A significant number of consumers want their favorite quick-service restaurants (QSRs) to offer mobile ordering via applications. Yet a relatively small percentage of restaurants offer that functionality. Costs and fraud concerns are cited as reasons for the hesitation to offer first-party ordering and the decision to use...
Voice-assisted and voice-activated devices are increasingly popular, and are becoming much better at reading emotions. Amazon, in one case, announced the debut of new Alexa capabilities that would enable a more intuitive and natural voice experience for customers. Alexa can then respond in a happy/excited or a disappointed/empathetic tone. All...
Sharing economy platforms have become a force to be reckoned with, as a sizeable number of consumers use them to make their lives easier. The segment, however, attracts scammers – but technology is becoming better at detecting fraud. And in retail, luxury and upscale commerce is undergoing significant changes...
Subscription commerce is all the rage and shows every sign of continued growth in the next decade. Churn remains a challenge in the space, however – although there are some solutions to the problem. And in retail, self-service kiosks have been gaining popularity, while cutting-edge technology such...
South Dakota vs. Wayfair was only the beginning. The Supreme Court ruling has started the ball rolling for states and municipalities to tax eCommerce – specifically, out-of-state firms and online marketplaces. But there have already been disputes making their way through the courts, as detailed...
Payments made through the platform economy, through the online marketplaces that bring together individual buyers and seller – sometimes far-flung – happen in an instant. So does fraud. The latest edition of the Payments and the Platform Economy Playbook shows what’s at stake as P2P gains traction. The...
Mobile order-ahead has had a substantial impact on the restaurant industry. The prevalence of delivery has increased since last year, primarily due to the rise of mobile ordering apps. And in brick-and-mortar, physical retail is evolving to reflect consumer demand for more in-depth experiences, even with the growth...
Food brands are making coffee more accessible by packing the energy-boosting ingredient into snack bars sold by one-time purchase and subscription. In tech, smart mirrors can help shoppers try on clothes, driving sales and bigger basket conversions. And in seasonal commerce, Santa has evolved as more holiday shopping goes digital,...
Wrench is serving as a mobile source of mechanics – and saving consumers a trip to the auto repair shop. In retail, the Flat Tummy Instagram brand was able to make an effective algorithm that could accurately predict the effect an influencer would have on pushing its line of teas. And Nike recently announced it will...
