Posts by Richard Eyraud

Technology can do wonders for growing retail operation. The right combination of software and systems improve the customer experience, enhance employee productivity, and optimize the supply chain. Cutting-edge technology can also provide another key benefit: frictionless shopping. “Frictionless shopping” means eliminating unnecessary steps or obstacles between a consumer’s desire to buy and the completion of the transaction. There has always been “friction” in retail, ever since the first medieval merchants set up shop hundreds of…  MORE

Today’s retail consumers want more than the best product at the best price. According to the prevailing thinking, if they’re going to spend their hard-earned money, whatever they buy better be environmentally-friendly. Along with that mindset, shoppers also have access to information about a brand’s sustainability record. They can no longer be fooled by feel-good corporate slogans about their “commitment to protecting the planet”. So if retailers want to appeal to consumers who care about…  MORE

Physical security and cybersecurity measures have traditionally been viewed as separate efforts. But integrating the two provides a host of benefits: enhanced threat detection, improved response efforts, decreased costs, and ultimately a stronger security presence. Connecting both physical and cybersecurity is critical due to the ever-increasing interconnected world, both in business specifically and society in general. Consider the how The Internet of Things (IoT) is meshing more each day with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)…  MORE

If you lead an IT team — or manage someone who leads an IT team — their performance is always your top priority. Yet motivating employees to be more productive can easily cross the line into annoyance, resentment, and ultimately decreased morale. That’s not a good situation when your IT team is a crucial aspect of your competitive advantage. IT leaders must strike the right balance: Keep people excited to go farther while not stepping…  MORE

When retail leaders have trouble sleeping at night, it’s not necessarily because they’re worried about low sales of specific products. Rather, their lack of rest stems from more of a high-level concern: How can they provide faster delivery, keep costs low, improve efficiency and security, and better predict the forces that will affect the supply chain? And more than ever, major retailers are turning to GPS tracking technology as the answer to that multi-pronged question….  MORE

When we hear about the state of the economy, the stories generally focus on growth, employment numbers, and abstract terms like Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But behind the statistics are the real-world ramifications for employees that are difficult to measure but which affect the economy to a great degree. And near the top of that list is worker burnout. Despite popular perception, the technology sector is not immune to burnout – a condition that creates…  MORE

When leaders think of digital transformation, many often latch on to the “destination” aspect when it’s mostly comprised of a long journey. And in order to take the proper steps, digital transformation must be a core competency that’s shared among a select team of digital experts. Having the right people steering the ship is important, as digital transformation is about continual improvement. You must always adjust based on ever-changing customer expectations, marketing opportunities, employee skills,…  MORE

Not so long ago, retail consumers were introduced to the concept of self-checkout. Instead of a cashier scanning items and bagging them, you had the freedom to do it yourself. New checkout experiences will soon enhance self-checkout. These are “contactless” systems powered by the latest computer vision and AI technologies. Instacart, in collaboration with Amazon One, are implementing palm-recognition payment technology to over 500 Whole Foods locations across the country. Other retailers are experimenting with…  MORE