Apple has filed a patent for technology that would hook directly into the contents of customer bank accounts to make advertising even more targeted than it is today. It would mean Apple would only display ads for products that customers can afford. The patent filing describes a system that would show dsfor products to groups of people with a […]
Experian Marketing Services recently released a study that aimed to identify the biggest opportunities and barriers marketers face. The study, entitled, “2015 Digital Marketer Report,” polled 1,000 global marketers and placed heavy focus on how customer data is collected and used. The research highlights several key marketing issues businesses currently face, including the inability to […]
A new feature added to YouTube’s in-steam video ads is making marketing on the site more engaging and interactive. Click-to-Shop, announced by Google last week, lets viewers connect to brand websites to purchase products they see in pre-roll advertisements simply by clicking a button that appears on a card during the pre-roll ad. The buttons are similar to […]
This staggering stat should encourage B2B firms with an e-commerce strategy. The infographic with the figure of B2B e-commerce revenue reaching $1.1 trillion US by 2020 comes courtesy research firm Sullivan, but they also included some other key findings. In a survey, 94 percent of B2B buyers wanted to know where and how to make an immediate […]
Incorporating digital programs into existing frameworks is a dilemma facing many organizations today. In an effort to help businesses with this problem, software solutions provider EPAM hosted a webinar with Rex Lee and Warren Cable, VPs of digital operations at Canadian Tire. Both Lee and Cable explained how they used omni-channel and digital programs in their retail […]
The enterprise collaboration space is hot. Recently, cloud file-sharing company Box has started trading publicly on the New York Stock, debuting at $20.20 per share. Interestingly, the company is trading much as 77 percent above its IPO price. Box offers companies cloud-based storage services, make it easy to share documents with your team or your […]
Google Analytics has updated a useful tool that helps businesses track and analyze customer interaction paths from first click to purchase. The aptly-named The Customer Journey to Online Purchase launched in early 2013 as Google recognized the need for website owners to better understand how customers act from their first visit through conversion. The tool utilizes […]
Will we soon see Alibaba buying eBay? Could Walmart bolster its e-payment strategy with a PayPal acquisition? Those are some of the predictions posited by Jason Del Rey in Recode, as he looks forward to what may be a blockbuster acquisition year in e-commerce. Alibaba, overflowing with valuable stock following the biggest IPO ever, is poised […]
One of the biggest shopping days of the year, besides Black Friday, is of course Boxing Day. Annually Boxing Day brings in billions of revenue for retailers, but there has been a new pivot in spending with consumers as they continue to turn to online sales. That means a boost in cash flow for ecommerce […]
With online retail giants like Amazon continuing to disrupt the e-commerce ecosystem and squeezing smaller sellers everywhere, how can those smaller retailers remain competitive? The sheer massive reach and scale of the Amazons of the world and their focus on growth over profits give them an advantage that small businesses just can’t compete with. Or […]
It’s a confusing marketing technology world at the moment, and nobody knows technology like SAP. Historically focused on the CIO, now the company is reaching out to bring their expertise to a brand new audience: marketers. And that requires a different kind of marketing, something Maggie Fox is keenly aware of, and excited about. Fox, […]
The average North American likely hasn’t heard of Alibaba, but the Asian retailer is larger than Amazon and eBay combined. The juggernaut, founded in 1999, continues to dominate the ecommerce market and continues to generate substantial revenues and make history. In September, Alibaba made international headlines after having the largest global initial public offering (IPO) […]
You know a concept is popular when it gets its own day. Valentine’s Day may be for lovers, but Free Shipping Day is for shoppers who love saving money. But for online businesses, the question is: Will offering free shipping love you back? Free Shipping Day is a one-day, online-shopping event when thousands of merchants […]
It seems that B2B suppliers have noticed that it’s almost 2015 and hey, wouldn’t you know it, the whole buying-online fad is probably here to stay. A recent report by Forrester Consulting suggests that B2B is getting serious about e-commerce: 80 percent or more of online B2B sellers are planning to invest in, implement, or upgrade their e-commerce platform within […]
Black Friday, falling on November 28, and Cyber Monday (December 1) are dates etched on the minds of all retailers; but how are smaller e-commerce businesses preparing for this major shopping season, and how can these businesses capitalize on a retail holiday traditionally celebrated by big box retailers? Consider the numbers for a moment. According to […]
Canada’s grocery industry is stagnant, with 2012 sales growing a tiny 1.1 percent over 2011, and in that year sales rose a paltry one percent. That’s a big change of pace for grocers, who are used to annual growth rates averaging 3 percent or more. 2011-2012 represented the worst sales growth in more than a […]
In a move some critics call a major overpayment, French advertising powerhouse Publicis announced Monday it will acquire marketing and consulting company Sapient for $3.7 billion US. The all-cash transaction equals $25 per share. In a press release [PDF], Maurice Lévy, Chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe, said: “Sapient is a ‘crown jewel,’ a one of […]
PayPal is officially entering the world of all-digital money. The payment processing company will start accepting payments from customers that are using Bitcoin. According to CNN, Bitcoin is “an independent, government-less currency,” whereas PayPal is owned by eBay and works with merchants. As of today, PayPal completed a deal with the payment-processing companies inclusive with […]
