Michael Jaszczyk

Fraud in retail is on the rise; retailers reported a whopping 93 percent increase in the average number of shoplifting incidents per year in 2023 vs. 2019. And return fraud — i.e., abusing returns for monetary gain — plays a big role in this. In 2024, more than 16 percent of retail sales were estimated…

The technology that retailers use to power their businesses has profound impacts on the customer experience (CX). Yet many retailers are stuck using a previous decade’s technology; 36 percent of fashion and specialty retailers say their existing technology isn't up to the challenge of today’s tech-savvy customers and employees, either because they're locked into vendor…

Nearly every retailer is heavily investing in improving their online and in-store channels. However, not every retailer is considering the scenarios in which online channels are being used in a retail store. In fact, nearly half (46 percent) of global in-store shoppers reported using a smartphone to enhance their most recent shopping journey. Despite this…

What do changing customer behaviors, supply chain disruptions and cold weather have in common? They all greatly impact order management. With all three factors converging during the next few months, managing seasonal inventory can prove to be a major challenge for retailers. In a recent report about the 2022 holiday season, McKinsey shared that “consumer…

Shoppers have always valued time and convenience, and the last thing they want is to wait in a line. Offering a number of checkout options, such as self-serve kiosks, is critical to ensuring consumers can be in and out of a store quickly. However, after the introduction of self-checkout, retailers commonly face increased fraud and…

As frictionless commerce continues to grow in popularity, retailers are identifying how to integrate the innovative technology into their overall business strategy. To do so, they must determine whether to evolve existing solutions or revolutionize existing processes to keep up with competition. While there are benefits to both approaches, there are three key considerations retailers…

COVID-19 restrictions are lifting, which means more and more consumers are ready to enter brick-and-mortar stores again for their shopping needs. As retailers welcome back customers, it’s important to find ways to drive greater foot traffic with improved in-store capabilities. Personalization can help retailers win customers with unique, individual offers, but it’s often underutilized throughout…