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E-Business

Five Critical Initiatives for Retail Coys Deploying Mobile Solutions

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International Data Corporation (IDC) Retail Insights has announced the availability of the first IDC PeerScape, “Business Strategy: IDC PeerScape – Retail Mobility Project-Based Initiatives,” revealing five critical initiatives for retail companies deploying mobile solutions.

IDC PeerScapes were designed to identify the practices that have the most impact on the success or failure of an initiative.

For retail companies seeking new mobile solutions to build customer loyalty and improve business performance, the report highlights the five critical initiatives that can make or break the program.

Leslie Hand, research director and report author, examined several real-world retail deployments and identifies the initiatives that will have the greatest impact on the success of similar projects.  

The report also measures the impact of these practices on revenue, customer satisfaction, and operational productivity, and assesses how difficult they are to deploy and maintain.

For the past half century, retail business growth has been achieved by opening more stores, broadening assortments, and automating processes to make shopping more convenient and valuable for the consumer.

Satisfying customers today transcends place or time, and growth is dependent on continually creating “best experiences” — the last best experience etched in the mind of the consumer every time a shopping journey is more extraordinary and engaging than the last.

Mobility, a critical enabler of this “best experience,” requires applications that will engage and inform consumers and increase employee productivity.

Mobility brings with it significant complexity and a rate of change most retailers have never seen before.

For those companies that have successfully deployed mobile solutions, the rewards have been greater customer loyalty and higher sales and profitability.

On the other hand, those that have failed to meet customer expectations have seen abandoned “carts” and lost sales, and declining performance.

This IDC Retail Insights report is a guide to critical initiatives for retail mobility projects.

The five critical initiatives include, Identify and Align Cross-Functional Resources; Establish KPIs and Test for Performance and Usability; Clearly Articulate Governance Policies; Adopt Agile Implementation Methods and Leverage Cloud or SaaS-Based Services.

Leslie reported that, “Consumer-facing and enterprise-facing mobility programs top the list of initiatives retailers are actively pursuing, and applying the best practices of the leaders can speed progress and reduce costs.”

Mobile applications will soon be playing a part in many more retail transactions. But as mobile app–enabled sales spread from the early adopters to mainstream buyers, there will be dramatically increased reputational risk associated with app failures or poor customer experiences.

More effective testing will become increasingly important.

The consumer’s last best experience will be the benchmark for all others, and customers will increasingly expect mobile devices to play a central role in their shopping.

 


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E-Business

Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

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Amazon’s management on Wednesday said that it expects that artificial intelligence software will reduce the number of office workers at the world’s largest online retailer.

Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon

“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon  wrote in an email to employees.

He said it was difficult to predict how the overall workforce will evolve, but in the next few years, it is expected that AI efficiency gains will lead to a reduction in the number of office workers.

According to earlier reports, Amazon employed around 1.5 million people worldwide, with approximately 350,000 office employees in various roles.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the company does not anticipate further large-scale layoffs, as seen in 2022 and 2023, in the near future.

Instead, it expects that vacant positions will not be refilled.

However, layoffs are not ruled out, according to sources familiar with the matter.

“Amazon is focusing on so-called AI agents, software capable of independently performing tasks. These agents could, for example, summarise information from the web and data sources, write software, translate languages and automate many time-consuming tasks,” Mr Jassy explained.

“Agents will be teammates that we can call on at various stages of our work,” he added, urging employees to experiment with AI whenever possible.

The impact of AI on the job market has been a concern for many years.

Recently, Spotify, the leader in music streaming, announced that teams requesting additional staff would first need to prove that AI could not perform the tasks.

The creators of the language-learning app Duolingo plan to gradually replace external workers with AI.

 

 

 

 


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E-Business

BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

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Dr Adebowale Adedokun, director-general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to data protection in Nigeria.

BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

He disclosed this in a statement at the weekend by Zira Nagga, head of Public Relations, BPP, following a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

Adedokun stressed that data protection is vital to Nigeria’s economy and development, particularly in areas such as demography, health, education, and other key sectors.

He emphasised that no country should leave its data unprotected, as it plays a crucial role in future planning and national development.

“Data governs the world. It is essential to technological progress and must be protected for a country or business to be taken seriously,” he said.

Adedokun described the visit, aimed at fostering partnership on data policy implementation and protection, as timely and aligned with national goals.

He said the BPP would collaborate closely with the NDPC to boost data development, capacity building, and enhance the procurement system.

“The BPP will support compliance as part of the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy, although it is not a core procurement eligibility requirement,” he explained.

He suggested a hybrid training model to help build strong capacity in data protection, privacy awareness, and policy understanding.

According to him, a dynamic training approach will reduce logistics costs and improve public confidence in data safety and privacy.

Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO, and national commissioner, NDPC, praised Adedokun and the BPP for supporting data protection initiatives.

He said the partnership supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision and will strengthen data privacy across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

“The collaboration will create awareness and train BPP staff to ensure a firm grasp of data protection principles and policies,” he stated.

Olatunji said the NDPC would establish a working group to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding beneficial to both institutions.

He added that President Tinubu signed the NDPC into law on 12 June 2023 to uphold citizens’ rights and protect national and business data.

Olatunji also noted that strict legal measures were in place to enforce data protection and ensure full compliance nationwide.

Both agencies agreed to form a team to sign the MoU and focus on capacity building and data management in procurement and beyond.

 

 


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FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

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President Bola Tinubu said that his administration has initiated a project to install fibre optic cables across the country, aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

His plans were contained in a speech he delivered at a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day on Thursday, June 12.

He said the fibre optic layout is part of other projects being embarked on.

“In addition, we have embarked on an ambitious project to lay fibre optic cables across the nation, a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide and fostering greater connectivity.

“This initiative promises not only to enhance the speed and reliability of internet access but also to revolutionise how businesses operate, how students learn, and how communities stay connected,” Tinubu stated.

He maintained that by extending this critical infrastructure, his government is empowering entrepreneurs, enabling digital education, and providing the tools for our youth to compete in a globalised world.

In a most recent report on Internet connectivity, The ICIR pointed out how Nigeria has faced setbacks in its deployment of fibre optic cables and needs a transformation.

The challenges revolve around vandalism, inadequate coordination between road construction and telecom infrastructure, and varying right-of-way (RoW) charges across states.

Among industry experts, these issues impact network outages, increase repair costs, and hinder broadband expansion efforts.

It has also further threatened the digital economy, leading to slower Internet speeds, dropped calls, and unreliable connectivity among others.


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