WHY IT MATTERS: Digital Transformation

WHY IT MATTERS: this list of technology questions for 2022 feels like an answer to the question "what is digital disruption?".

We have reached a moment in time where old technologies - eCommerce or videoconferencing for example - are finally breaking into established industries. And the impact, at scale, cannot be found in technology but rather in every single industry it disrupts.

Very thoughtful piece, very good questions.

WHY IT MATTERS: 2 elements we can highlight from this announcement.

1- AR is often a marketing gimmick with no real purpose. Why would you download install and use this app? Same goes for most AR apps out there...

2- eCommerce has a major downside from a sustainability standpoint because of transport, returns, over packaging, plastics, etc. As volume grows this must be addressed. This AR app will not help in any way. Unfortunately...

WHY IT MATTERS: 5G telecom network promises to revolutionize many industries including retail. This report from Forrester presents use cases for 5G may bring but also puts those in context of what exists today and how fast the transformation will be.

WHY IT MATTERS: an amazing overview of technologies that are on the horizon. They range from bizarre - empathy design? - to the probable and useful - supply chain tech improvements. Read it.

WHY IT MATTERS: realistic looking avatars is essential to convey realism in many retailTech use cases from customer support to online video promotions. If this is realistic, cheap, easy to do, then this opens up the possibility of truly personalized video advertisement for example. And one step closer to digital disruption acceptance by blurring real with digital...

WHY IT MATTERS: the trends is clear, technology drives a number of business innovations in Retail. Questions is: is there a business model behind those innovations? Not always unfortunately... Nevertheless, useful insights about what's trending.

WHY IT MATTERS: always in search of the killer app, looks like AR is actually something that you embed into something else (here to sample lipstick in Amazon retail, there to correct the eyes in Apple facetime) rather than something you do on its own (think pokemon GO). Hmmm... 

WHY IT MATTERS: sales of furniture online is difficult because it is difficult to visualize the product in your environment. At least in the store you can view the product in a fake setting (think IKEA rooms you have to travel through during your shopping trip). Augmented Reality has been tried to enhance paper catalogues in the past but now Amazon is trying to leverage 3D directly within their online store to help you decide if that table and sofa go well together. This is obviously a test and the links below should provide you with additional food for thought on the matter.

Hubstair a startup that helps retailers do a bit what Amazon showroom does: https://www.hubstairs.com/ 

http://fmcs.digital/blog/canadian-tire-enhances-2016-paper-catalogue-via-augmentedreality/ 

http://fmcs.digital/blog/google-project-tango-demonstrates-how-to-buy-wayfair-furniture-in-augmentedreality-ecommerce-googleio/ 

http://fmcs.digital/blog/ikea-2014-catalog-can-view-and-place-furniture-in/ 

http://fmcs.digital/blog/augmented-reality-catalog-places-ikea-furniture-in/

http://fmcs.digital/blog/apple-next-killer-app-may-be-augmentedreality-ikea-demo-and-others-to-come/ 

WHY IT MATTERS: augmented reality has not yet exploded - this company provides relatively simple AR solutions for the retail and beauty industry.

WHY IT MATTERS: AR is one of those technologies that have been discussed for so many years and that will explode into the scene with a plethora of consumer and business applications in the coming years. An overnight success story that has been 10 years in the making (if not more). This paper helps managers see business applications for this technology.

What makes it so compelling in the fact that mobile devices (2B+ and counting) all have support for this technology builtin. Just checkout the video I made using my Google Pixel 2 phone camera this morning. It just works!

https://www.facebook.com/fmheir/posts/10155798075150309

And Apple iOS users have the equivalent.

WHY IT MATTERS: we all go to stores and seldom notice the technology that surrounds us and tracks our moves.

WHY IT MATTERS: retailers and retail stores are bound to be affected by emerging technologies such as this one. If you can view clothes on a virtual mannequin that has your measurements, why would you ever go in a physical store? Store will have to evolve to offer more than products on shelves or racks, but an experience and an interaction with customers. And THAT should be what retailer's strategic plans should include this year.