Live Commerce Guides Retailers to Success in the Metaverse
Immerss Co-Founder Patrick Jacobs says his company is working with a number of retailers to leverage live commerce as a way to blend the physical and digital worlds. Jacobs says sales rates with live commerce are on par with or better than in-store conversion rates, and that merchants jumping into live commerce now will be better prepared for the metaverse boom in the future.
6 Contactless Shopping Solutions for In-Store Retail
The retail industry took notice when Merkle debuted its newest contactless shopping solution at CES 2022 this month, but the company’s Scan & Know product isn’t the only touchless retail solution on the market. Thanks to the continued adoption of augmented reality and virtual reality among consumers, more technology providers are developing in-store retail experiences that keep physical contact to a minimum.
6 Contextual Video Advertising Platforms
Advertisers are leaning into contextual targeting as a way to connect with consumers in brand-suitable environments. They’re also investing more heavily in video advertising, upping ad spend on video by 12% in 2021 to a record $81.9 billion for the year. As we move further into 2022, the real magic looks to be in the combination of contextual advertising with video advertising, as more brands discover the power that comes with being able to reach audiences interested in their messages with video content that’s designed to engage.
Real-Time Data Will Enhance the Customer Experience in 2022
Digital intelligence platforms like Scuba Analytics and FullStory are expanding rapidly — with funding rounds led by some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley. Big data analytics is expected to grow to $100 billion in the next five years, driven in large part by demand from retail brands for real-time insights and accurate customer engagement data.
How to Build a Modern Loyalty Program in 2022
Rising prices and ongoing supply issues put brand retailers on the defensive in 2021. Amid shifting goalposts and a quickly evolving retail environment, more marketers are now working to turn their existing loyalty programs into modern membership-based programs that drive long-term relationships with a focus on members themselves.
Ericsson Emodo Launches Creative Lab Focused on AR Experiences
With buzz around the metaverse reaching a fever pitch, and industry observers touting the “multitrillion-dollar potential” for early adopters, Emodo is positioning itself as a leader in the space. Emodo Creative Lab will focus on creating targeted AR experiences for advertisers, beginning with Resolution Media and The Broadway League.
6 Fulfillment Services for Personalizing E-Commerce Orders
Packages full of bubble wrap and styrofoam peanuts just aren’t cutting it anymore. Instead, more retailers are using e-commerce fulfillment services to create branded experiences, replete with everything from personalized tissue paper to custom selected product samples. Whether the purchase takes place online or in person, industry players are realizing that presentation is a critical component of the complete brand experience.
KEVANI, Taking Localized Approach to OOH, Announces New LA Property
When it comes to out-of-home advertising, one creative strategy does not fit all markets. That has been a guiding principle at KEVANI, an OOH firm that’s taking a community-driven approach to digital billboard advertising. The company specializes in full motion digital and premium static assets in California, with the understanding that national advertisers see the greatest results when they embrace the personalities of the neighborhoods where their displays are located.
Reputation Report Shows Increasing Relevance of Google Business Profiles
Examining 3.7 million shopper reviews online, Reputation found that Google Business Profiles now have more impact on a location’s findability than any other factor. With 90% of consumers reading reviews before making a purchase, and review volume up 12% from 2020, retailers can’t afford to miss out on the opportunities that localized online marketing provides.
Heap Raises $110M to Fund the Future of Digital Analytics
Heap, a startup that helps businesses build better digital experiences by surfacing hidden friction and opportunities in the customer journey, has closed on a $110 million Series D round. That brings the company’s valuation to $960 million and solidifies Heap as one of this year’s heavy-hitters among digital analytics platforms for product builders, growth marketers, and analytics teams.
5 Brands Leveraging AI to Give Consumers What They Want This Holiday Season
What do shoppers really want this holiday season? As more brands transition to first-party data, advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are taking the guesswork out of managing supply and improving the shopping experience with more personalized service.
With Supply Chain in Crisis, Retailers Use Tech-Enabled Processes to Monitor Demand
Demand for e-commerce shopping and fast shipping continues to be high, which puts additional pressure on retailers to fulfill consumers’ needs. As smaller, independent retailers look at how they can handle the upcoming surge, now is the time to utilize cloud-based communication tools like Twilio to keep customers satisfied.
Policy Guardrails Mitigate Cyber Monday Security Risks
With so many aspects of this year’s holiday shopping experience outside retailers’ control—shipping delays, supply chain issues, and labor shortages, to name just a few—retailers are shifting their focus and using enhanced data security policies in their mobile apps and websites to improve the shopping experience for customers.
Clinch Launches Dynamic Circular Ads for Connected TV
Clinch, an omnichannel AI-powered personalization platform, launched Thursday morning a hyperpersonalized advertising product that brands can use to convert offline and app-based promotions to digital, social, video, and connected TV. The ad format allows for real-time personalization and contextual optimization in CTV ads.
Text Marketing Delivers Massive Lift for Restaurants in 2021
New data from the customer relationship management platform Mobivity shows that text message marketing subscribers visit businesses 44% more frequently than non-subscribers, and once a consumer joins a restaurant’s text messaging program, the guest’s spend increases by 23%. Measured over six months, a single text subscriber can be valued at $12.15 on average in incremental revenue.