Omnichannel NOW Newsletter Archive

• Walmart files patent for at-home VR shopping
• Dunkin’ Donuts taps Amazon’s Alexa for new order option
• Wegmans launches app to assist visually impaired customers
• Williams Sonoma set to launch 3D imaging app
• Container Store tracks appointments with voice tech
• Forever 21 gets more personal with the launch of AI-powered visual search
• Argos launches voice shopping with Google Home
• Google to open first retail store in Chicago

 Consumer Goods

• Apple continues innovation drive with AI, AR & Machine Learning
• LG’s smart display uses the power of Google AI
• Toyota unveils world’s first digital side-view monitors
• L’Oréal Paris launches new augmented reality try-on tool
• Adidas’ 3D-printed sneaker hints at new supply chain models
• Hershey’s gets a digital upgrade
• Dole Packaged Foods relies on SAP for continued growth
• Cosmo taps AR for virtual try-ons

 Financial Services

• DBS launches wealth chat service using WhatsApp and WeChat
• Mastercard & Dream Payments release payment API for insurance industry
• UOB adopts machine learning tools to combat financial crime
• Coinbase acquires distributed systems for a decentralized digital identity platform
• OCBC launches robo-investment service
• Infinox Capital introduces free AI-powered sentiment analysis tool
• Standard Chartered prepares to set up digital banking operation in Hong Kong

 Healthcare / Pharma

• Apple Watch Series can detect atrial fibrillation & perform an ECG
• Amazon Web Services boosts ML to treat depression
• Deutsche Telekom launches VR game that aids dementia research
• Microsoft & Apollo hospitals introduce AI-powered cardiovascular disease risk score
• Facebook, NYU will use AI for faster MRIs
• Hitachi to use AI to analyze hospital food leftovers & improve patient recover
• MUSC partners with Siemens to improve patient care with AI

Focus of the month : CPG

• Apple continues innovation drive with AI, AR & Machine Learning
• How digital transformation affects the CPG industry
• Infographic: The history of digital transformation in the CPG industry
• Infographic: How digital transformation is redefining CPG industry
• LG & Luxoft to target webOS at vehicles, robots, smart devices
• Microsoft's AI-powered Sketch2Code can build apps from whiteboard sketches

• Alibaba names Daniel Zhang as Chairman
• Big Lots names Bruce K. Thorn as President & CEO
• Marks & Spencer appoints Jeremy Pee as Chief Digital & Data Officer
• Petrofac appoints Fady Sleiman as Chief Digital Officer
• Richemont Group names Jérôme Lambert as Chief Executive Officer
• Coca-Cola appoints Scott Anthony as Chief Financial Officer
• Uber hires Nelson Chai as Chief Financial Officer
• Allianz appoints Fernley Dyson as Chief Financial Officer
• Mattel promotes Steve Totzke to Chief Commercial Officer
• Cox Automotive appoints Glenn Fishwick as Chief Information Officer

• Sony Ericsson is looking for Chief Digital Officer - IoT
• L'Oréal Travel Retail Americas seeks Chief Digital Officer
• Cigna seeks Chief Digital Experience Officer
• UBS is looking for Head of Digital Banking Platforms
• Honeywell is looking Productivity Products CIO
• Bank of America seeks CTO, Technology Incident Management Executive
• UC Health seeks Chief Executive Officer
• American Express seeks VP Technology, Digital Workforce
• Western Union seeks VP of Cloud Center of Excellence
• JPMorgan Chase & Co is looking for VP - Business Management Data Infrastructure

• Walmart and Microsoft partner to boost digital in retail
• Starbucks jumps on cryptocurrency bandwagon
• Tommy Hilfiger launches smart clothing range that tracks your movements
• Amazon’s iPhone app uses AR to identify nuts, bolts, screws
• Marks & Spencer moves AI-displaced call workers to stores
• Uniqlo launches chatbot that acts as digital concierge
• eBay launches visual search
• Alibaba eyes retail sector with new cloud offerings

 Consumer Goods

• H&M launches new online site with visual search
• Mazda partners with intu to bring innovative pop-up store
• Wayfair unleashes mixed-reality shopping
• Tencent to join forces with Samsung to develop AI devices
• Tesla preps AI chip for autopilot
• Electrolux launches sensor-enabled induction hob with assisted cooking
• Bosch and Daimler teaming up for connected car and AI initiatives

 Financial Services

• Facebook taps big banks for customer data
• UOB to launch digital-only bank
• Santander unveils open banking integration with savings app Moneybox
• Standard Bank introduces virtual card in partnership with Samsung Pay
• HSBC rolls out more digital services for firms
• ING rolls out unified contact centre platform fit for the omnichannel era
• Barclays banks on AI to prevent risks
• Coinbase to integrate digital identity tools
• Canadian credit unions trial Amazon Alexa service

 Healthcare / Pharma

• Intel and Montefiore Medical Center use AI to improve patient outcomes
• Google Glass with machine learning helps autistic children
• UCI Health opens center for artificial intelligence, deep learning
• CVS launches new telehealth service on smartphones
• Anthem taps AI platform with allergy research trial
• Alabama Hospital uses digital imaging to create newborn footprints
• TeleHealth Services launches virtual assist to address nurse shortages

 What we are reading:

• Whitepaper: SAP HANA
• Infographic: How personalization drives superior CX
• L'Oreal teams with Facebook to roll out virtual make-up tests
• Walmart to pilot Alphabot robotics for grocery pickup
• Olay uses AI to double its conversion rate
• Domino's delivers pizza with Snapchat AR
• Hyundai Mobis taps AI for car software
• LG introduces advanced stylers with AI

• PepsiCo names Ramon Laguarta as Chief Executive Officer
• Lululemon appoints Calvin McDonald as Chief Executive Officer
• Nordstrom appoints Edmond Mesrobian as Chief Technology Officer
• Salesforce taps Keith Block as Co-Chief Executive Officer
• Avon taps Benedetto Conversano as Chief Digital Officer
• NTT Corp appoints Motoyuki Li as Chief Digital Officer
• Hertz names Opal Perry as Chief Information Officer
• GSK taps Iain Mackay as Chief Financial Officer
• Cree appoints Neill Reynolds as Chief Financial Officer
• REI names Dan Shull as VP of Commerce & Experiences

• Salesforce is looking for Chief Operating Officer, Marketing Cloud
• Paycom is looking for Chief Information Officer
• MUFG Union Bank seeks Chief Information & Operations Officer
• Citi seeks SVP of Digital Personalization
• Magellan Health seeks VP, Chief Operations Officer
• L’oreal is looking for IT Director - AD Tech Platforms
• Ralph Lauren seeks Director, Digital Content Services, IT
• Cigna is looking for Digital Marketing Director
• Kaiser Permanente seeks VP, Analytics Technology Platform & Services

• Amazon and Snapchat teaming up for visual search feature
• Alibaba opens AI-powered fashion boutique
• Target automating cash counting at stores
• Walmart launches virtual tours for home furniture shoppers
• Weis Markets equips for omnichannel marketplace
• Kroger to bring driverless cars to grocery delivery
• L’OCCITANE en Provence steps up personalization
• Marks & Spencers team up with Microsoft for AI tech
• Argos using AR to help customers buy TVs
• Gymboree refreshes brand with AR-powered mobile app

 Consumer Goods

• L’Oréal unveils live makeup consultations with AR
• Nike melds mobile, physical retail with new LA concept store
• Daimler, Bosch, Nvidia Team Up To Bring Robo-Taxis To Silicon Valley
• Unilever partners with Blis on blockchain platform
• Ford Motor team up with Baidu on AI-powered smart cars
• Audi signs MOU with Huawei to develop connected car technology
• Hyundai launches digital showroom on Amazon

 Financial Services

• Facebook plans to offer payment feature in its messaging app
• Citizens launches digital-only bank
• UBS creates AI-powered avatar of its chief economist 
• BofA Merrill launches biometric log-ins for corporate mobile users
• JP Morgan Chase launches all banking mobile service, Finn by Chase
• Citi launches digital proxy voting platform
• Santander bank creates digital investment unit 
• BBVA tests facial recognition payments
• Manulife introduces AI underwriting algorithm

 Healthcare / Pharma

• Fitbit shows promise in predicting cancer outcomes
• Google researchers create AI that maps the brain’s neurons
• UI Health Care using AI to assess preventable blindness 
• Walmart to use blockchain for medical records
• Bayshore Medical Center offers robotic-assisted surgery
• Novartis launches NET cancer community app

 Focus of the Month: Cloud

• eBook: Evolution of IAM to CIAM model 
• Infographic: Global Website Factory Program
  
• Salesforce Datorama acquisition to bolster Marketing Cloud
• Walmart signs deal to use Microsoft cloud services
• Unisys launches cloud migration service
• Orange acquires Basefarm Holding to enhance cloud service offerings
• Alibaba & Commvault partner for cloud solutions
• GitLab moves from Azure to Google Cloud Platform 

• Dunkin’ Brands appoints David Hoffmann as Chief Executive Officer
• JLL names Vinay Goel as Chief Digital Officer
• Bosch appoints Dr Michael Bolle as Chief Digital Officer
• Toyota Motor NA appoints Manjit Singh as Chief Information Officer
• Mitsubishi Motors names Natalie Milton as VP & Chief Information Officer
• LoanDepot taps Jonathan Berkowitz as Chief Innovation Officer
• Petco names Ron Coughlin as Chief Executive Officer
• Liberty Global appoints Enrique Rodriguez as Chief Technology Officer
• Campbell taps Diego Palmieri as Chief Marketing Officer
• AP Moller-Maersk appoints Carolina Dybeck Happe as Chief Financial Officer

• Ericsson is looking for VP, Head of Digital Services
• JP Morgan Chase seeks VP, Technology Data Management Project Lead
• UnitedHealthcare seeks VP Network Management
• Capital Group seeks Vice President, Digital & Marketing Analytics
• McKinsey is looking for Director, Digital & Analytics
• State Street seeks VP, Business Continuity
• Citi seeks VP, Payments and Receivables Capabilities Roadmap
• Thermo Fisher seeks Director, Global IT Finance
• Facebook is looking for Chief Marketing Officer

Retail

• Target pilots reward program in its mobile app to bolster omnichannel strategy
• Neiman Marcus focuses on omnichannel improvements
• Tommy Hilfiger & Burberry launch chatbots—here’s why chatbots are all a rage
• WalMart Inc.’s Sam’s Club rolls out scan-and-go mobile checkout
• Rutter’s farm stores add NCR optic solutions at its stores
• Domino’s innovates on pizza ordering with Facebook Messenger bot
• Urban Outfitters taps omnichannel to spur growth
• GAP updates e-commerce site for its brands for a “better shopping experience”
• Burberry’s personalization tactics of see-now, buy-now via social touchpoints
• Web sales drive all of Best Buy’s growth in Q2

Financial Services

• Chase adds new mobile capability for searching vehicles and financing options
• HSBC’s new technology allows opening a bank account with a selfie
• RBS pilots Ethereum to support domestic payments system
• Citi, HSBC test blockchain for reference data management

Consumer Goods

• Walgreens dives deeper into advanced digital healthcare offerings
• Sephora expands its education-driven monetization with new android app
• Pfizer develops mobile app to monitor depression
• General Mills’ Box Tops campaign gets a mobile makeover
• Toyota’s new app incentivizes safe driving with mobile coupons
• Mac Cosmetics’ new members-only app is uncapping mobile sales

Focus Market of the Month: Holiday Season 2016

• Hustle up for the holidays: omnichannel retailing lessons
• Halloween spending to reach $8.4B, highest in survey history—NRF
• Here’s how millennials are shopping this holiday season
• Best Buy to launch Oculus Rift VR Demos across stores to drive holiday traffic
• Target gears up for holiday season
• Lululemon tries on ship from store for the holidays

• ABB appoints IoT pioneer Guido Jouret as Chief Digital Officer
• Petco appoints John Zevada as SVP & Chief Information Officer
• Tory Burch appoints John Douglas as CTO
• Ken Worzel becomes Nordstrom’s new president for its e-commerce site

• Mastercard seeks VP, Global Digital Marketing
• Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness seeks VP, Engagement Strategist
• Marriott is looking for Sr. Director, Digital Merchandising
• Tiffany & Co seeks Sr. Director, Omnichannel & Direct Marketing
• Wolverine Worldwide seeks Sr. Director DTC Marketing, Analytics
• Estee Lauder seeks Director, Marketing
• KPMG seeks Director, Digital Technology