Predictions 2015: Systems Of Engagement Will Shape The Retail And CPG Application Landscape

RadioShack reported its tenth consecutive quarterly loss in August 2014, blaming eroding topline growth, declining gross margins, and high inventory levels. Similar woes wrecked household names in North America such as Circuit City Stores, Borders, Filene's Basement, Linens 'n' Things, and Coldwater Creek. European retailers did not fare much better — in the 12 months leading to September 2014, 39 medium or large retailers failed, collectively closing almost 1,300 stores in the UK alone. AD&D professionals in surviving retailers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands will need to revive their firms' fortunes by making 2015 the year in which they accelerate their BT agenda with the use of consumer technologies and exploit the real-time and interactive opportunities presented by big data, the Internet of Things, and the perpetually addressable consumer.