworld, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “has lifted the ban on the use of personal electronics during the take-off and landing of airplanes, provided that the electronic devices are used in airplane mode.” This is in response to demand from passengers, along with an FAA report that stated that most commercial airplanes can handle the radio interference from personal electronics. With this decision in the U.S., perhaps Canadian airlines will follow suit. For more information on the change in airline personal electronics policies, see Computerworld.

What is your take on today’s news? Please share your opinions below.