Ugg Australia, a division of Deckers Brands, has taken its omnichannel commitment to a new level with the opening of its store in Tysons Galleria, McLean, Va. The technology-driven, 2,110-sq.-ft. store features the latest in omnichannel solutions and RFID innovations that combine to make for a more seamless and connected customer experience. The store integrates elements of online shopping into the physical space, allowing customers to browse and purchase the nearly 230 SKUs on display as well as the expanded selection of UGG products that are available online.  Shoppers can customize products via a program that allows them to make …

The past year has been a steep climb for many retailers — those that are still climbing, that is, and not just plateauing or falling. There are all kinds of developments from 2014 that retailers can take to heart next year. We can’t name them all, but decided there are eight that some retailers may not have at top of mind — but should. These developing trends in the retail industry will have resonating implications in 2015...and in the years that follow.

Lancaster London hotel is to use beacon mobile tracking technology in its new event app, which launches in January 2015. The app’s ‘Indoor Positioning’ function provides an interactive map of the venue, enabling guests to quickly locate themselves, other guests/delegates, and areas of interest within the venue.

If the FIDO Alliance—which includes such companies as Nok Nok Labs, Lenovo, PayPal, Google Inc., Samsung and Microsoft Corp.—has its way, passwords for authentication will soon be extinct. The FIDO Alliance released final drafts of two security standards specifications designed to go beyond passwords: Universal Authentication Framework and Universal 2nd Factor. The alliance, which started in March 2013, is an open industry consortium that develops standards for simpler, stronger authentication. 

U.S. Bank, working with mobile capture software company Mitek, predicts that banks and financial institutions will see beacon usage take off in 2015, helping deliver more personalized experiences. The commerce institutions believe that more consumers will be gravitating towards mobile imaging in banking and deposits, as those functionalities enable users to take a photo with their mobile device’s camera to participate in a loyalty program or snap a photo of a credit card to automatically populate the information.

The mobile market in Asia-Pacific will continue to record strong growth in 2015 when over half of consumer transactions are expected to be conducted on mobile, according to a leading analyst from the region. "The conditions couldn't be better for strong mobility growth in the Asia-Pacific region in the coming year," said Ian Song, a research manager with the International Data Corporation, in comments to IT Wire. "We're seeing the perfect storm of strong consumer transition to mobility for every facet of their lives, as well as enterprises treating mobility as a strategic initiative."

Beacons were the big story in 2014 but as the year winds down, mass merchants such as Office Depot are testing audio technology solutions for driving in-store engagements on mobile phones, with each strategy offering unique challenges and opportunities. The real story is that retailers and marketers are looking for the best way to engage with in-store shoppers in real-time. While beacons appear to have the lead right now, in the end, a mix of complementary technologies – including audio, Bluetooth BLE, Wi-Fi, NFC and others - may be used in tandem to create a comprehensive in-store experience.   

John Frieda Hair Care is testing a mobile application that simulates a personal hair consultation for in-store shoppers and delivers a coupon by interacting with sound waves at bricks-and-mortar store locations. The program was developed in partnership with John Frieda parent Kao USA and technology provider Lisnr, who would say only that it is being tested inside 50 mass merchant store locations. 

Brands should expand their mobile strategy to ensure that customers feel cared for amid a blurring of the lines between customer service, information technology and marketing to avoid damage to bottom lines, according to a new study by Millward Brown. The study, produced for Mblox, found that a 20 percentage point gap exists between how businesses and consumers rate customer care.

The idea of tapping your phone at the point-of-sale to make payments is indeed quite appealing. Rather than carry around your credit/debit cards, it seems quite convenient to use NFC smartphones instead. Mobile payments, in general, are getting a huge response in many countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and especially North America. NFC mobile payments got a big boost this year with the launch of Apple Pay. With a big player like Apple coming into the field, mobile in-store payments are getting ‘legitimized’ in the US. Other major players in this area include consortiums like SoftCard and MCX, financial powerhouses …