Research

June 15, 2020

World Bank Global Economic Prospects, June 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has, with alarming speed, delivered a global economic shock of enormous magnitude, leading to steep recessions in many countries. The baseline forecast envisions a 5.2 percent contraction in global GDP in 2020—the deepest global recession in eight decades, despite unprecedented policy support. Moreover, the pandemic is likely to exert lasting damage to fundamental determinants of long-term growth prospects, further eroding living standards for years to come. -from World Bank Group

June 08, 2020

The Coming Retail Returns Tsunami

Going into 2020, the retail world was already dealing with tremendous growth in merchandise returns, with fraud and overall costs to the retailer increasing at an exponential rate due to online sales being returned to stores. In 2015 the total value of merchandise returns was estimated at $643 billion globally. By the end of 2019 this figure had increased to over $1 trillion worldwide. -from iHL

June 01, 2020

BrandZ Top 75 Global Retail Brands

May 25, 2020

The Race Into The Golden Age of Frictionless Retail -IHLGroup

The spread of the COVID-19 will only serve to speed the development and roll-out of various pieces of frictionless retail, including contact-less pickup and delivery. The bottom line is there is great future around the concept of  frictionless retail. But it will be a crawl and walk before you run experience for any retailer who wishes to move forward. -from ihlservices.com

May 17, 2020

The Smart Audio Report

The Spring 2020 Smart Audio Report confirms 77% of U.S. adults have had a change in their typical routine due to the outbreak of COVID-19, and voice-assistant usage has expanded during these disruptions. New research shows how smart speakers and voice assistants are increasingly becoming a part of their everyday lives. 

May 11, 2020

32nd Annual Retail Theft Survey -Jack L. Hayes International

Over 348,000 shoplifters and dishonest employees were apprehended in 2019 by just 21 large USA retailers who recovered over $136 million from these thieves, according to the 32nd Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by Jack L. Hayes International. -from hayesinternational.com

May 04, 2020

JLL Webinar Looks to the Future of Consumer Behavior in a Post-COVID-19 World -design:retail

After COVID-19, both households and retailer have both been financially hit, and even though there has been a push for ecommerce through this pandemic, the online experiences are mediocre. “But the good news is that 2021 is expected to be much, much stronger, with almost unheard of growth rates in an optimistic scenario around the world." Like the seven significant COVID-19 ramifications in the retail landscape. -From designretailonline.com

April 27, 2020

Deloitte Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Predictions 2020 - How has COVID-19 Changed Expectations?

Global GDP will be weak in Q1, even weaker in Q2, and start to recover by Q4; GDP will be down 8.3% for the year as a whole. Smartphone sales were down 40% in February;2 we assume sales could be down 7% to 10% for 2020 as a whole. Ad spending will be down 5% to 10% for the year. -from Deloitte 

April 20, 2020

McKinsey COVID-19: Briefing note, April 13, 2020

April 12, 2020

The State of Fashion 2020: Coronavirus Update -McKinsey

McKinsey estimates revenues for the global fashion industry (apparel and footwear sectors) will contract by 27 to 30 percent in 2020 year-on-year. For the personal luxury goods industry (luxury fashion, luxury accessories, luxury watches, fine jewellery and high-end beauty), global revenue contraction of 35 to 39 percent in 2020. The coronavirus presents fashion with a chance to reset and completely reshape the industry's value chain. -from McKinsey

April 05, 2020

30th Annual Retail Technology Study - Investing in the Data-Fueled Future -RISnews

The rate of technological advancement win retail continues to increase exponentially. 62% of retailers report that IT spending will increase this year, with an impressive 19% claiming the increase will clock in with double-digit growth. Just as interesting are those technologies that were left off the top 10 strategies list. -from risnews

March 29, 2020

Top Grocery Trends in 2020: Efficient, Focused, and Tech Driven -risnews

Grocers report 17% of total sales today can be attributed to digital efforts. Major players are going big on home delivery, the ultimate convenience. 67% of Grocers interested in using computer vision to check on-shelf availability; 21% report 'strong interest.' -from risnews.com

March 22, 2020

2020 Top 50 Global Retailers -NRF

Chinese-based marketplace operator Alibaba has jumped three places from seventh to fourth in the rankings. Perennial “most global” operator Tesco has officially fallen out of the Top 10 for the first time.  Five retailers have gained significant momentum in the past 12 months. -from NRF

March 15, 2020

2020 Tech Trends Report - Future Today Institute

Everyone alive today is being scored. Get ready to meet your digital twin. Quantum and edge make trends list. Robots are coming. Big tech farming. Home digital emissions. Synthetic medicines, microbes, and food. A mil-tech industrial complex. Space the final frontier. -from Future Today Institute

March 08, 2020

The Real Role Of Robotic Automation In Retail -RSR

Winning retailers are clearly alarmed by increasing volumes of customer inquiries. This increase is no doubt driven by the continued rise of eCommerce sales. This is the business challenge they cite most frequently, driving them to consider using robotics and automation in stores and call centers. -from RSR (Retail Systems Research)