The Impact of Data on Retail Innovation

When I interviewed Stephan Waldeis, VP of eCommerce Europe at Husqvarna Group, he said this about tracking real-time data and retailer partnerships. “We track customer behavior, we track inventory levels at our partners, we track sales performance — and of course, we possibly... we track all of that in real time. Imagine, our robots — at least the ones from the last 10+ years — are all connected. So, we have a lot of insights in which gardens they are driving, when they are operating, etc. And that is data that we are leveraging, but also data that we are sharing with our channel partners. That’s great even for the channel partners who are not really interested in operating an eCom site. We provide them with a lot of insights… what kind of products are interesting in your area, because we know exactly from visits on our site, which products in a particular region are more relevant — in Amsterdam versus in Berlin versus in Munich.” 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗣𝗚 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵? 1️⃣ Activate Real-Time Retailer Collaboration Track and share real-time consumer behavior, inventory, and sales data with retail partners — even those with limited digital capabilities — to strengthen joint decision-making, optimize local assortments, and drive smarter sell-through at the shelf. 2️⃣ Localize Product Strategies with Regional Demand Signals Use geo-specific browsing and purchase data to tailor product recommendations, promotions, and stock levels at the city or neighborhood level — what sells in Amsterdam might flop in Berlin if you don’t read the digital shelf signals correctly. 3️⃣ Turn Connected Product Data into a Competitive Advantage Leverage connected device insights (where available) not only for product innovation but as a marketing and retail sales weapon, identifying usage patterns, seasonal trends, and regional preferences that can feed back into supply chain, DTC, and retail media strategies. 𝗧𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 ecommert® 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟰,𝟬𝟬𝟬+ 𝗖𝗣𝗚, 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘁® : 𝗖𝗣𝗚 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. About ecommert We partner with CPG businesses and leading technology companies of all sizes to accelerate growth through AI-driven digital commerce solutions. Our expertise spans e-channel strategy, retail media optimization, and digital shelf analytics, ensuring more intelligent and efficient operations across B2C, eB2B, and DTC channels. #ecommerce #dataanalytics #CPG #FMCG #data Milwaukee Tool Bosch Makita U.S.A., Inc. STIHL Mondelēz International Nestlé Mars Ferrero General Mills L'Oréal Henkel Beiersdorf Colgate-Palmolive The Coca-Cola Company Unilever L'Oréal Coty Kao Corporation adidas Nike New Balance PUMA Group the LEGO Group Sony Panasonic North America Bose Corporation

The holidays are like the Super Bowl for retailers. And the competition is fierce. Changing customer expectations and shifts in data collection have made it harder than ever for marketers to succeed in a crowded retail space. That’s why I collaborated with Jason Downie, U.S. CEO of Making Science, on these data-driven strategies retailers can use to maximize their earnings this season (and future-proof their marketing). Check out our tips, or catch the link to the full Total Retail article in the comments below.  1️⃣ Put first-party data first With third-party cookies on the decline, prioritizing first-party data is more important than ever. Loyalty programs and mobile apps are great tools for building comprehensive customer profiles (with consent!) and enabling deeper personalization. 2️⃣ Leverage #GenerativeAI Retailers like Walmart are finding tangible ways to leverage generative #AI to improve customer and employee experiences. For example, their “adaptive retail” program harnesses data and large language models to improve their product catalog. This improves customers’ ability to find what they’re looking for. 3️⃣ Predict inventory and pricing needs AI-powered predictive analytics can help forecast demand, align inventory and delivery, and fine-tune pricing strategies in real time. This approach avoids stockouts and rushed pricing changes while improving margins. 4️⃣ Adjust campaigns in real time Holiday campaigns need to adapt quickly. Real-time data helps refine ad spend and messaging on the fly, ensuring campaigns align with customer trends. A centralized #DataCloud paired with AI makes this easier than ever. 5️⃣ Unify cross-channel data Siloed data hurts customer experience. By integrating data across in-store, online, and mobile channels, retailers can deliver a seamless journey and consistent messaging that keeps customers coming back. The future of #retail is data-driven and AI-powered. Those who embrace it now will be better positioned to meet rising expectations and build lasting loyalty—not just this season but all year long.

🚀 AI: Beyond Personalization to Boost Revenue 🚀 Whatever your LLM of choice is, when you are asking it for a quick answer to a question, or you’re employing predictive AI tools that make your efforts at work more intelligent. One thing is certain, AI has become an essential tool in our lives.  Heck, even my toothbrush uses AI to recognize my brushing style and guide me on how to improve. AI is all about the convenience of instant information. In our professional lives, the impact of AI can be much more significant. Particularly within industries like retail, where it allows businesses to predict customer demands, streamline operations, and enhance customer fulfillment. One of the most impactful AI use cases I had the opportunity to work on was AI-driven inventory optimization. Predictive analytics, historical data, and even weather data allow businesses to predict demand more accurately, ensuring products are in the right place at the right time. For instance, by factoring in regional weather patterns, sales history, seasonal trends, and considering lead times. We can ensure that seasonal products like winter coats or swimsuits arrive just when they’re needed most. This approach reduced overstock by ~20% and minimized stockouts by ~30%, directly driving revenue and improving product availability for customers. AI-powered applications and platforms today are not just about improving efficiency, they are a strategic lever for driving revenue growth, optimizing operations, and ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction. AI can help you find the right product, and make sure it’s at your store, but it’s still up to you to decide if you’re ready for winter ❄, or still holding onto summer 🌞! #AI #DigitalTransformation #RetailTech #InventoryOptimization #SupplyChainInnovation

Retailers are sitting on a goldmine of data— but are they using it right? Retailers have more customer data than ever now. The question isn’t how to get insights— it’s how to apply them strategically. Sephora and Coach are proving that when retailers merge data with design, they don’t just tweak store layouts— they transform the customer experience. 🔹 Sephora’s insight? Customers hated getting their makeup done in the front window. Not exactly shocking in hindsight, but it led to a complete redesign of Beauty Studios— resulting in better customer engagement and increased sales. 🔹 Coach applies a ‘70-20-10’ model to store innovation, ensuring bold ideas (like branded cafés and immersive activations) ladder up to business strategy. The takeaway? Innovation works best when it’s structured, not random. 💡 The real opportunity for retailers isn’t in gathering more data— it’s in operationalizing it. Store design isn’t just about aesthetics— it’s a business lever that drives traffic, conversion, and loyalty. Retailers that act on insights instead of just collecting them will be the ones that win. How is your company bridging the gap between data and action? 🔗 Great piece here from Alicia Esposito: https://lnkd.in/geJv4NXa #RetailDesign #CX #DataDrivenDesign #RetailInnovation #TechInRetail #ConsumerInsights * Images from Handout and Coach

When it comes to innovation, the key isn’t just the idea, it’s in the data. Take Kraft Heinz with their Crystal Light Vodka Refreshers. The company saw that nearly 20% of their existing Crystal Light consumers were already using it as a mixer in alcoholic drinks. That’s a consumer signal they could act on. With this insight, Kraft launched a product that not only aligns with customer behavior but taps into an established demand. Then there’s PepsiCo with Cheetos Mac n’ Cheese. PepsiCo Mexico identified a growing demand for household cooking staples and a lack of innovation in the mac and cheese category. Once again, this wasn’t a shot in the dark; it was informed by consumer research. The result? 35M+ pesos in sales in the first two years. Understanding consumer preferences gave Pepsi the edge to succeed. Consumer insights data helps you understand your audience to make confident, data-backed decisions to launch innovations that expand your brand’s reach and drive volume growth. Consumer insights data helps you understand your audience to make confident, data-backed decisions to launch innovations that expand your brand’s reach and drive volume growth. How are you using consumer insights for your next innovation? #RetailMedia #ConsumerInsights #MarketingStrategy #ExperientialMarketing #Innovation #CPG

New data from our upcoming HFS Horizons study reveals a striking insight. Retail and CPG leaders are doubling down—HFS value chain now guides 90% of spend And 56% of spend is concentrated in the following four areas: 1) Data-driven product innovation 2) Omni-channel customer experience 3) Resilient operations 4) Immersive marketing and customer engagement Companies like Walmart and Unilever are leading the way—not just investing, but integrating. Walmart connects e-commerce personalization directly with logistics, boosting digital sales while slashing costs. Unilever's integrated operations (iOps) links AI-driven demand forecasts directly to its supply chain, ensuring products hit shelves precisely when and where consumers want them. Read this spin-off HFS Research Highlight report here: https://lnkd.in/dkc8fY77 And and...stay tuned for more cool insights from our study, "Exploring the Future of Intelligent Retail and CPG Ecosystems, 2025," which is releasing this May!