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Retail Industry First: Unified Commerce Benchmark in Australia Unveiled by Manhattan Associates, Google Cloud and Zebra

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SYDNEY, July 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Manhattan Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: MANH) today revealed insights from the industry’s first real-world analysis of unified commerce for specialty retail in Australia commissioned by Incisiv, and in partnership with Google Cloud and Zebra Technologies. The major research study highlights four brands as overall leaders in unified commerce in Australia: Bunnings, Cotton On, Harvey Norman, and JB Hi-Fi.

The study conducted by Incisiv evaluated 29 retailers across Australia over four specialty segments, exploring 290+ unique attributes of unified commerce. Findings are based on data from actual purchases, returns and customer journeys across digital and physical channels.

Amarjot Mokha, Chief Operating Officer at Incisiv commented, “In an evolving Australian retail market, retailers must continually innovate and adapt if they are to keep pace with shifting consumer trends. Success in Australian retail relies on understanding these differences and customising offerings, a cornerstone of effective Unified Commerce”.

Despite the need for retailers to provide a consistent and positive customer experience through the integration of their online and offline channels, unified commerce adoption remains low in Australia, with only 42% of local retailers taking this approach.

“It is surprising that the adoption of unified commerce remains so low in Australia, especially when it enables better inventory management, personalised marketing, and streamlining of operations and costs. The research shows that retailers who invest in becoming leaders in Unified Commerce have the potential to generate an additional $19m per billion in annual revenue,” said Raghav Sibal, Managing Director, Manhattan Associates Australia.

Research from the Unified Commerce Benchmark Report reveals that shoppers now expect near real-time updates at key points of purchase and returns process. Additionally, 85% of shoppers are likely to make repeat purchases from brands that provide a smooth and hassle-free returns experience. However, only a small number of retailers in Australia (27%) offer the ability to initiate and track returns online.

“Retailers that fail to meet customer communication expectations and have poor returns processes due to outdated reverse logistics systems are creating unnecessary business costs and risk losing repeat business and customer loyalty. Integrating returns management systems and ensuring seamless logistics and better shopper communication is imperative today,” added Sibal.

Nearly half of the consumers surveyed indicated that delivery and fulfilment are key factors in selecting where to purchase online. Despite this, the adoption of high-impact capabilities, such as expedited delivery options, split delivery, and the ability to modify or cancel orders post-confirmation, remains low amongst Australian retailers.

Only a quarter of leading retailers and just 4% of emerging retailers provided split delivery options (home delivery/in-store) for the same order in the same transaction allowing customers to pick up some of the items that are available in a store close to them and having the rest delivered to their homes at a later date.

“With low adoption of capabilities like expedited delivery, split delivery, and post-confirmation modifications, many Australian retailers may lose business, as consumers might choose retailers who offer more flexible and convenient options. Retailers that invest in enhancing these delivery capabilities can differentiate themselves and improve customer experience,” Sibal continued.

Sustainability is increasingly influencing shopper behaviour, with consumers willing to pay up to 30% more for products that are sustainable and ethically sourced. In fact, nearly 70% of consumers expect retailers to provide transparent information about their sustainable practices.

Despite this, Australian retailers are failing to keep up with consumer expectations, with only 25% of non-leading retailers publishing their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics, highlighting a significant gap in transparency desired by consumers.

“The 2024 Unified Commerce Benchmark highlights the necessity for retailers to improve their integration of digital and physical platforms to meet the increasing consumer expectations for a unified shopping experience. Those who master this integration will not only enhance customer satisfaction but will also see marked improvements in operational efficiency,” said Sibal.

“Retailers embracing a Unified Commerce approach can go beyond simply selling products, to a place where they can craft experiences that resonate with their customers. This type of customer connection drives strong business growth, up to 3X higher revenue opportunities and creates the type of brand connection and customer loyalty every retailer covets,” Mokha concluded.

For more information and to view the full 2024 Unified Commerce Benchmark for Specialty Retail in Australia, click HERE.

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About Manhattan Associates:

Manhattan Associates is a global technology leader in supply chain and omnichannel commerce. We unite information across the enterprise, converging front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution. Our software, platform technology and unmatched experience help drive both top-line growth and bottom-line profitability for our customers. Manhattan Associates designs, builds, and delivers leading edge cloud and on-premises solutions so that across the store, through your network or from your fulfilment centre, you are ready to reap the rewards of the omnichannel marketplace. For more information, please visit www.manh.com.au  

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SOURCE Manhattan Associates

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Wavelynx Expands into Middle East and North Africa with New Office in Dubai

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Leading U.S. access control company to provide modern access control solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of commercial organizations in the region

DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Wavelynx Technologies, a trailblazer in advanced, secure, and versatile reader and credential solutions, today announced the launch of its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) operations, appointing Vishal Khullar, Director of Business Development, as head of the region. Wavelynx’s secure and interoperable access control solutions enable businesses to modernize their authentication technology at a pace that suits their needs.

“At Wavelynx, we’re committed to providing our customers, including those in the MENA region, with tailored access control solutions,” said Rob Lydic, President of Wavelynx Technologies. “Our advanced technology helps businesses secure their facilities and embrace the opportunities of a digital future.”

The MENA region is experiencing a surge in demand for access control systems due to growing urbanization. As cities expand and security concerns rise, access control systems are becoming essential for managing access in commercial settings. These systems play a vital role in enhancing property security and preventing unauthorized access, making them a priority for companies seeking to protect employee safety, data, and assets.

Wavelynx is strategically positioned to deliver advanced access control solutions tailored to the diverse needs of the MENA region’s commercial real estate, hospitality, education, and healthcare sectors. The company’s innovative technologies are designed to enhance security measures, streamline operations, and create safer environments. These include their state of the art Ethos readers, Configure, and the Wavelynx Wallet Solution, which together offer streamlined security management, improved operational efficiency, and provide a modern approach to access control.

To deliver tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of the MENA region, Wavelynx is collaborating with leading partners, including ACRE, AMAG, Genetec, and Tyco/JCI. By leveraging their expertise and market knowledge, Wavelynx is helping clients seamlessly integrate existing systems into the company’s open and secure access control platform, enhancing user experience and reducing operational costs.

To learn more about Wavelynx or connect with our team directly, please visit wavelynx.com/contact.

About Wavelynx:
Wavelynx is a leading provider of secure access control solutions that enhance safety, elevate customer experience, and instill confidence.  Our cutting-edge platform offers access without limits through interoperable experiences for facilities prioritizing security, privacy, and convenience. With a commitment to driving the future of access control, Wavelynx empowers organizations to protect their assets and ensure compliance while enhancing user experiences through advanced wallet credential solutions, reader technology of the highest quality and security, and LEAF physical credentials. Trusted by financial institutions, small to large corporations, and universities worldwide, Wavelynx is at the forefront of the digital transformation in access control. Learn more at https://www.wavelynx.com/ 

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Global Businesses Grapple with Surging Complexity and Costs as Risk Landscape Intensifies

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BOSTON, Nov. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As companies around the world face unprecedented regulatory demands and a shifting risk landscape, balancing effective risk management with operational efficiency has become increasingly challenging. Pressures associated with the rise of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations, cybersecurity threats, and rapid advances in artificial intelligence are driving up costs and creating complex, fragmented processes that hinder true resilience and responsiveness.

These are some of the findings of Boston Consulting Group’s 2024 Global ESG, Compliance, and Risk Report, New Ways to Combat Rising Complexity and Costs. Drawing insights from a global survey of senior risk and compliance executives, the report highlights how businesses across industries are struggling to navigate escalating internal and external risk management requirements. The need to adapt to rapidly changing risks—including ESG concerns, geopolitical tensions, and evolving technologies like artificial intelligence (AI)—has led companies to adopt measures that have increased complexity and operational inefficiencies.

“Organizations are facing a rising tide of regulatory and risk-related challenges that are driving up operational costs. Our research indicates that many companies are addressing these challenges with piecemeal solutions rather than taking a holistic approach, which ultimately increases organizational complexity,” said Katharina Hefter, a managing director and partner at BCG and a co-author of the report. “To stay resilient, businesses need to simplify their processes and frameworks, leveraging new technologies such as generative AI while prioritizing the most critical risks.”

The report also reveals that many companies are underutilizing GenAI and other tools to reduce operational burdens, focusing instead on higher-level initiatives that fail to address the underlying complexity. According to BCG’s findings, organizations that adopt a more streamlined, efficient approach to risk management can significantly reduce the number of documents, processes, and resources that they have to dedicate to compliance, while improving their overall resilience.

Among the key findings of the report:

Quickly Changing Risk Priorities. Emissions reporting surged to the top of the risk priorities list in 2024, with new regulations such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive adding to compliance burdens.Rising Reputational Risk. Adverse media coverage, particularly driven by social media, now ranks second as a key risk, yet many companies lack frameworks for monitoring such coverage and reacting swiftly to it.Underutilization of GenAI. Although AI holds immense potential for risk mitigation, only 39% of companies use it to perform critical tasks, such as identifying compliance gaps or drafting policies.Geopolitical and Internal Audit Demands. Companies face an unsustainable increase in complexity, driven almost equally by external regulations and internal audits, with overlapping requirements and a lack of coordination leading to higher costs.

The report highlights steps that companies can take to reduce complexity and costs while positioning themselves for resilience. Key recommendations include redefining governance models, streamlining risk management processes, and investing in advanced analytics and AI to enable real-time risk monitoring and response.

“Businesses today must reimagine how they approach risk and compliance to remain competitive,” said Julia Gebhardt, a managing director and partner at BCG and a co-author of the report. “A holistic strategy that integrates new technologies and reduces redundancy will empower companies to navigate complex demands more effectively, driving both agility and resilience.”

Read the full report here:

https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/new-ways-combat-rising-complexity-costs

Media Contact:
Eric Gregoire
+1 617 850 3783
gregoire.eric@bcg.com

About Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

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SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

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Kyndryl and Microsoft Study: Only 21% of Organizations Globally Recognize Technology’s Role in Advancing Their Broader Sustainability Goals

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Data and AI are becoming powerful catalysts for driving action and predicting future risks

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Kyndryl (NYSE: KD), the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, released the second Global Sustainability Barometer study, commissioned by Microsoft. The study, conducted by Ecosystm, shows that while 84% of organizations place a high strategic importance on achieving sustainability goals, only 21% use technology to reduce their environmental footprint and shape their overall sustainability strategy.

Since last year, 38% of organizations have increased their sustainability goals and program execution – demonstrating progress as the world works toward a green future.

“As the world faces increasing climate-related challenges, businesses are under pressure to act decisively and place sustainability at the forefront – and this year’s Global Sustainability Barometer study highlights that organizations must move from intent to collective action to drive change,” said Faith Taylor, Chief Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability Officer at Kyndryl. “By integrating sustainability into a company’s business strategy, processes and systems, organizations can maximize the value of their people and technology to achieve internal goals and deliver positive impact.”

The study shows that leaders are increasingly recognizing the benefits of sustainability initiatives for their organizations, with specific areas where improvements can be made. By embedding technology into sustainability strategies, organizations can turn abstract goals into actionable, data-driven plans.

The study highlights the following areas of opportunity:

Only 21% of organizations globally recognize technology’s dual role in reducing their company’s carbon footprints and advancing broader sustainability goals.While 54% of businesses say sustainability goals and initiatives are incorporated into existing reporting processes, only 19% fully use data for strategic planning and decision-making.55% believe artificial intelligence (AI) will significantly impact their sustainability goals, but 62% of organizations limit initiatives to analyzing historical data for monitoring and reporting.

Matthew Sekol, a Sustainability Global Black Belt at Microsoft, added, “Companies can gain the insights needed to deliver on their commitments and drive resilience by integrating sustainability data with operational and financial data, and using traditional data analytics and robust AI tooling to reshape operational efficiencies and foster sustainable innovations.”

Taking action to advance sustainability strategies

The study’s detailed analysis and deep insights can enable organizations to enhance their sustainability efforts. To fully realize an organization’s potential, consider the following guiding principles:

Technology must be core to strategic planning. 38% leverage IT to reduce their own organization’s environmental impact while 17% say data and technology is helping achieve sustainability goals. In the next year, companies should consider integrating technology into sustainability strategies to turn abstract goals into actionable plans.Recast the role of AI. 62% of organizations use AI to monitor energy use and emissions, but only 37% use predictive AI to forecast energy needs based on current trends and patterns. Integrating AI-powered scenario planning and climate risk mitigation allows organizations to adopt a holistic approach to environmental responsibility, enhancing readiness for future challenges.Harness data for proactive business transformation. Disparate data across various enterprise planning systems is seen as a clear challenge as only 15% use data to guide their business’ transformation journeys. By effectively integrating the disparate data, organizations gain a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of their environmental impact, which leads to informed sustainability decisions.Foster a culture of collective responsibility. CEOs continue to shape sustainability goals and 49% of organizations consider Chief Sustainability Officers and sustainability teams key stakeholders (vs. 27% in 2023). The next step is for organizations to fully engage cross-functional teams, particularly finance and technology, to move sustainability into a core business priority and ensure implementation.

While the benefit of AI for sustainability is gaining traction, AI’s environmental impact is a growing concern. Only 35% of organizations are considering the energy implications of their AI solutions. Kyndryl and Microsoft provide actionable strategies for organizations to measure infrastructure baseline emissions and optimize AI architectures, including AI and machine learning models to minimize energy use and reduce waste. The two companies work closely with organizations to ensure that technological advancements contribute positively to sustainability goals without compromising innovation.

“As organizations increasingly recognize sustainability as a strategic imperative, we’re witnessing a surge of innovation and collaboration. AI is at the forefront of this movement, empowering businesses to optimize resource consumption, reduce waste and drive positive environmental impact,” said Ullrich Loeffler, CEO & Co-Founder of Ecosystm. “By uniting our efforts and leveraging technology, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for generations to come.”

About the Study
The second edition of the Global Sustainability Barometer study, conducted by Ecosystm and commissioned by Kyndryl and Microsoft, reflects the perspectives of 1,355 global sustainability leaders spanning 20 countries and 9 industry groups. Conducted between August and September 2024, this study aims to bridge the sustainability-technology divide by examining the roles of strategy, data and AI in achieving sustainability goals.

Learn more about the study, “From Insights to Action: The Technology Impact on Sustainability.”

About Kyndryl
Kyndryl (NYSE: KD) is the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, serving thousands of enterprise customers in more than 60 countries. The company designs, builds, manages, and modernizes the complex, mission-critical information systems that the world depends on every day. For more information, please visit www.kyndryl.com.

Kyndryl Press Contact
press@kyndryl.com

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SOURCE Kyndryl

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