Introduction

• Turning raw data into actionable insights has a direct correlation to overall financial success in retail. From trend forecasting and inventory control to marketing strategy and customer behaviour, perhaps no industry relies more heavily on data. 

• The arrival of COVID-19 fast-tracked data-driven modernization initiatives for retailers in areas like customer support, order fulfillment, and inventory management. Shoppers want to know what’s available before they visit stores, and they expect fulfillment options like curbside pickup. This has left many retailers asking how they can get smarter with their data, move faster to create new customer experiences, and do a better job of connecting their employees and customers—all reliably, at scale, and in a secure way