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Rising Cost-of-Living Pressures Make Return Policies Crucial for Retail Success, Reveals Manhattan Associates Study

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SYDNEY, Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As cost-of-living pressures mount and the post-End of Financial Year (EOFY) period settles in, the Australian retail landscape is being reshaped by a critical factor: return policies. New research from Manhattan Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: MANH) reveals that Australian consumers are increasingly cautious with their purchases and more likely to return items, making flexible and customer-friendly return options essential. The study showed that 72% of respondents are now more inclined to return products due to financial pressures, underscoring a shift towards more discerning purchasing behaviour.

“Australian consumers are more selective than ever,” said Raghav Sibal, Managing Director, Australia & New Zealand for Manhattan Associates. “With tighter budgets and the financial reassessment following the EOFY, they are less inclined to keep items that do not meet their expectations, making a retailer’s return policy a critical factor in their purchasing decisions.”

Consumers Consider Return Policies When Purchasing

The research found that a store’s return policy significantly influences consumer purchasing decisions. Over 69% of respondents indicated that a store’s return policy influences their decision to purchase.

Additionally, 40% of respondents will actively research a store’s return policy before making a purchase. While many consumers have become conditioned to expect free returns, there has been a notable shift in how they view and interact with return policies, reflecting an unspoken awareness and acceptance of changing policies.

In-Person Returns Brings New Opportunities

With physical store foot traffic impacted by cost-of-living increases, rethinking return policies presents new opportunities for brick-and-mortar stores. A notable 65% of consumers report higher satisfaction with in-store returns, suggesting that encouraging in-person returns can boost customer satisfaction and drive additional sales.

Charging for online returns could incentivise customers to visit physical stores, potentially increasing in-store sales. Furthermore, the rise of ‘click and collect’ services, preferred by 36% of consumers, enhances the shopping experience by merging online convenience with in-store interactions and sales opportunities.

“The surge in retail returns offers businesses a unique opportunity to differentiate themselves by optimising their returns management processes,” explained Sibal. “With the right technology, businesses can drive shoppers back to the store, deliver impactful customer experiences, and offer enhanced transparency throughout the entire returns process. Taking advantage of this opportunity, by offering seamless experiences across channels, enables brands to set themselves apart from competitors and build a competitive edge.”

Building Customer Loyalty Through Positive Return Experiences

A positive return experience is pivotal for customer loyalty, with 91% of respondents indicating it makes them more likely to become long-term customers.

“Returns are becoming increasingly frequent in today’s omnichannel retail landscape. Customers are leveraging the convenience of purchasing from anywhere at any time, which leaves many retailers facing the challenges of managing returns effectively. Implementing robust returns management technology is crucial for two key reasons: returns can significantly impact retail operations’ costs, but these costs can be mitigated by encouraging in-store returns, where there’s a chance to salvage some portion of the sale. The returns process itself can be a decisive factor in retaining customers and fostering long-term loyalty,” Sibal concluded.

For more information about Manhattan Associates, visit https://www.manh.com/en-au. Receive up-to-date product, customer and partner news directly from Manhattan Associates on X, LinkedIn and Facebook.

-ends-

Methodology:

Manhattan Associates surveyed 500 Australian consumers in Q2 2024.

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

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/rising-cost-of-living-pressures-make-return-policies-crucial-for-retail-success-reveals-manhattan-associates-study-302249819.html

SOURCE Manhattan Associates

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Global Ultrasound Institute Launches GUSI Fellowships Platform: Elevating Point-of-Care Ultrasound Education

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September 21, 2024

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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Global Ultrasound Institute (GUSI) is proud to announce the launch of the GUSI Fellowships Platform, an innovative online platform designed to empower learners around the world to achieve confidence and competency in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). With a holistic, device-independent approach that includes comprehensive evidence-based education, personalized mentorship from world-class POCUS educators, detailed scan review feedback, quantitative assessments, and CME certification, GUSI is setting a new standard in POCUS education.

“GUSI’s online didactics are the best that I have seen. And what I like most about the fellowship were the 1:1 sessions and being able to interact with GUSI expert faculty who have many years of experience in POCUS. And you get to pick their brains and they get to instruct you 1:1. I have used the training I received from GUSI to do much more POCUS clinically and further impact my patients lives.”

Dr. James Wilcox,
Assistant POCUS Director, Indiana University School of Medicine
Adjunct Professor and Assistant Professor of Medicine

“Our mission at GUSI is to democratize access to high-quality ultrasound training,” said Dr. Kevin Bergman and Dr. Mena Ramos, Co-CEOs of Global Ultrasound Institute. “The GUSI Fellowships Platform enables learners from diverse backgrounds to enhance their skills in a supportive, flexible environment, making it easier than ever to reach their POCUS goals.”

With training options covering 38 different scan types, learners can expect personalized 1:1 mentorship with expert POCUS educators who provide timely feedback on practice scans.

“The GUSI fellowship mentors are the best: patient, kind, knowledgeable, experienced, and supportive. GUSI provided education in the areas I wanted and needed to obtain and in my home/office environment not requiring multiple trips around the country. It is not just the way course work is presented – learning is made easier by the support provided to each student.”

Dr. Glenda Patterson
Core Faculty, University of Arkansas Northwest Internal Medicine Residency
Physician, Veterans Health Care of the Ozarks
Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine

The GUSI Fellowships Platform features a scalable software system designed to monitor and track performance, ensuring learners can effectively measure their progress.

GUSI understands the challenges faced by healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their ultrasound skills amid demanding schedules. GUSI addresses these concerns with flexible scheduling options, allowing learners to progress at their own pace while balancing their professional and personal commitments. This adaptability and virtual experience is crucial for fostering a culture of continuous learning and skill development.

“I went from not being able to hold the probe to someone who can scan and diagnosing and finding pathologies. I worked with Dr. Milne-Price and she was amazing! She sharpened my skills and we did sessions of live scanning over Zoom. I feel confident in my skills now to scan on my own.”

Dr. Dalea Al-Hawarri
Faculty, Bryn Mawr Family Medicine Residency

As healthcare continues to evolve, the demand for proficient ultrasound practitioners has never been greater. GUSI is not only committed to providing exceptional education but also aims to inspire a new generation of healthcare professionals who can leverage POCUS to improve patient outcomes globally. Join us in this exciting journey towards excellence in ultrasound practice.

For more information on GUSI Fellowships and to start your journey toward ultrasound proficiency, visit https://globalultrasoundinstitute.com/.

About Global Ultrasound Institute:

Global Ultrasound Institute stands at the forefront of point-of-care ultrasound, providing wraparound education, training, AI, and administrative software tools to healthcare providers and health systems globally to lower barriers to POCUS adoption and implementation. GUSI has trained over 14,000 healthcare practitioners in over 60 countries. GUSI is working to create a better world in which every healthcare practitioner is empowered to offer a rapid, reliable, accurate ultrasound-enabled diagnosis directly at the point-of-care, for any patient, anywhere.

For more information about GUSI Fellowships or any of GUSI services, please visit https://globalultrasoundinstitute.com/

Contact:

Dr. Kevin Bergman, Co-Founder, co-CEO, Global Ultrasound Institute
Dr. Mena Ramos, Co-Founder, co-CEO, Global Ultrasound Institute

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-ultrasound-institute-launches-gusi-fellowships-platform-elevating-point-of-care-ultrasound-education-302254656.html

SOURCE GLOBAL ULTRASOUND INSTITUTE

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Keuka College Notifies Individuals of Data Security Incident

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September 20, 2024

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KEUKA PARK, N.Y., Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Keuka College has learned of a data security incident that may have involved personal information.

On April 25, 2024, the College identified suspicious activity within its network environment and immediately took steps to secure the environment, restore its systems, and began an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the issue. Keuka College also engaged independent cybersecurity specialists to assist with the process. The comprehensive investigation, which concluded on August 21, 2024, could not determine definitively whether personal information related to current and former students and employees was affected.

Keuka College maintains a variety of records which can include: name, Social Security number, Driver’s license number, student id number, financial account information, and date of birth. Current students and employees were contacted by the College in May and provided with one year of free credit and identity monitoring services.

Keuka College has established a toll-free call center to answer questions about the incident and address related concerns. Call center representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Eastern Time and can be reached at 1-833-913-7557. Please be prepared to provide the engagement number, B131983, for reference.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/keuka-college-notifies-individuals-of-data-security-incident-302254623.html

SOURCE Keuka College

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TeraBox Celebrates 2nd Anniversary of Its Massively Popular Referral Program

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September 20, 2024

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Continuously expanding webmaster signups, especially in multiple regions, along with new highs in webmaster payouts, has ensured the smooth operation and continuous development of the project.

TOKYO, Sept. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — TeraBox (“TeraBox” or “the Company”), a globally trusted cloud storage service headquartered in Tokyo, recently celebrated the second anniversary of its hugely popular Referral Program, a testament to the smooth operation and continuous development of the project. The number of webmaster signups, including in multiple new regions, continued to increase steadily with webmaster payouts reaching new highs.

TeraBox reveals some of its impressive Referral Program data.

TeraBox’s total number of webmasters worldwide reached over one million.The highest daily income of webmasters reached over $10,000, with the top earner making nearly $180,000.The total number of shares by all webmasters exceeds 500 million.

The network of webmasters spans across the globe, including countries such as India, Indonesia, the United States, Latin America, Middle East, and South Korea. Moreover, as TeraBox’s influence continues to grow, the platform is excited to welcome many new webmasters from an expanding range of countries and regions.

TeraBox has achieved significant milestones, demonstrating its sustainable growth and increasing user impact. The journey started with the Webmaster Center launch in August 2022. Following this, several optimizations were implemented, including a self-withdrawal feature that simplified earnings management for webmasters and increased their engagement. Additionally, the Growth Analysis tool provided webmasters with valuable insights into their operational performance, enabling more effective decision-making.

As a result of these enhancements, both the number of participating webmasters and their earnings have seen remarkable increases. Looking ahead, the upcoming launch of the Webmaster App in September 2024 is set to further elevate user engagement and convenience, solidifying TeraBox’s position as an industry leader.

About TeraBox

TeraBox, developed by Flextech Inc. in Japan, is a leading global cloud storage solution. Headquartered in Tokyo, TeraBox proudly serves over 320 million users globally, providing an easy yet powerful way to store and manage data. With its generous 1TB of free storage, TeraBox ensures that your files are safe, secure, and accessible from anywhere. As a secure, reliable, and convenient service, TeraBox is certified with ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and ISO 27018, offering individual users around the world the opportunity to register for 1TB (1024GB) of free storage.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2510913/image_5016964_39376930.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/terabox-celebrates-2nd-anniversary-of-its-massively-popular-referral-program-302254411.html

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