Residents with any information have been urged to contact the concerned authority
emergencies4 hours ago
If there is one industry that has successfully reaped the rewards of digital transformation, then that would be the retail industry, experts at the 2019 Digitrans Forum said.
Firms that have set out to digitally transform their operations have enjoyed a closer relationship with their customers, increased profit margins, and a growing loyal following, retail experts noted.
Paolo Cinelli, digital transformation manager at Ikea Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, briefly highlighted how the world is changing in terms of macro-trends.
"The pace of technology adoption is increasing and most industries have been disrupted," he said.
"You have a growing population of shoppers that are looking to make their purchases on their phone since it is easier and faster. Digital technologies are certainly disruptive, but Ikea sees it as a key opportunity for innovation."
However, he noted that the brand had remained true to its core values even as more operations took on a digital front. "We want to extend our culture of curiosity and experimentation. Digitalisation goes beyond having an online strategy, it is a business strategy."
Sonja Abdo, vice-president of digital marketing at Majid Al Futtaim, added that the foundation of digital transformation lies in data and analytics.
"You have to look at different variables, especially in predictive analytics," she said. "Once you have the data, you begin to understand what it is that consumers want from you and then you can work on getting it to them in a faster and more efficient way."
Mobile apps, she said, are the face of e-commerce today, which is not a surprise given the high mobile penetration rate in the GCC. But while it is easier than ever for retailers to reach out to their customers, it should be noted that different people like to be contacted through different means, and have deals pitched to that that are based on their preferences. This is especially true for targeted promotions and deals.
Simon Smith, COO at Centrepoint of Landmark Group, noted that personalised promotions improves the turnover rate.
"We know that 61 per cent of people expect brands to tailor experiences based on their preferences, and that organisations can enjoy 40 per cent higher spends when the experience is personlised," he said.
Data, he said, is important, but it is just as important what you do with it. "The best results that you can hope to achieve will always come when you invest in technology that allows you to understand the needs of your customers and then use the data that you have collected about them to bring them what they need."
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com
Residents with any information have been urged to contact the concerned authority
emergencies4 hours ago
Northeastern University in Boston says the action was taken after some protesters resorted to virulent anti-Semitic slurs
world5 hours ago
The church has been built on 4.37 acres of land, and stands opposite the BAPS Hindu temple
uae5 hours ago
A detailed guide on where to apply, the steps involved, and criteria for eligibility
uae5 hours ago
The Emirates called for strengthening the international humanitarian response and providing urgent relief to those in need
mena5 hours ago
Photonics is the study of light and has several applications including LED, VR, holograms, high-speed internet and solar panels among other things
uae6 hours ago
A delegation from Egypt arrived in Israel on Friday hoping to revive the truce negotiations
mena6 hours ago
The decision aims to protect the safety and security of pilgrims
gulf7 hours ago