| RPW 10-6-09 |
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Volume 3 - Issue 38
10/6/2009
The Once-and-Future POS: One Veteran’s Perspective
By Brian Kilcourse, Managing Partner
Back in May 2009, we reported on a panel discussion on the subject of “virtualization” that occurred at the IBM Store Systems User Group conference in Las Vegas. To recap the gist of the argument against virtualization of point-of-sale (POS) systems – and especially IBM 4690 POS – it’s simply this: “it ain’t broke, so don’t fix it.” At the Las Vegas session, Bill Noonan, who is responsible for IBM’s retail software and is a long-time IBM Store Systems veteran, explained that although VM for the 4690 is on IBM’s roadmap, a quantifiable ROI from virtualization of the platform (which at least from the “terminal” – or register, perspective, is already “virtual”) could be very hard to realize for existing customers.
The fact is that store POS platforms continue to... Read more
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Online Commerce in 2009: Is a Tech Boon Around the Corner?
By Steve Rowen, Managing Partner
Last week we released our newest piece of eCommerce research, Online Commerce in 2009: The Game Has Changed – Have Retailers? We found the business challenges shaping retailers' eCommerce businesses include: getting consumers to engage more, keeping up with shifting consumer behavior, and the pressure to maintain strong growth rates. By far, the top challenge in creating a differentiating online experience for consumers is in understanding how different consumer segments engage with retailers. However, the biggest overall challenge faced is bringing eCommerce functionality across channels; our survey respondents emphasize a future where cross-channel transparency is the most important strategy and more than 15% of all retail sales come from the online channel.
The report also digs deeply into areas where retailers... Read more
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What’s the Buzz On-line? Report from CCREF
By Paula Rosenblum, Managing Partner
Last week I attended RIS News Cross Channel Retail Executive Forum (CCREF) and had the privilege of moderating the closing panel which was, in fact, called “What’s the Buzz On-line?” Executives from American Apparel, 1-800-Flowers, and American Tire Distributors came to discuss their latest initiatives. As it turns out, much of the on-buzz line is about cross-channel opportunities and brand-building.
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