Early Pay Access for Workers

DailyPay has teamed up with WorkJam to deliver “financial wellness and flexibility” to employees. WorkJam said by embedding DailyPay’s EWA (earned wage access) solution into its platform, employers “will be able to leverage DailyPay’s award-winning platform to strengthen their relationships with employees, boosting satisfaction and reducing turnover.”

EWA is also known as early pay, on-demand pay and instant pay. It is a financial service that allows workers to access a part of their earned wages before their regular payday.

Stacy Greiner, chief executive officer of DailyPay, said the partnership with WorkJam “speaks to our commitment to empowering daily workers with the tools that enable them to be great at their jobs. Our employer-sponsored earned wage access solution is a win-win for both workers and employers, who are consistently challenged with retaining top talent.”

Greiner said research from the Hanover Group revealed that 95 percent of companies offering as EWA solution “believe it has a positive impact on employee retention.”

“Partnering with DailyPay is a natural extension of WorkJam’s mission to empower frontline workers with the tools and flexibility they need to succeed,” said Steve Kramer, CEO of WorkJam. “By integrating DailyPay’s earned wage access solution into our platform, we’re not only enhancing the employee experience but also enabling businesses to drive greater engagement and retention. This collaboration will help companies create a more connected, motivated workforce while simplifying how employees manage their earnings and time.”

Making Multi-channel Selling, Easier

ChannelEngine, the marketplace integration and operation software provider, said its platform is now available on the SAP Store, which is the online marketplace for SAP and partner solutions.

SAP said the new integration with its SAP Order Management Foundation (OMF) “not only enables efficient order and inventory management for marketplace selling but also leverages advanced AI capabilities to optimize multichannel operations.

Heather Hershey, research director of Worldwide Digital Commerce at IDC, said integrating order management systems with marketplace platforms “is critical to maintaining agility in an increasingly fragmented e-commerce environment. By aligning inventory management and marketplace connectivity, businesses can expand their global reach while streamlining operations, ultimately enhancing their ability to scale efficiently.”

SAP also said the integration also includes SAP OMS, which allows customers to synchronize inventory automatically, receive incoming orders, update shipments, and manage cancellations across 950 marketplaces, social commerce and other third-party sales channels. The integration makes it easier to manage multiple online sales channels. More integration is on the way.

“Looking ahead, ChannelEngine is set to enhance its integration further by supporting SAP Order Management Sourcing Availability (OMSA). SAP OMSA, also part of SAP OMS, will enable sellers to provide real-time stock visibility data, improving inventory accuracy and availability across marketplaces,” SAP said in a statement. “AI-Driven Business Optimization ChannelEngine’s AI-powered tools streamline the complex task of category and content mapping between the SAP Cloud Platform companies’ taxonomy and marketplace taxonomies.”

As a result, AI-enabled automation makes life easier because it removes much of the manual labor — which speeds up time-to-market. And this allows retailers and brands to focus on reaching new marketplaces and selling opportunities.

SAP also said ChannelEngine is also looking at the potential integration with SAP Omnichannel Pricing Promotion Service (OPPS). “This would allow sellers to seamlessly transfer and manage pricing and promotion data, keeping their offerings competitive across multiple channels, the company said.

“Our direct integration with SAP OMS enables users to activate new sales channels and reach global markets seamlessly,” said Jorrit Steinz, CEO of ChannelEngine. “By embedding AI-driven automation, we simplify global e-commerce, allowing merchants to capitalize on the built-in trust and reach of leading marketplaces while optimizing their operations at scale.”

Ritu Bhargava, president and chief product officer of SAP Industries & Customer Experience, said with the company’s SAP Order Management Services, integrated seamlessly with ChannelEngine, “customers can now sell everywhere, supercharging their unified commerce strategy. With this partnership, SAP is creating a seamless connection between any order channel and a customer’s supply chain and finance processes.”

Bhargava said SAP firmly believes that its unified commerce approach with ChannelEngine “will help customers optimize the end-to-end global complexity of commerce and unlock profitable growth with incredibly fast time to market with new channel expansions.”

Throughout the footwear design process, prototypes are a critical step in bringing shoes from concept to reality – but until now the step has been slow and costly. That’s where Mimaki comes in. Launched in 1975, the Japan-based digital printer manufacturer has become an innovator in helping leading footwear brands expedite their design process with full-color 3D printing.

The samples created by Mimaki are sturdy, purpose-built prototypes, featuring up to 10 million different colors and express a variety of textures from the Adobe Substance texture library. From shoelaces to the outer sole, the prototypes help brands get a hyper-realistic mock-up for their next big launch.

Importantly, the realism does not come at the cost of speed. The Mimaki 3DUJ-553 full-color 3D printer can print a full-sized footwear prototype in under one day, making it easy for brands to assess their prototype, make changes and create another 3D model, ultimately saving brands months during the often long design process.

Michael Sickels, 3D specialist of global marketing group at Mimaki Engineering, sat down with Fairchild Studios to explain the process behind printing 3D prototypes, how the company is expediting the typical timeline of designing, the impact of 3D printing beyond just the footwear industry and more.

Fairchild Studio: In your own words, how would you describe Mimaki?

Michael Sickels: The Mimaki Group is a development-driven group of companies that provide integrated services through the development, manufacturing, sales and maintenance of products such as industrial inkjet printers, cutting plotters and inks. Our development history began in 1987 with our first drafting plotter.

In 1996, we debuted our first inkjet printer and now have models applying ink down to 4 picoliters. To put that in perspective, there are 1 trillion picoliters in a liter — the human eye cannot see it.

In 2017, Mimaki took all those colorful years of high-performance inkjet development and brought it to 3D. The 3DUJ-553, an industrial full-color 3D inkjet printer, was born. Although this was our first 3D printer, we were able to leverage our extensive experience with ink jetting to bring unparalleled color and detail expression to 3D printing.

Fairchild Studio: In what ways is Mimaki’s full-color 3D printer an asset to footwear designers and students throughout the design process?

M.S.: Mimaki’s full-color 3D printers add value to the design process in the form of speed, creativity and ease of integration. Having the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 in the design room or design school removes the need to order early, nonfunctional prototypes to be made at a factory. That cuts months from the design process.

The 3DUJ-553 can print in 10 million colors and can print shapes and patterns that are difficult to conventionally produce. Lastly, the 3DUJ-553 can print 3D models made using industry-standard software whether it is Adobe Substance, Rhino, ZBrush, Modo or Autodesk.

No significant changes are required to your current workflow, you are gaining the ability to turn your wonderful, detailed designs into ones you can hold and feel in your hands.

Fairchild Studio: How does the ability to print highly realistic prototypes within a day impact the typical timeline of a footwear design project?

M.S.: Traditionally, footwear designers send tech packs to factories — usually in Asia — to have prototypes made. From order to prototype delivery, it can take easily over a month before a physical prototype is in the hands of a designer for expert appraisal. If there are any major changes, another prototype needs to be ordered, which will eat up more of that already scarce time in the product development cycle.

Imagine this: You install a full-color 3D printer in the design room and rapidly produce the prototypes in-house. The Mimaki 3DUJ-553 can print a visually realistic men’s size 9 shoe in under a day. Footwear designers can then appraise the print, make changes to the 3D model data and then print again. A process that normally takes months can be condensed into a few weeks, with all the magic happening in your own workplace.

Fairchild Studio: How does Mimaki’s integration with industry-standard software like Adobe Substance enhance the functionality and user experience?

M.S.: There are two areas where functionality and the user experience are enhanced. Firstly, full-color printing on the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 is compatible with all the major 3D data formats that include color — .obj, .ply, .wrl and .3mf. A designer can continue using their favorite 3D modeling software. Once the printer is installed and basic printer training is given, designers can begin full-color 3D printing of their designs quickly.

Secondly, the 3DUJ-553 can express your designs in a life-like quality. Not only can the printer express 10 million colors (including clear), but each layer of the model can be printed as thin as 20 micrometers. Imagine slicing your design into 20-micrometer layers from top to bottom, that is how fine the detail can get. Thanks to these features, the denim, mesh, leather or nylon you have on your shoe design will look like the real thing on your physical 3D print.

Adobe Substance, which is gaining wide adoption in the industry, is a great way to capitalize on this. Adobe Substance gives designers access to a library of thousands of realistic materials — even allowing you to scan your own — which can be dragged and dropped onto different parts of the footwear 3D model. The designer can then print the design and assess a visually realistic physical prototype. Imagination is the only limit.

Fairchild Studio: How do the features of the Mimaki 3D printer align with the specific needs of footwear designers looking to enhance creativity and innovation in their design process?

M.S.: Mimaki full-color 3D printing gives footwear designers access to quality rapid prototyping with confidence without the need for major changes to workflow. These benefits enhance creativity.

To illustrate this, imagine a designer thinking: “I haven’t tried this material/style/color before. It might not work but I’d like to see it. With a Mimaki 3DUJ-553, why not give it a try? You can have the life-like prototype in your hand in a day or two. In this way, the convenience and quality factor increase a designer’s creative freedom.

Fairchild Studio: Beyond footwear, how else is the company’s 3D printer able to create valuable prototypes in the merchandise and accessories market?

M.S.: The 3DUJ-553 works well with 3D CAD, CG and 3D scan software. Professionals in various industries have been able to apply our 3D technology to their specialized needs. For example, the color expression and precision of our 3D printers have found a home in the figurine and scale model industries.

Our printers are being used to prototype figure designs and even produce figures or models for sale to end customers. Our printers also work well with 3D scan data. A few companies have been using special 3D scanning equipment to scan people, pets and other memorabilia for full-color printing on the 3DUJ-553. Drones have even been used to scan buildings and towns to create 3D data to be later printed.

In the medical industry, we have some customers using the 3DUJ-553 to print highly detailed and accurate medical models. CT and MRI data can be used in this way. Architectural and construction firms have also shown interest in full-color 3D printing for analysis of designs as well as for use in presentations to customers and communities.

In these ways, a broad range of industries are finding value in our technology and I truly want our full-color 3D printing (and additive manufacturing as a whole) to become common knowledge. I want more people to know that these amazing things are possible today.

Fairchild Studio: How do you see the future of footwear design evolving through innovations and speed of 3D printing and prototyping?

M.S.: 3D modeling is going to increasingly become the way to design footwear. It offers designers so much more convenience and freedom in their creativity. Given that 3D printing goes hand in hand with 3D modeling and that 3D printers have achieved a high level of print quality, it is only natural that there will be increased adoption.

I have been told by several designers that nothing beats having a prototype that you can hold and feel in your hands. Physical prototypes are not going anywhere. 3D modeling and 3D printing will shorten the time from idea to design as well as give designers more flexibility. For these reasons, I believe that 3D is going to continue to revolutionize footwear design going forward.

Mimaki will have a booth at the Formnext convention in Frankfurt, Germany on November 19-22. Everyone is invited to stop by to check out the full-color footwear samples and ask any questions in-person!

For more about Mimaki’s 3D printing technologies, visit mimaki.com. If you have any questions or are interested in Mimaki’s 3D printers, please email inquiry_3d@mimaki.com.

Clarks Steps Into the Future with New Tech

Clarks footwear can be found in more than 100 markets via retail, wholesale, franchise and online too. The company also runs more than 500 full-price and outlet stores in Europe, the U.K. and across North America. But the heritage brand (it’s been making shoes for close to 200 years) realized its worn-out tech stack needed an upgrade.

“In 2022, the brand embarked on a company-wide digital transformation, anchored in MACH (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless) principles and a strategic shift from on-premises to cloud-based infrastructure,” NewStore said in a case study. “A key challenge during this transformation was the outdated point-of-sale (POS) systems, some of which were over 20 years old, severely limiting the brand’s ability to compete in the modern retail environment.”

After an evaluation, Clarks teamed up with NewStore.

In the case study, NewStore said its SaaS solution and microservices-driven architecture, “aligned perfectly with Clarks’ vision for a modernized, future-proof technology stack. Moreover, NewStore’s implementation timeline was specifically tailored to meet Clarks’ aggressive schedule, ensuring a seamless and timely rollout across all channels.” NewStore said it also delivered exceptional value “in terms of total cost of ownership, providing a comprehensive solution that met Clarks’ needs while staying within budget.”

As part of the upgrade, NewStore worked with systems integrator AbsoluteLabs. “With a proven track record of implementing retail technology solutions, AbsoluteLabs played a crucial role in seamlessly connecting the NewStore platform with Clarks’ existing systems,” the company said, noting that the tech provider had “deep expertise in the platform’s capabilities [that] enabled Clarks to establish NewStore as the central source of truth for its retail operations.”

The result now allows Clarks to fully take advantage of omnichannel capabilities, “including store fulfillment, mixed cart processing, endless aisle, buy online pickup in-store (BOPIS) and buy online return in-store (BORIS). This integration has empowered Clarks to offer a unified and efficient shopping experience across all channels, reinforcing its position as a leader in innovative retail,” NewStore said.

“NewStore has been a key partner in our digital transformation journey,” said Simon Clarke, chief information officer at the brand. “The flexibility and interoperability of the platform were major selling points for us because we needed a solution that could modernize our technology and seamlessly connect our systems across all channels. This upgrade has allowed us to provide a consistent and high-quality shopping experience at every touchpoint, and we’re already seeing the added value it brings to our operations.”

Leveraging User-Generated Content

JCPenney is now on Bazaarvoice’s Visual Syndication Network. “The retailer has partnered with Bazaarvoice to collect and distribute visual UGC [user-generated content], including customer photos and videos, on their website’s product display pages,” the tech company said in a statement. “JCPenney is already accepting visual content from 64 brands to drive higher conversions, more time on site, and larger basket sizes.”

Joining the network, extends the retailer’s reach to their target customer. “JCPenney is looking forward to reaching our customers through this extended partnership with the Bazaarvoice Visual Syndication Network. Partnerships like these allow us to reach our customers in more relevant ways and help us connect more authentically with America’s diverse working families,” said Ann Eisenberg, JCPenney’s vice president of e-commerce.

Bazaarvoice said the network allows brands and retailers to seamlessly find visual UGC of their products “on social media, tag products, and request rights to use the photos and videos on their site and at retailers where they sell their products.” The company said the network also allows end-to-end management “of every aspect of content acquisition at scale — , request rights, syndication, and reporting — all within the platform.” All of which results in eye-popping conversion rates.

Doug Straton, chief customer evangelist and retail growth officer at Bazaarvoice, said the platform sees conversion rates “increase by up to 150 percent when shoppers interact with product page images. Seeing how other people just like themselves are using or wearing products helps shoppers more easily visualize the product in their own lives.”

This week, e-commerce challenges are in the spotlight.

Returns Remain Painful for Retailers

Retailers’ efforts to strengthen their returns policy are harming consumer purchasing decisions, according to the latest retail returns survey from Blue Yonder. The supply chain management solutions provider found that of the 1,000-plus consumers polled who said they were aware of stricter return policies, “69 percent state that tighter return policies are deterring them from making purchases, which is up significantly from the 59 percent in 2023.”

By generational cohort, Gen Z and Millennials are likely to defer from purchases given return policies. And 91 percent of all respondents said “that a lenient return policy influences their decisioning habits when shopping at retailers.” The researchers also found that when  asked about the tighter returns policies, 51 percent of those polled “felt restrictions on returns are either inconvenient or unfair, with 37 percent saying they were fair and understandable.”

Given more stringent return policies, shoppers are also returning purchases less frequently. Fifty-six percent of respondents said they tend to make a product return once or twice each year (or even less), compared to 61 percent in the prior survey last year. “Comparatively, 34 percent of consumers polled said they are making “more frequent returns (every few months or more), which is the same as in 2023.”

Other key findings include that 55 percent of those polled said they “are very or somewhat concerned about the environmental impacts when returning items.” The researchers also learned that shoppers would take additional steps if they knew their return products were headed for a landfill. Of those polled, 36 percent said they would seek “an alternative, eco-friendly disposal method” while 35 percent said they’d attempt to resell the item. Just 27 percent said they would continue with the return process as planned.

Shopping Streaming Events

During the recent MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), Shopsense AI rolled out Shopsense AI Lens, which is “an embedded, cutting-edge product recognition technology.” The tech allowed VMA audiences across Paramount’s global network to shop products “at the moment of inspiration on streaming and broadcast content.” This is first time the VMA the entire VMA broadcast was shoppable, “from the red carpet to the stage, at shop.mtvVMAs.com,” the company said.

The new feature lets viewers shop for their favorite TV shows and live events — directly from their second screen. “It creates seamless shopping experiences curated specifically for individual shows for broadcasters across linear, streaming and their owned and operated content properties,” the company said, adding that Shopsense’s proprietary, newly launched AI-powered Lens “activates viewers to snap what their favorite artists are wearing and then shop the looks they love in an AI-curated digital store.”

John Halley, president of Paramount Advertising, said MTV “is home to some of the biggest moments in music and pop culture and has been at the forefront of innovation, pushing boundaries to connect in new and exciting ways. Shopsense is creating a truly immersive and interactive experience that seamlessly blends entertainment and commerce. We can’t wait to see how our fans embrace this new way to engage with the VMAs and look forward to extending the Shopsense AI Lens to additional Paramount content in the coming weeks and months.”

Glenn Fishback, co-founder and CEO of Shopsense AI, described the launch of Shopsesne AI as a cultural milestone. “Content creators want to get closer to the point of purchase, and Shopsense AI has quickly become the new commerce engine for broadcasters,” Fishback said. “I can’t think of a better cultural moment for us to launch the new Shopsense AI Lens than at the VMAs, a powerhouse phenomenon of music and fashion that perfectly aligns with our vision of transforming the way viewers interact with content.”

Retailers Not Making the Grade with Product Discovery

Similar to other consumer studies published recently, researchers at Constructor found a startling number of shoppers dissatisfied with their online experience. In their report, 42 percent of those polled “give product discovery experiences on retail websites a ‘C’ grade or below.”

The findings reveal if retailers “are making the grade” when it comes to online search and product discovery. The results show that retailers may need to stay late for extra help.

Some of the key findings include that 68 percent of those polled “think the search function on retail websites needs an upgrade,” the report’s authors said, adding that this was “felt more strongly in the U.S. (71 percent) than U.K. (61 percent). The search challenges included too much scrolling, needing to reformulate search queries, and a lack of irrelevant results.

Other struggles include not knowing who is shopping despite prior visits and engagement. The report found that 44 percent of respondents “say that when they shop with their favorite retailer online, the site treats them like a total stranger — with generic recommendations and a total lack of personalization across the buyer journey.” There’s also little joy in shopping, the report noted.

“Less than 1 in 3 shoppers (32 percent) say finding products online is ‘enjoyable’ — highlighting an opportunity for retailers to create experiences that drive deeper engagement,” the report’s authors said. And there are consequences for a poor shopping experience.

“Poor product discovery experiences often breed poor results,” the report’s authors said, noting that online shoppers say “when they can’t find what they want, they’re more likely to leave the retail site (52 percent) and take their wallets elsewhere — buying the item(s) from a different retailer (48 percent) such as Amazon (38 percent) or through Google (27 percent).” Ouch. But if they could have a good experience, those polled said they’d shop more at that retailer, choose that retailer first for their shopping needs and leave a positive review.

“Good product discovery experiences literally pay off,” said Nate Roy, strategic director of e-commerce innovation, Constructor. “The bar for a good digital experience continues to rise, and successful retailers work to meet and exceed shopper expectations. As technology and cost barriers drop, it’s even easier for retailers to make incremental changes that measurably improve both the shopper experience and business results.”

Antigua “Tees Up Innovation” with PTC’s FlexPLM Solution

Antigua Apparel has tapped PTC and its FlexPLM solution to manage its product development process for their golf and sports-licensed apparel business.

Antigua is a legacy men’s and women’s apparel golf brand. The brand was founded in 1979 and soon launched its sports licensing business featuring golf-inspired products decorated with professional sports team logos.  “Today, Antigua continues to be a top manufacturer in both golf and sports licensing, but with more comprehensive men’s and women’s collections,” the company said, adding that its apparel offerings are “trend-driven and crafted with superior fabrications  —allowing its consumers to look, feel and perform their best on and off the golf course.”

PTC said Antigua will harness the power of its FlexPLM “to equip its design, development, and quality teams with a user-friendly platform that centralizes data, streamlines product development, and enhances daily efficiency and collaboration.”

The company said FlexPLM will also play a key role in managing the development and collections for Antigua’s sports licensed division, which is vast and includes a diverse portfolio of licenses such as the “NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, NWSL, U.S. Soccer, top international soccer teams, MiLB, WNBA, NBA G-League, PBR Teams, NASCAR, and over 400 colleges and universities,” PTC said in a statement.

Teaming up with PTC will create improved efficiencies for Antigua — which is essential as the brand continues to grow.

Reid Harper, director of product development/design/tech design for Antigua, said as the business evolves and grows, “we’ve realized that our current processes are too manual, with data scattered across spreadsheets, emails, and multiple databases, leading to inefficiencies and duplication. That’s why we’re excited to partner with PTC to implement a best-in-class, end-to-end PLM solution. This will centralize our critical data, improve decision-making, and revolutionize our product development process.”

 Kyle Marden, vice president of the retail business unit at PTC, said the company looks forward to partnering with Antigua “to drive their next phase of growth, supporting both their golf product development and sports licensing initiatives. Our goal is to equip their teams with the most advanced tools to fuel innovation and success.”

In this week’s column, investments in AI and market expansion lead the way.

The State of Generative AI

Coresight Research’s latest market report, done in partnership with Digital Wave Technology, took a deep look in the use of generative AI and data by retailers. The firm examined how companies are using the technology and where investments are being made. What they found is a “fragmented landscape” of retail applications as well as investments that are pegged to soar over the next few years.

The firm said in the report, titled “AI and Unified Data: Empowering Next-Generation Product and Shopper Intelligence,” that the combined market for GenAI hardware and applications “totals $79.8 billion in 2024 — and it will grow quickly over the next few years, to $235.5 billion in 2028.”

Authors of the report also said the AI applications segment, including GenAI models, “is set to grow 4.5 times in that timeframe — outpacing hardware, with estimated compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) for 2024–2028 of 46.3 percent and 24.9 percent, respectively.”

Regarding the fragmented landscape of retail applications, the authors noted that date generated is frequently managed separately depending upon the function.

Demand forecasting, marketing, merchandising and pricing data are often in separate buckets, which “leads to the development of uncoordinated strategies and an overall disjointed and poor understanding of data and resulting decisions within an organization,” the report stated, adding that, for example, “marketing strategies and tactics may not be harmonized with pricing strategies, which could result in a failure to capture the target market.”

Improving Customer Service

When it comes to improving the shopping experience with personalization, retailers need to do more. According to the just-released 2024 Retail Customer Experience (CX) Index, which was done by Incisiv and in partnership with Talkdesk Inc., 34 percent of all retailers are “personalizing just one-third of their shopper journey,” the authors of the report said, adding that while retailers are trying to keep pace with technology trends, “gaps remain across capability adoption and customer expectations.”

But researchers did find some bright spots, “because as brands have prioritized customer experience strategies in recent years, maturity levels have trended upward.” The authors of the report also found that artificial intelligence (AI)-powered virtual assistant integration swelled from 38 percent in 2022 to 59 percent this year. And personalized recommendations by support agents jumped to 27 percent in 2022 to 49 percent in 2024.

Dave Weinand, chief customer officer at Incisiv, said the findings “reveal that while retailers have made significant strides in customer experience, there remains a critical gap between consumer expectations and what is currently being delivered. Retailers must accelerate their adoption of advanced technologies, particularly AI and automation, to deliver the hyper-personalized, efficient service today’s consumers demand.”

“This index is a crucial benchmark for retailers to understand where they stand and what steps they need to take to enhance their customer engagement strategies,” Weinand added.

The report also noted that apparel and footwear retailers, followed by luxury retailers, lead at adopting customer engagement strategies.

Apparel and footwear retailers “are at the forefront of customer interaction by effectively utilizing text messaging, voice communication, and an omnichannel live chat experience to enhance customer engagement significantly,” the report noted.

Ed Durbin, vice president and general manager of industry strategy for retail and consumer goods at Talkdesk, said the evolution of customer experience in retail “is nothing short of revolutionary. As consumers increasingly demand hyper-personalized, seamless interactions across multiple channels, retailers turn to AI-powered solutions to meet and exceed these expectations.”

Durbin said that at Talkdesk, “we are proud to support this transformation with AI-powered customer experience solutions that help retailers keep pace with changing consumer behaviors and set new customer engagement and loyalty standards.”

Room to Grow

Jumpmind Inc., a provider of retail technology arena, said it is expanding via the launch of Jumpmind U.K. and Jumpmind Ireland. These new operations aim to cater to the company’s expanding clientele across the U.K., Europe and the Middle East while meeting the needs of international retailers doing business in these markets.

Jumpmind offers omnichannel solutions for point of sale (POS), inventory management and unified promotions, which are all designed to enhance the shopping experience. The company leverages a modern, microservices-based platform that offers flexibility and promotes innovation. This platform can be deployed across numerous store locations and devices, often going live within months. In an effort to meet international demand, Jumpmind has evolved beyond its North American roots to offer localized and multilingual POS solutions that enable a consistent brand experience across global markets.

With this expansion, the company serves a robust retail market. Recent findings from Forrester estimated that retail sales in the Europe-5 economies (comprising France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K.), exceeded 2.3 trillion euros in 2023 and are pegged to rise to 2.7 trillion by 2028.

To lead Jumpmind’s strategic expansion into these territories, the company has named Shaun Britton as vice president for EMEA. Britton is an industry veteran with over twenty years of experience, predominantly in sales management. He most recently served as vice president of sales, EMEA, at Mercaux, following a tenure at Aptos.

In this week’s column, tech deals and investments are flowing…

WorkJam, the digital workforce solution provider, said it received a $20 million investment from Export Development Canada (EDC) to fuel its international expansion. The company plans to leverage the funding to bolster its market presence in Europe and Asia.

With a surge in global travel and increased demand for exceptional customer service, frontline workers across various industries are facing unprecedented challenges. WorkJam aims to address these issues by providing digital tools that empower employees, enhance productivity and boost job satisfaction.

“We are thrilled to partner with EDC as we embark on this exciting phase of growth,” said Steven Kramer, CEO of WorkJam. “This investment validates our mission to transform the frontline workforce and underscores the significant impact our platform has on businesses worldwide.”

WorkJam’s clients includes Fortune 500 companies operating in retail, hospitality, manufacturing, logistics and healthcare. The company’s platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools including scheduling, task management, communication and learning modules — designed to streamline operations and improve employee engagement.

“WorkJam is a shining example of Canadian tech innovation,” said Guillermo Freire, senior vice-president of EDC’s Mid-Market Group. “We are confident that this investment will propel WorkJam to new heights and solidify its position as a global leader in frontline workforce management.”

Blue Yonder Acquires One Network Enterprises

Looking to strengthen its position as a leader in digital supply chain innovations, Blue Yonder wrapped up its acquisition of One Network Enterprises. The deal was valued at approximately $839 million.

The acquisition comes at a time when retailers and brands face ongoing supply chain volatility and disruptions, which makes real-time operational visibility and agility crucial.

Duncan Angove, CEO of Blue Yonder, said the deal “is not just about expanding our technology but transforming how supply chains operate. Integrating One Network’s cutting-edge technology into the Blue Yonder platform supercharges our capabilities, giving our clients unparalleled visibility and control.”

Angove said with real-time insights, AI-driven analysis and improved collaboration across networks, “businesses can preempt disruptions and optimize performance across their supply chains.”

As a result of the acquisition, the Blue Yonder suite is now a multi-enterprise, multi-tier network ecosystem that enables customers to view inventory and capacities in real time, thereby ensuring better supply-demand matching and quicker disruption response.

AI-powered tools are used to aid in monitoring, analysis and problem resolution across the supply chain. Simplified processes for onboarding new trading partners enhance collaboration within a global network of over 150,000 partners, the company said, adding that One Network will continue to operate independently in providing bespoke technology solutions to its government clients.

“Today’s business environment demands that decisions be made swiftly and collaboratively across an increasingly complex network of partners,” Angove added. “The newly acquired capabilities from One Network are crucial for businesses looking to thrive amid the challenges of modern markets.”

Data Breach Costs Hit Record Highs

Businesses are facing a brutal reality: Data breaches are becoming increasingly disruptive and expensive, with the global average cost reaching a staggering $4.88 million in 2024, according to IBM’s annual Cost of a Data Breach Report. This marks a 10 percent increase from the prior year — and the largest yearly jump since the pandemic.

The report, conducted by Ponemon Institute and sponsored by IBM, analyzes real-world data breaches experienced by over 600 organizations globally. Some of the key findings:

Disruption Drives Up Costs: Lost business, customer support and third-party response costs are skyrocketing due to the significant disruption caused by breaches. Seventy percent of breached organizations reported experiencing major disruption, leading to higher overall costs.

Security Staffing Shortage Takes a Toll: Understaffed security teams are struggling to keep up with the evolving threat landscape. Organizations with severe staffing shortages saw breach costs climb to $5.74 million, significantly higher than those with adequate staffing.

AI Offers Hope, But Risks Remain: While organizations using security AI and automation saw lower breach costs and faster containment times, the rapid adoption of generative AI (gen AI) introduces new security vulnerabilities. Businesses need to invest in AI-driven defenses alongside addressing staffing shortages.

There were some positive developments, though.

The report found that AI is helping to speed up response time. IBM said security AI and automation are proving valuable tools, enabling organizations to detect and contain breaches 98 days faster on average. In addition, internal detection is making a difference. Researchers found that proactive internal detection by security teams led to shorter breach lifecycles and significant cost savings compared to breaches discovered by attackers. There’s also been an increased investment in security.

In this week’s edition of Tech Tuesdays, Radar takes the spotlight with some big news…

Radar has named Zach Little as the company’s chief technology officer, which became effective on July 22, 2024. Little, who has more than 20 years of experience, previously served as vice president of engineering at Luminar Technologies and also held various roles at Argo AI, Apple and Microsoft.

The company said Little will oversee all its product development initiatives and report directly to Spencer Hewett, the chief executive officer. Radar also said Morgan Levine, a former vice president of legal and compliance at Farfetch, will join as general counsel, reporting to Eric Mogil, chief growth officer.

Radar said in a statement that Paul Petrus, the former CTO will continue to serve as a senior advisor to the company and as one of Radar’s largest stakeholders. “[Petrus] has been an amazing CTO and partner and I can’t thank him enough for his leadership, dedication and guidance over the last four years, enabling us to launch Radar and deploy our technology in-store with some of the world’s top retailers,” Hewett said.

Radar is a technology platform that combines RFID and “computer vision technology” to track in-store inventory. The technology helps sales associates quickly locate product in stores, which improves the shopping experience for consumers.

The addition of Little and Levine comes when Radar is on a rapid growth trajectory.

Hewett described Little as “a respected leader who combines technology expertise and the ability to get large hardware and software engineering teams to move in unison to accomplish business goals with lightning speed. His unique skill set and strategic mindset make him an ideal fit for Radar. At the same time, we’re delighted to welcome Morgan Levine as general counsel as we accelerate our business momentum.”

Mogil said Levine’s “deep experience and expertise in both retail and technology organizations make her an excellent partner to our executive team and board as we continue to scale Radar into a global market leader in retail technology.”

Little said retailers and brands “are seeking every competitive edge today, and Radar offers a revolutionary solution that delivers the inventory accuracy needed to enhance efficiency and profitability.”

In this week’s tech news, mobile POS and AI take center stage

WSS Taps Aptos One for Mobile-Enabled Store Experience

Aptos said WSS will deploy its Aptos One POS platform across over 100 stores nationwide. Built on the Aptos One microservices-based platform, Aptos One POS is a mobile-first application designed to streamline and enhance in-store experiences for both WSS shoppers and store associates.

The move to Aptos One POS represents a strategic initiative for WSS, according to Sarah Derba, senior director of information technology at the retailer. The solution is designed to empower sales associates to move freely throughout the store, interacting with customers and providing exceptional service, the company said. With Aptos One POS on mobile devices, store associates will have access to real-time inventory data, customer purchase history and promotional offers – all at their fingertips.

Derba said Aptos One POS is extremely user-friendly, and “combines advanced functionality with a clean interface and simplified workflows, allowing for quick associate training. Customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction go hand in hand. Our investment in Aptos One is part of our commitment to providing the best possible experiences for both.”

Looking ahead, WSS said it is committed to remaining adaptable to new trends and market shifts. The Aptos One platform provides the retailer with the flexibility to differentiate its brand and pursue new opportunities. “Tech stack agility is very important to us,” Derba said. “We need to meet our customers’ needs today and react quickly as those needs evolve. The Aptos One platform gives us the ability to do just that.”

“With Aptos One, we’re helping retailers break down data silos, unify systems, and reinvent the shopping experience,” said Jeremy Grunzweig, Aptos general manager. “WSS is a remarkable retailer that makes a positive impact on the communities it serves. We’re honored by our long-standing partnership and excited for their next chapter in retail technology innovation with Aptos One.”

Nearly Half of U.S. Small Businesses Say They’re Ready to Embrace AI, But Need Guidance

Visa’s latest small business study reveals a surge in interest for artificial intelligence (AI) among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the U.S. and Canada. The report was conducted by Morning Consult and is based on a poll of 500 small business decision-makers.

The results revealed a significant gap between awareness and adoption. While nearly half (44 percent) of those polled said they are eager to leverage AI, they lack the know-how to get started.

The report, titled “The Rise of AI: Small Businesses Are Catching Up,” finds that even among those who have already adopted AI, a staggering 90 percent faced initial hurdles. Learning how to use these tools was their biggest challenge, cited by 47 percent of respondents. Other roadblocks included navigating the variety of AI options (36 percent), uncertainty about implementation (34 percent), compatibility concerns (31 percent) and worries about data privacy and security (26 percent).

The report also explored the recent surge in AI adoption. More than two-thirds (69 percent) of respondents said they have implemented AI and did so within the last year. Increased productivity is the top driver, with nearly 70 percent of AI adopters citing it as their primary reason for AI implementation.

Small businesses report experiencing significant benefits, including time savings (63 percent), productivity boosts (47 percent), improved customer experience (43 percent) and reduced errors (40 percent).

The report also highlighted the tech-forward mindset of Gen Z entrepreneurs. Two-thirds of Gen Z and Millennials polled said they use AI in both their business and personal lives. For them, AI isn’t just an option, but a necessity for staying competitive and innovative. This is particularly true for those in the creator economy, who leverage AI for content creation.

Social Commerce Integration

Captiv8 is growing its partnership with TikTok to include an integration with TikTok Shop. The expansion fosters improved collaboration and opens doors for more opportunities between content creators and brands, which means more money for brands as well as creators.
Captiv8 said in a statement that the integration of TikTok Shop into Captiv8’s Affiliate offering “will further enhance Captiv8’s robust social commerce solutions.”

The deal follows the launch of Captiv8’s “Branded Storefront” platform, which allows creators to operate a single storefront with all of their content instead of having multiple affiliate links across different platforms. With the TikTok Shop integration, the Branded Storefront platform takes social commerce to a new level, allowing for a larger marketing funnel — a win for brands and creators.

“As the cornerstone of TikTok Shop, creators and brands play a pivotal role in driving sales, and Captiv8 aims to offer capabilities to empower both groups,” the company said. “Captiv8’s integration with TikTok Shop leverages the influence of creators who are already engaging with specific brands and products, transforming discussions into commerce through shoppable content, affiliate partnerships, and seamless in-platform discovery and checkout — all in one click.”

Krishna Subramanian, chief executive officer and co-founder of Captiv8, said the company is committed to driving innovation in the creator economy. “Our enhanced partnership with TikTok Shop represents a significant step forward in our mission to empower brands and creators with unparalleled social commerce capabilities.”

“By integrating TikTok Shop into our Affiliate offering, we are enabling seamless, shoppable experiences that turn engagement into sales, and inspiration into action,” the CEO added. “This collaboration underscores our dedication to providing cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of the market and set a new standard for social commerce.”

Fintech Firm Klarna Reaches Key Milestone

Klarna achieved a key milestone with its newest offering, Klarna Plus, by gaining 100,000 subscribers in the U.S. since the platform’s launch earlier this year. Issued by WebBank, Klarna Plus is designed to enhance the shopping experience by providing subscribers with exclusive benefits that include waived service fees, rewards and access to special deals with popular brands.

Some of the top footwear brands on the Klarna marketplace platform include Nike, Adidas and New Balance, among many others as well as fashion brands such as Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen and Betsey Johnson, among many others.

Klarna Plus members enjoy significant savings with an average saved of $18 a month, the company said adding that it translates to an estimated total of $1.8 million saved for all members within the first month. Additionally, Klarna plus members have utilized more than 27,000 discount offers at various retail partners.

David Sandstrom, chief marketing officer at Klarna, said the positive reception of Klarna Plus in the U.S. “really shows the value of this product. Our commitment to offering valuable and exclusive benefits to our subscribers remains strong as we continuously look to enhance their shopping experience while expanding our services beyond buy now, pay later.”

Some of the key features of the Klarna Plus subscription include waived service fees where members can shop at any retailer or brand outside Klarna’s network and split payments into four interest-free installments using the Klarna One Time Card without any service fees, for a monthly fee of $7.99.

Going Deeper on Customer Insights

Vsblty Groupe Technologies Corp. and Multimedia Plus have teamed up to offer retailers an AI-powered platform to help merchants get a more detailed read on customers so they can better serve them.

The launch of the platform, called “Incite Vision,” combines features of Multimedia Plus’ Incite Kiosk (customer engagement hub, training, communications and task management capabilities) with Vsblty’s “state-of-the-art AI computer vision technology that measures and validates customer engagement and helps inform retail operations,” the companies said.

Terms of the partnership were not disclosed. The companies said Incite Vision “generates powerful AI-driven insights to determine customer demographics and engagement levels, enabling retailers to deliver highly personalized and effective customer experiences.” The firms also said the combined platform represents “a significant advancement in retail technology, merging comprehensive employee training and task management with sophisticated customer interaction analytics.”

Jay Hutton, chief executive officer of Vsblty, said the partnership with Multimedia Plus to create Incite Vision “represents a major leap forward in retail technology. By combining our computer vision technology with the comprehensive capabilities of the Incite platform, we are providing retailers with a powerful tool to enhance both customer and employee engagement.”

Hutton added that the integration “allows for more personalized customer experiences, data analytics and improved operational efficiency.”

The features of the platform include enhanced in-store interactions via interactive kiosks that offer product information and retail promotions at the point of purchase. It also includes a centralized shopper-facing hub that draws content from different channels “and provides tools to measure employee engagement with customers using curated content,” the companies said.

There are also tools for employee training, communication and task management “to ensure seamless store operations and exceptional service quality.”

Incite Vision features AI “to analyze customer demographics such as age and gender, as well as dwell time and time spent viewing specific content, which provides actionable insights to optimize in-store experiences and marketing strategies.”

“We are excited to collaborate with Vsblty to bring Incite Vision to life,” said David Harouche, chief executive officer of Multimedia Plus. “This innovative platform will empower our retail clients to better understand their customers and streamline their operations, ultimately leading to a more engaging and efficient retail experience.”

In this week’s technology news, retail is ahead of the curve with generative AI…

Retail Industry Surges Ahead in AI Deployment, Outperforming Other Sectors

While global investment in AI is seeing a downturn, the retail sector bucks the trend with robust adoption and significant financial gains, despite widespread challenges in successful AI implementation across industries, according to Lucidworks’ second annual Generative AI Global Benchmark Study.

The research is based on a survey of more than 2,500 business leaders across major industries. The aim of the study was to determine the progress companies are making in deploying generative AI. The results were a little disappointing.

“Despite the initial hype, slow deployment and low success rates are commonplace across most industries, with only 25 percent of planned projects fully implemented,” the report’s authors said. For retail, though, the industry leads others “in deployment in revenue and growth initiatives and is second in total AI deployments across all industries,” the report stated.

“Retailers are also seeing strong financial benefits from AI, with nearly half already reporting increased revenue and cost savings as a result of their initiatives,” Lucidworks said.

The results are surprising given that pre-pandemic, the retail industry tended to be behind other industries in investing in new technologies — such as predictive analytics and machine learning.

“In 2023, nearly 50 percent of retailers had a positive view of AI, one of the highest percentages across the industries surveyed. That initial wave of enthusiasm translated into one of the most successful deployment rates in 2024,” said Mike Sinoway, chief executive officer of Lucidworks.

Sinoway said retailers are “constantly under pressure to innovate and adopt new technologies to enhance customer experiences, often setting the pace for other industries. The key for retailers moving forward is to strike the right balance between reaping the rewards of AI, managing costs, and mitigating potential risks.”

Deployment of generative AI also comes with a unique set of concerns. The report found that concerns around AI “spiked across all industries in 2024, including three times as many security concerns, five times as many accuracy concerns, and four times as many transparency concerns.” The researchers found that the largest spike was around the cost of implementation — jumping from 3 percent in 2023 to 43 percent this year.

“Retailers are particularly concerned about costs (63 percent), but they are still rapidly adopting AI and experiencing fewer delays than other industries,” the report stated.

Other findings from the survey include a global investment slowdown. “Global AI spending plans are down sharply, with only 63 percent planning increases (versus 93 percent last year),” the report’s authors said adding that U.S.-based businesses “remain above average with 69 percent planning to increase AI spend.”

The investment slowdown is also coupled with delayed deployment and low success rates in this year’s report. Lucidworks found that 25 percent of planned projects are fully implemented. “This lag is stalling anticipated ROI, with 42 percent of companies yet to see significant benefits from generative AI initiatives,” the report said.

Improving Cross-border E-commerce Success

As consumers continue to shop at overseas online sites, loyalty and repurchase patterns have become key indicators for retailers and brands. To gain a deeper understanding of this and other cross-border e-commerce trends, DHgate Group has teamed up with the University of Hong Kong to release a white paper, titled “The Cross-border E-commerce Repurchase Revolution: Consumer Behavior Insights and Market Opportunities.”

The research aims to offer strategies that enhance shopper loyalty and repurchase rates, “guiding the sustainable development of the cross-border e-commerce industry,” the report’s authors said, adding that the data revealed several challenges to loyalty and repurchase behavior.

“These challenges include the diversification of user needs, the differentiation of shopping experiences and the cultivation of brand loyalty — all of which have become pressing issues for cross-border e-commerce platforms to address,” the report noted.

In response, the experts at DHgate Group, the online wholesale marketplace platform, and the university have come up with several strategies to bolster repurchase rates and customer loyalty. The first is to boost site traffic. “The short-term goal is to optimize traffic attraction and distribution mechanisms to support sellers’ branding efforts and multiplatform sales channels, thereby reducing operational risks,” the authors said adding that it is also important to provide sellers with traffic support “to address the conflict between product homogenization and buyers’ personalized demands.”

They also suggested localizing warehousing and logistics. “The long-term goal is to encourage sellers to integrate their industrial chains, establish overseas warehouses and develop their own logistics systems,” the report stated. “The overseas warehouse model can improve logistics contract fulfillment efficiency, reduce operating costs and enhance overall fulfillment performance.”

Revolutionizing Influencer Marketing

In a bold move to reshape the creator economy, Word on the Block steps up as a game changer for influencer marketing. Spearheaded by CEO Seth Girsky, this innovative platform is on a crusade to streamline how brands and content creators collaborate on campaigns.

Initially a traditional ad network in New York serving local businesses, the shift to remote work during the pandemic spurred Word on the Block to pivot towards serving the digital sphere.

Girsky, inspired by the inefficiencies he observed while surfing YouTube during lockdown, envisioned a more streamlined process to empower creators and brands alike. Word on the Block now serves as a nexus for connecting brands with the best creators without the hassle of manual searching, negotiating and campaign management.

The value proposition offers opportunities for creators, transparent pricing and quicker payouts — effectively turning passion projects into lucrative careers.

“Operating within the creator economy exposed two extremes: big creators are bombarded with ads, while smaller creators, often more authentic in engagement, are overlooked,” Girsky said. This realization led to the development of a platform catering to diverse creator sizes, optimizing their potential to earn significantly through partnerships with compatible brands.

For brands, the challenge of managing creator programs and negotiating fair pricing can be daunting. Word on the Block simplifies this with a free tool that previews pricing models, ensuring brands maximize their return on investment. “As we refine and introduce more tools, our vision is that both brands and creators not only earn more but also achieve greater success with more efficiency per dollar invested,” Girsky said.

Since its evolution, Word on the Block has facilitated hundreds of influencer campaigns for varied industries such as retail, health, wellness, and more, with clients such as Morgan & Morgan and BrandsMart reaping the benefits.

Highlighting the impact of influencer marketing, Girsky praised brands such as Manscaped and Liquid Death. “These brands might sell simple products, but their creative and emotive approach fits perfectly on social media,” he said. “Allowing creators to engage genuinely with their audience is when we see the magic of influencer marketing unfold.”

As Word on the Block continues to enrich and streamline the influencer campaign process, it stands as a force in the evolving landscape of digital marketing.

In this week’s tech news, StockX fights online crime while IBM says gen AI can be used in product development…

Stopping the Spread of Fake Sneakers

StockX, which describes itself as the “current culture marketplace,” issued a new report spotlighting the company’s latest verification metrics. This is the third annual report issued by the company, and is titled “Big Facts: The Verification Report 2024.”

StockX said the purpose of the report is to reveal the company’s proprietary review process, the most faked items by counterfeiters, and how it prevents substandard products from getting into the market. Scott Cutler, the chief executive officer of StockX, said not only is the company “persistently invested in fighting the proliferation of counterfeit products” but also among the only platforms in our space “that routinely provides this level of market data to our customers.”

“We know that trust is built on transparency and consistent experiences, and we’re passionate about delivering a best-in-class offering that empowers buyers and sellers to trade what they love,” Cutler added.

Regarding the top brands revealed as fakes, the StockX verification technology in the sneakers category, the number one product counterfeited was the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra, which was followed by the Adidas Campus 00s Core Black and the Jordan 4 Retro Black Cat (2020) in third. “Fear of God hoodies dominated the apparel category for the second year, with the Fear of God Essentials Hoodie Light Oatmeal taking the top spot,” authors of the report said. “Tried and true classics and popular staples topped the list for handbags, including black colorways of the Jacquemus Le Grand Bambino and Telfar Shopping Bag Medium as well as the Louis Vuitton Mini Bumbag Monogram.”

StockX said its verification process is core to the customer experience. “In the last year alone, StockX rejected over 400,000 products — collectively valued at nearly $85 million — because they did not meet the company’s verification standards,” the company said, adding that this represents an increase of around 100,000 products year over year.

“There are several reasons why products don’t make it through StockX’s verification process — those include things like sizing inconsistencies, missing accessories, box damage, signs of previous wear, or if the company suspects the item is fake,” the report noted.

New Applications for Gen AI

IBM’s Institute for Business Value just released a research paper on gen AI’s applications in new product development. Titled “Sharpening a Competitive Edge with Generative AI,” The report highlights gen AI’s “impact on improving go-to-market success rates, supply chain efficiency, and sustainable practices for consumer products companies,” the company said.

The institute found that 97 percent of companies polled use gen AI to augment knowledge search while 92 percent are using it to create analytical models. The survey also showed that 91 percent are using the technology to create custom product visualization and designs.

IBM found that gen AI can improve product development cycles by up to 30 percent. The report also found that 95 percent of consumer product companies are using gen AI to augment knowledge search internally and externally. And 89 percent are using the technology to generate demand forecasting from structured and unstructured data, and 81 percent are using it to summarize complex documents. The report also found that 48 percent of executives polled indicated said gen AI is expected to lower forecast error by 20 percent and reduce inventory carrying costs by 24 percent.

Bamboo Rose Upgrade

Bamboo Rose has enhanced its platform with the addition of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) capabilities, the company said adding that the integration “aims to improve the way retailers manage their suppliers by providing a more collaborative and streamlined workflow.”

The new integration comes as retailers and brands focus on improving workflow efficiencies across the value chain.

Previously, retailers and brands faced challenges with data transparency, communication inefficiencies, and difficulty keeping suppliers up-to-date. Bamboo Rose’s SRM features address these issues by offering real-time dashboards, improved communication tools and a knowledge base for suppliers and vendors.

The new SRM features also supports better compliance, brand strategy alignment and quicker response times to regulation and policy changes. This fosters a more connected and innovative relationship between retailers and suppliers, ultimately leading to better product quality and fulfillment.