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The closure of bars and restaurants at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic meant demand at alcoholic beverage merchants, which were designated as essential retailers, spiked just as hard as it did for grocery retailers. These retailers also had to contend with a similarly sudden shift toward ecommerce — which in the case of ABC Fine Wine & Spirits meant a 2,000% YoY increase between early spring and mid-summer. To manage the rapid jump in demand, the retailer created a new position and leaned into its partnership with Oracle to bring BOPIS, delivery and retail omnichannel capabilities up to speed in a hurry. The effort paid off, and ABC is continuing to refine its efforts amid positive customer response to its initial ecommerce pivot. Sean Kelly, VP and Chief Marketing Officer at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, shares the steps the retailer took to quickly adapt its operations in this interview. Retail TouchPoints (RTP): The retail industry has seen much disruption in the last s...

South African Retailer remodels its inventory planning processes with Oracle Retail Cloud to drive efficiency and sales improvements HomeChoice Holdings Limited, one of South Africa’s largest home shopping retailers and financing providers, has deployed Oracle Retail planning and optimization solutions to drive more sales and enhance the customer experience. With integrated data science , retail solutions give HomeChoice a more holistic understanding of how shoppers interact with the brand to make better buying decisions and deliver more relevant customer offers.  “We adopted a top-down approach and gained insight and speed at all levels of the plan with Oracle Retail. Our speed to market-our response time is so much faster now due to transparent, accurate data,” said Samantha Jefferies, head of planning, HomeChoice Holdings Limited. “The implementation fundamentally changed the ownership of th e plan for our teams. Planners are now accountable from the cost through the sale of ...

In case you missed my recent article with Retail Leader , you can read it here. The current health crisis has upended 2020 and brought challenges that many could not have even dreamed about earlier this year. For grocery retail, the challenges have been especially taxing as consumers have changed their normal, weekly shopping patterns in favor of stockpiling certain items or utilizing grocery delivery and buy online, pickup in-store (BOPIS) options. With shoppers embracing new avenues, retailers have had to shift their technology and practices to keep up with the unprecedented change in behavior. From new operating procedures across all facets including labor, buying, forecasting and merchandising to the impact felt at the bottom line, retail margins have sent shockwaves through the industry and erased the best practices that have been built over the years. For retail CFOs, reflecting on the past six months has likely led to the realization that strategic adaptions must be made to r...

The recent crisis has unraveled business processes and societal norms alike, leaving retail in a state of uncertainty. We refer to the near future as the New Next, because there is nothing normal about it. There is no clear roadmap for what lies ahead, but technology makes it possible for retailers to operate with business agility and extend resources to introduce new customer journeys as shopping continues to evolve.  Emerging from COVID-19, one thing is obvious; retail struggles to survive without the power of the physical store behind the digital experience. Consumer shopping habits changed, but no one yet knows if those changes are temporary or forever. With the reopening, the role of the store and the associates need to morph to serve a new shopping experience. As the new customer journeys and shopping experiences emerge, execution is everything.  New Journeys Emerge  McKinsey research recently determined that brands who can improve the customer journey may see r...

The current health situation has unraveled business processes and societal norms alike, leaving retail—an inherently social industry built on the exchange of physical goods—in a state of flux. We are calling it the "New Next" because let's be honest; there is nothing normal about this unfathomed event and no clear roadmap for what lies ahead. Customers are perpetually changing the way they shop, challenging retailers to create a whole new set of KPIs that need to be monitored and a new set of business practices that have yet to be defined. As retailers work through new scenarios, they must move quickly to take advantage of opportunities as they appear. Regardless of revenue size or segment, the core business model has shifted and speed is a board-level conversation. While the path ahead is unknown, it is the continuous reinvention of the landscape and the commitment of brands to adapt and evolve that will define the next era of retail. These strategies can help retailer...

As first seen on Marketing.Toolbox.com, Oracle Retail Vice President, Jeff Warren, explores how marketers can leverage retail data analytics to build contextual intelligence about customers, improve customer loyalty, and identify new retail insights. It is no longer relevant to say that good data transforms business. Across industries, data insight now informs decision-making by default in leading businesses, perhaps nowhere more so than in retail. As the current situation has caused even more retail activity to move online, consumers are creating more data points with every click, and wise retailers are taking notice. In the near term, we can expect these insights to be supercharged, with companies drawing on a kaleidoscope of new data that will ultimately hone accuracy and facilitate better actions. By building out owned data with anonymized, diverse third-party information, brands will soon gain new context and a deeper understanding of both existing and potential audiences – whe...

As first seen on Marketing.Toolbox.com, Oracle Retail Vice President, Jeff Warren, explores how marketers can leverage retail data analytics to build contextual intelligence about customers, improve customer loyalty, and identify new retail insights. It is no longer relevant to say that good data transforms business. Across industries, data insight now informs decision-making by default in leading businesses, perhaps nowhere more so than in retail. As the current situation has caused even more retail activity to move online, consumers are creating more data points with every click, and wise retailers are taking notice. In the near term, we can expect these insights to be supercharged, with companies drawing on a kaleidoscope of new data that will ultimately hone accuracy and facilitate better actions. By building out owned data with anonymized, diverse third-party information, brands will soon gain new context and a deeper understanding of both existing and potential audiences – whe...

Amid the shutdowns and stay-at-home orders, our food supply chain and grocery retailers have risen to the challenge. While demand across the board rose, private brands have gained sales disproportionately — increasing by 29% , outpacing national brand product sales, which grew by 24%, according to the most recent data from Nielsen .  Private brands have also gained many new customers in recent weeks due to limited shelf selections and consumers focusing more on value when shopping. After trying a private brand for the first time, 60% of US shoppers said they would continue to buy the store brand option , according to research consultancy Magid . For private brand retailers to be ready for the New Next, grocers must focus on growth, agility, transparency, accuracy, and brand protection. Business growth and agility The private brand selections on the shelves today were developed to reflect different times. Consumer behaviors have changed, and their grocery needs with them. A rapi...

To help retailers shift into a new way of retail, the Oracle Retail Learning Subscriptions deliver an effective online learning program that employees can take at home or the office. For a limited time, we are offering existing customers a 30% discount , delivering bite-sized digital training solutions for anyone on your team who could benefit from further learning opportunities. The 30% off $297/per user for 1-year subscription promotion ends on May 31, 2020. Enjoy a full year of access to: 24/7 access to a comprehensive set of high-quality videos delivered by Oracle experts  Detailed coverage and step-by-step demonstrations  Periodic updates for new features and product enhancements  The flexibility to search, access and learn about specific topics of interest Stores and Commerce Learning Subscription Retail omnichannel journeys continue to evolve and expand during the current crisis with new models of engagement and fulfillment. Executing an individualize...

The past few weeks have seen unprecedented shifts in the industry as retailers and consumers alike have adapted to the situation at hand. Consumers who’d never previously placed online orders are clicking ‘add to cart’ without hesitation, and brands have rapidly shifted to new models to meet evolving customer demands. What’s to come in the weeks and months ahead is still unknown and will vary significantly from one retailer to the next and by location. Yet, retailers must find ways to make their inventory work for them during this time and as they prepare for reopening. Many retailers will awaken “dark stores” by offering outside/curbside pickup, click and collect or ship from stores to fulfill online orders. Others may redistribute inventory between stores and warehouses to prepare for staggered reopenings. Oracle Retail Store Inventory Operations Cloud Services   gives retailers a competitive advantage with real-time, accurate, and accessible store-stock data. This enables ret...

While the future before us remains uncertain, no one doubts that the retail consumer will remain in control as we move forward. So how do you prepare for the unexpected? What have you learned from the recent shutdowns that can help on the path forward?  The recovery in retail will be fiercely competitive across the value chain – and every retail decision will be directly tied to how it impacts end customers. Whether that be upfront interactions through marketing or post-transaction fulfillment, the New Next is coming. So, how do you create the operational agility to cope with the changing environment?  New technologies are on the horizon that will change every aspect of how consumers interact with brands. Regardless of the vertical, every great experience will influence the expectation for the next experience. Smarter analytics solutions will bring new dimensions to how retailers acquire, target, and serve retail customers. In just a few years, marketing, sales, and service...

In early 2020, retail was predictable.  Clothes were neatly stacked on shelves and displayed on mannequins, shoppers browsed in search of just the right item, and online orders came into the warehouse and awaited fulfillment. Then COVID-19 hit, and a new reality emerged.  Stores closed and workers and consumers were sheltering at home, leaving fashion and specialty retail footfall at a near standstill. Meanwhile, the demand for essential goods and services, including groceries, accelerated at an unprecedented rate that challenged the supply chain .  The ongoing health situation has unraveled business processes and societal norms alike, leaving retail—an inherently social industry built on the exchange of physical goods—in a state of flux. We are calling it the “New Next” because let’s be honest, there is nothing normal about this unfathomed event and no clear roadmap for what lies ahead. Customers are entirely changing the way they shop, challenging retailers to creat...

In case you missed my recent article published on  Retail TouchPoints  you can read it here. The world around us is changing rapidly in light of the current situation, however, modern retail principles will remain key, and retailers should continue to keep the customer at the center of everything they do. Retail marketers spend a lot of time collecting and analyzing facts about their customers. What they like, where they linger online, when they click, what they add to their carts. These data points help to predictably know customer habits, preferences and price points. Over the last 10 years, developments in data analytics have been especially useful in assisting marketers in extracting maximum value from retail customer and consumer data. Still, now it’s time for brands to make the shift from knowing their customers to truly understanding them. What’s The Difference? Knowing simple, predictable facts is helpful for business planning, but having a whole landscape of cont...

Right now, merchants, CFOs, and CEOs are grappling with many questions: “When should I reopen stores?,” “Which ones should I open first?,” and “What product assortment do I put in each store?” For answers, retailers have to evolve to more detailed location planning that includes both product mix and weekly sales plans. With stores closed and an abundance of inventory piling up, a detailed location plan can provide retailer leaders the intelligence and agility to react county-by-county and understand the impact of their decisions. County-to-state geographic hierarchies do not drive retailers’ systems at the store level; instead, they are driven by DC-to-store distribution schedules, which often cross state and county lines. These plans will need the ability to quickly model new distribution paths for stores and their weekly opening schedules.  As with any planned opening, there is an associated risk of store operations cost versus sales if the opening date is not met. The location...

As we look ahead to the re-opening of retail stores, we expect to see a change in consumer shopping behavior and how the purchased product will be collected. In-store distancing restrictions, paired with a general leeriness to browse in a physical store, means that many shoppers may continue to opt for at-home delivery and curbside pickup.  We are in constant communication with our customer community through the Oracle Retail User Group and Advisory Boards. What we have discovered is that retailers are responding and leaning into these delivery options. For starters, a good chunk of their inventory is residing in the distribution centers since restocking stores have been difficult, if not impossible, during the past couple of months.   The challenge for retailers becomes how to balance these changing expectations while achieving profitability. Ask a retail CEO what their most significant cost issues are, and chances are fulfillment will be somewhere near the top of the list....

The retail industry has found itself on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. Grocery stores, pharmacies and other retailers offering essential goods remain open and working around the clock to ensure that people can purchase crucial items. While many of these retailers are taking extraordinary measures to serve the public and increase safety, those retailers deemed non-essential for in-store traffic are implementing creative and inspiring measures to help in the fight, including:  Lending a hand (literally): In the face of shortages of critical anti-viral supplies, several retailers have repurposed their manufacturing facilities to step up production. For example, a number of well-known fashion and beauty retailers are using their resources to tackle the shortage of hand sanitizer.    Clothing and protecting front line heroes: Instead of focusing on the latest fashion lines, retailers have turned their talents to clothing needed to protect the medical communit...

Mobile Point of Service allows associates to guide shoppers through their diamond journey anywhere in the store.  Luxury retailer De Beers Jewellers is adopting modern Oracle Xstore to enhance its customers’ shopping experience. The company prides itself on offering exquisite gifts and peerless diamonds for life’s key moments. Each of its 33 stores, located in 15 countries are equipped with the proprietary De Beers Iris technology that allows customers to see the unique characteristics of their diamond through the eyes of an expert. With Oracle Point of Service (POS), De Beers will further improve the in-store experience by empowering associates to engage customers throughout their purchase journey. “Diamonds are works of art in their own rights with incredible colours, tints, and nuances. The more you know, the more you can discover. Our brand ambassadors guide customers to find the perfect jewellery for their unique tastes,” said Francois Delage, chief executive officer, De Bee...