Insights success the 10 most innovative merchandising solution providers nov 2017

www.insightssuccess.com NOVEMBER 2017

The way of business solutions

10 Most

The

Innovative

Merchandising Solution Providers

2017 Brand Talk Essential Qualities of A World Class Brand

Customer ‘N’ ovation Should Innovation be Customer-driven?

The Astute Panel Innovation: The Catalyst in Human Evolution

Leading the Industry in Innovation & Creativity

John Hans CEO

Editorial

I

n this fast-paced era of technology and disruptions, the retail merchandising solutions providers strive to offer an entire gamut of retail solutions including, retail analytics, inventory planning, item pricing, pricing solutions, product management, etc. With an aim to flexibility to the system along with reduced time to market, provide these solutions also offer multichannel retailing solutions by promoting and providing seamless customer experience across multiple digital channels. So for user organizations to have a comparatively strategic advantage, better go to market solutions, reduced waiting times and effective promotion across channels; collaborating with a merchandising solution provider is must.

The retail, wholesale, and distribution industry has arrived to a period of transformation. Many companies are looking for ways to increase profit while escalating growth and market share. For a good business model to succeed, its backbone must address four catalysts that drive disruption: the economy, enabling technologies, platforms, and consumer mindset.

No technology strategy, including sophisticated customer engagement systems (CRM) or digital marketing software, cuttingedge in-store gadgets or well-designed apps, and websites can act as a substitute for inaccurate merchandising decisions or poor product offerings. Retailers should provide distinctive, high-quality, and trusted products to consumers at the right price while continuing to remain laser-focused on getting the basics right.

The Industry has a lot to Give.

Are you ready for Disruption?

The retail disruption is largely driven by technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, augmented reality, cognitive intelligence and machine learning. AI is at an evolutionary stage and the technology has been already embedded in our daily lives beyond ones' imagination. Consumers currently encounter elements of purposely designed AI while using voice-activated virtual assistants such as Microsoft Cortana®, Amazon Alexa®, or Siri® voice recognition software to provide directions, play music, find restaurants or make suggestions for lifestyle changes. Since the tech-giants Google, IBM, Amazon, Apple Inc., and Microsoft are engaged in an AI arms race, it is expected to push the technology into the market at an innovative speed.

It is estimated that two-third of the U.S GDP comes from the retail industry. And while the trends may wax and wane and changing economic circumstances will drive profitability, we live in a consumer dominated society and people will keep on buying. The interested entrepreneur with a discerning eye can find incredible opportunities among this immense and diverse industry. Thus, businesses in the retail, wholesale, and distribution industry can prepare themselves for a range of probabilities by reinventing brands, enabling technology, and exploring new business models.

Poonam Yadav

Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal Senior Editor Ariana Lawrence Managing Editor Poonam Yadav Co-Editors David Smith Abhijeet Parade Contribution Sourav, Ajit, Neha, Kedar, Poulami Visualiser David King Art & Design Director Amol Kamble Co-designer Alex Noel Picture Editor Vijaykumar Dudhbhate Art Editor Shweta Shinde Business Development Manager Mike Thomas Nick Adams Marketing Manager William Business Development Executives Andy, David, Peter, Kevin, John, Brian Research Analyst Jennifer Circulation Manager Robert Database Management Steve Technology Consultant Swapnil Patil sales@insightssuccess.com

November 2017 Corporate Ofces: Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-602-1754 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com

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CONTENTS Cover Story

Leading the Industry in Innovation & Creativity

08

Mentor’s Perspective

16

26

Articles Brand Talk Essential Qualities of A World Class Brand

22

Costomer ‘N’ovation Should Innovation be Customer-Driven?

30

The Astute Panel Innovation: The Catalyst in Human Evolution

Expert’s Opinion

IOT Business will Boost Economy in the Next Decades

38

Technology Innovation: An Indispensable Factor in Business

2020 Companies: The Premier Brand behind Every Brand

20

24

EDITED: The Real Time Business Caterer

32

34

LivePOS: Hybrid Cloud POS Software Solution with Multi-store and Access Levels

ApplyBoard: Connecting Students to their Dream School in Flat 60 Seconds

GreenMile: Advanced Cloud-based Technology for Merchandising

40

42

NextOrbit: Building the Perfect AI Universe for Retailers and Brands

Innovation that Transforms the Retail Merchandising Environment

I

n today’s era, retailers try to create immersive in-store experiences, to better engage the customers. A broad spectrum of undertakings includes product packaging, advertisement techniques, and strengthening of brand messages, which are crucial in boosting sales. Consumers of the current generation are more likely to visit again if the retailers offer a responsive customer engagement and superior in-store experience. It’s the unexpected nature of the experience that also differentiates a winner from the high-street competition.

Additionally, the shopping experience can be further improved with retail analytics, pricing strategies, inventory planning, product and shop floor management, and merchandising displays. There’re ample of software vendors that deliver strategic advantages to the retailers. Our special issue of ‘The 10 Most Innovative Merchandising Solution Providers 2017’ brings forth the leading market players who are at the forefront of providing advanced merchandising solution and are transforming the retail merchandising environment.

Our cover story features Imagine!, who is leading the industry with innovation and creativity. Imagine! is a consumer insights-driven, holistic visual communications partner, delivering innovative end-to-end marketing solutions that enable their clients to create breakthrough experiences, establish meaningful brand connections, and drive enduring consumer loyalty.

We have also featured 2020 Companies, which is one of the premier outsourced sales and marketing agencies in the United States; ApplyBoard, an online platform for international students to find and apply to the best institutions in the USA and Canada; EDITED, which is a retail technology company used by the world’s best brands and retailers to have the right product at the right time, at the right price; GreenMile, a leading cloud-based platform and mobile solutions company that provides location-based software to manage mobile resources for distributors around the world; LivePOS, a cloud solution, initially designed to put up the multi-location, multi-store retail operation, wherein all store information is aggregated and displayed in a simple, cohesive manner on the dashboard, making it easy to get a realtime snapshot of the business; and NextOrbit, a cloud platform designed to predict, eliminate uncertainty and create an opportunity at every step in the retail business based on concrete data and insight.

So, flip through the amazing folios for insights on organizations striving hard to keep-up with the market needs. Do not miss out on some important executive acumen and articles from our in-house editors.

Happy Reading!

John Hans CEO

I

n today's fast-paced, evolving world, both marketplace and industry are continually compelled to develop new and creative ways to engage with consumers. Consumers are increasingly demanding products, services, and spaces to be more tightly focused around their personal lifestyle and interests, driving retailers, entertainment providers, and service industries to respond with more personalized and relevant marketing and merchandising. With this direct correlation between consumer experience and brand loyalty, balancing consumer expectations, brand image, and budget has become a real challenge for marketers.

Visual communications are highly effective when you understand your consumers, invest in-fit-for-purpose tools, and have a clear strategy to ensure success. Your visual solutions must go beyond simple messaging to deliver interesting, unique, relevant, and memorable content and experience. That's where Imagine! has really found its niche, becoming an invaluable partner by helping marketers go beyond run-of-the-mill campaigns to achieve more meaningful impact, influence, and wins in the marketplace.

Based out of Minnesota, Imagine! provides full-service visual marketing solutions for clients across the retail, entertainment, gaming, quickserve/fast casual restaurant, and CPG industries. The Imagine! Companies are comprised of Imagine! Print Solutions; Imagine! Express; Midnight Oil Agency; and Classic Graphics. As a family of visual communication experts, Imagine! leverages its complementary skills and capabilities in order to design, produce, and deliver meaningful experiences and successful consumer outcomes for its clients.

Imagine! Print Solutions Imagine! Print Solutions offers one of the broadest arrays of print processes and finishing options in the nation. The platform strives to be the supplier of choice for customer engagement by providing end-to-end solutions for complex, brand-based marketing and design needs.

Imagine! Express Imagine! Express specializes in fast turns, short runs, and service beyond imagination. From vibrant dyesublimated fabric textiles to variable commercial printing to super-sized environmental graphics, every project is handled with the highest standards and an eye on the deadline.

Midnight Oil Midnight Oil drives creative agency offerings, delivering dynamic, inspired solutions that invoke meaningful connections and experiences. Based in Burbank, California, near the epicenter of the entertainment industry, their passionate team works to influence, shape, and redefine cultural values with insightful messaging that elevates and engages consumers.

Classic Graphics Classic runs an award-winning graphics communications manufacturing operation, delivering advanced technological capabilities and cutting-edge expertise from their strategic position in the Southeastern U.S. With a comprehensive range of services, they are dedicated to

“Our customers define the quality and we build around it”

protecting brands, optimizing budgets, and delivering impactful results.

The Conception and Evolution of the Company Bob Lothenbach founded Imagine!

Print Solutions in 1988 with a single borrowed press. His vision, unwavering determination, and commitment to outstanding service allowed the business to defy all odds and grow from local to regional and national esteem.

Over the last thirty years, the Imagine! family of companies has weathered market and industry challenges without losing focus on the customer, adapting to meet increasing client expectations and an ever-evolving marketplace.

Today, Imagine! has evolved from the operation in Lothenbach's garage to become a recognized industry powerhouse and a leader in POP/POS production for North America.

A significant portion of Imagine!'s robust growth has included the acquisitions of DigiGraphics (renamed Imagine! Express) in 2012; Classic Graphics in 2013; and Midnight Oil Agency in 2016. As part of Lothenbach's vision for continued growth, he partnered with Oak Hill Capital Partners, a private equity firm headquartered in New York, in March of 2016 to provide the additional horsepower needed to drive Imagine! further than ever before.

In addition, Oak Hill worked to support Lothenbach's vision for Imagine!'s future by transitioning his role to a new leader. John Hans joined the Imagine! family in 2016 as enterprise CEO, bringing a proven record of leadership success and broadbased experience as a part of companies like Proctor & Gamble, IBM, Heinz, and Yum! Brands.

Beyond his commitment to achieving superior operational performance, Hans' primary aim is to position the

Imagine! family of companies as world-class visual communications providers, delivering clients unmatched service and innovation.

Delivering Value Creates Value Imagine! prides itself in having the people, the experience, the equipment, the creativity, and the passion to bring any project to life. Their holistic capabilities, varied service offerings, and trusted insights allow their clients to depend on them as a single source for every visual communications challenge, question, idea, and inspiration.

Everything we do is geared toward making your life easier and your marketing campaigns completely stress-free

Team Imagine! prioritizes innovation and invests in the newest technology to help their clients continually improve the efficacy and impact of their campaigns. The company's equipment acquisitions, technology initiatives, and creative processes are directly influenced by the needs of their clients and the consumers they serve.

Well-versed in managing complex, integrated marketing programs, Imagine! approaches each challenge with a solutions-mindset and a determination to deliver impactful executions that create traffic, increase transactions, and build brand loyalty.

By treating clients as strategic partners rather than buyers, Imagine! is able to continually learn, grow, and improve in accordance with their clients' needs to deliver successful and relevant results now and in the future.

Dedicated Services & the Methodology to Thrive The Imagine! Companies collectively specialize in design-to-delivery execution, providing innovative creative expertise and from-scratch structural engineering as well as highquality print manufacturing. Their national print segments include point of purchase, packaging, commercial, flexography, textile, digital, UV, and screen print. Beyond their design,

printing, kitting, and fulfillment capabilities, the company provides campaign management tools, insightful thought leadership, and custom solutions to help their clients design more sophisticated go-to-market strategies. A comprehensive view of the organization's services is given below: Imagine! Print Solutions executes high-profile national campaigns and exacting brand standards on the industry's tightest timelines—every single day. Their wide range of products includes: In-store signage, Temporary POP displays, Permanent signage, Displays & fixtures, Product packaging & Commercial collateral.

Imagine! Express offers a complete range of in-house print capabilities designed to transform spaces and

elevate brands. Production specialties include: Dye-sublimated fabric graphics, Large & grand-format graphics, In-store signage, Commercial mailing & Marketing collateral.

Imagine! FLEXO is an operating unit of Imagine! Print Solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of flexographic solutions. Products include: Prime Labels, Coupons, Onserts, Specialty/Promotional (game pieces, scratch-offs, etc.), Shrink Sleeves, Flexible Packaging & Labeling Equipment.

Midnight Oil is known for creative expertise that brings brands to life, goes beyond the bottom line, and explodes the status quo. They provide: Brand experience (360-degree marketing strategy, website/platform

development, etc.), Digital (video, social media, live streaming, etc.), Creative, Promotional, and Commercial content & Print services.

Classic Graphics serves top national and international brands with a sharpened focus on consumer responsiveness. Their specialties include: Commercial mailing, Secure communications, Promotional signage, POP displays & Data and digital asset management.

Imagine! and its family of companies has received numerous awards for excellence in print quality and innovation, and is nationally known as one of the most progressive and fastest-growing print companies. Rated among the Top 15 Printers in the nation, Imagine! has extensive experience delivering solutions to some of the most respected brands in North America.

Serving as Brand Partners Imagine! works directly alongside its clients to thoroughly understand their brand and meet their specific marketing needs with value-engineered services and custom, optimized solutions. They have uniquely positioned themselves as fully integrated partners, leveraging both dynamic agency capability and robust production and deployment services.

Imagine! boasts a long and proud history of delivering client-specific solutions and managing complex, integrated marketing programs. The family of companies operates on a never satisfied, flexible, client-first business model that looks for continuous improvement at every opportunity. With a dynamic team of strategic problem-solvers, creative artists, and expert craftsmen, they work to elevate brands and engage consumers through meaningful connections and experiences that inspire.

Providing service and execution beyond limits, beyond ordinary, and beyond print Evolving Strategies with Changing Times in Merchandising With today's consumers increasingly seeking more convenient, personal, and exciting experiences, marketers are continually compelled to develop new and creative ways to engage with them.

In this rapidly changing marketplace, Imagine! is a beacon of confidence and leadership, always ready to adapt, evolve, and innovate to meet their clients' needs. Imagine! continually strives to deliver insight-driven creativity and design, value-engineered products and services, and superior execution of contingency and hyperlocal campaigns.

Imagine! works closely with marketers to develop engaging and consistent branding through full, coordinated strategies that include insightful concepts, dynamic structural displays, smart merchandising, and relevant, targeted messaging. They provide their clients with effective, value-engineered solutions, enabling them to create immersive experiences, positive impressions, and meaningful connections between the consumer and brand that ultimately increases transactions and maximizes ROI. Today and in the future, Imagine! envisions positioning itself as a partner that helps to drive consumer outcomes.

They continue to focus on ensuring their capabilities and services tightly align with the goals, objectives and desired outcomes of their clients.

Envisioning Major Leaps through Future Endeavors Imagine! looks forward to continually enhancing its core creative and print manufacturing capabilities, staying ahead of the competition with investments in industry-leading technology and innovation. In addition to their ongoing commitment to provide best-in-class POP execution, they are emphasizing growth in their agency and brand communication capabilities through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.

Imagine! has several new equipment acquisitions in the works, with an emphasis on amplifying their ability to produce high-speed, high-quality print and allow their clients to take advantage of high- capacity message versioning for targeted, localized marketing programs. The company also envisions expanding their service offerings at Classic Graphics and their digital press capacity at their Midnight Oil facility. Imagine! will continue to work diligently to develop their campaign management technology offerings, allowing clients to design sophisticated marketing strategies around location, demographics, and demand in order to deliver optimized messaging to the right place at the right time.

Imagine! will continue driving positive consumer outcomes through broadened solutions capabilities that bridge digital and physical solutions to elevate shopping experiences and connect consumers to brands. Through greater supply chain efficiencies, channelrelevant insights, and immersive instore executions, they will continue enabling their clients to create more sophisticated marketing strategies.

Above all, Imagine! is dedicated to embracing every future challenge as an opportunity to provide service and execution beyond limits, beyond ordinary, and beyond print.

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Company Name

Management

2020 Companies 2020companies.com

Ross Wissner Executive Vice President

2020 Companies is one of the premier outsourced sales and marketing agencies in the United States.

ApplyBoard applyboard.com

Martin Basiri CEO

ApplyBoard is an online platform for international students to find and apply to the best institutions in the USA and Canada.

Creative Agency Services Team castretail.com

John Paul Orr CEO

Cast defines and innovates the best-in-class standards and processes.with three core competencies, World-Class Execution, Scalable Expertise, and Technical Services.

EDITD edited.com

Julia Fowler Co-founder

EDITED is a retail technology company used by the world’s best brands and retailers to have the right product at the right time, at the right price.

Green Mile LLC greenmile.com

Alexandre Souza Director of Marketing

GreenMile is a leading cloud-based platform and mobile solutions company that provides location-based software to manage mobile resources for distributors around the world.

Imagine! Print Solutions imagineps.com

Zdenek Kratky VP Marketing

Imagine! is a consumer insights-driven, holistic visual communications partner, delivering innovative end-to-end marketing solutions that enable their clients to create breakthrough experiences, establish meaningful brand connections, and drive enduring consumer loyalty.

Jesta I.S. jestais.com

Moris Chemtov President

Jesta I.S. is an international supplier of integrated software solutions for wholesalers and retailers specializing in apparel, footwear, accessories and soft-goods verticals.

LivePOS livepos.com

Liad Biton CEO & Co-founder

LivePOS, is a cloud solution, initially designed to put up the multi-location, multi-store retail operation, wherein all store information is aggregated and displayed in a simple, cohesive manner on the dashboard, making it easy to get a real-time snapshot of the business.

NextOrbit Inc nextorbit.com

Kishore Rajgopal CEO

NextOrbit is a cloud platform designed to predict, eliminate uncertainty and create an opportunity at every step in the retail business based on concrete data and insight.

Tattle tattleapp.com

Alex Beltrani CEO

Tattle is a full-function survey and feedback API disruptor that offers customized, native survey experiences delivered to developers to increase end-user interaction.

Brief

Mentor’s Perspective

IoT

BUSINESS

WILL BOOST

ECONOMY IN THE

NEXT

DECADES

-By José Antônio Scodiero, Director & Founding Partner of FAST COMPANY BRAZIL

T

he world of the Internet of Things promises to be the main engine of the global economy in the next years. In developing countries, such as Brazil, the opportunities will be even bigger. Considering the size of the local market and the pressing need that Brazil has in increasing the innovation rhythm, technology usage and development, the country can already be seen as a big global player by companies from this sector. In this moment, the more accurate motto for companies that want to act or are acting in Brazil is “Innovate or Die.” After a cycle of more than 10 years of continuous growth, that put the country in evidence on the global landscape as part of the select group of so-called BRICs (Brasil, Russia, India and China) and that stressed even more its leadership in Latin America, Brazil is now entering, in the past two years, a moment of political tension that has reflected directly in the economy. The moment now is of reviewing and restructuring. But in spite of the perception of some foreign executives and entrepreneurs that this is not a good time to invest in the country, it is clear that Brazil had a virtuous cycle of many years and reached a higher level. All

16

this indicates that, for sure, not all is lost. Far from it. The time is for opportunities.

With the stabilization of the smartphone market, there’s a great potential for the technology industry - especially in the semiconductors area - in business involving connected cars, agriculture, livestock, smart cities, among others. To fully use this opportunities, it is necessary to understand in which ways it is possible to develop the best technological solutions to different regions. And the solutions to problems from different countries can only be found locally.

Investing in the right time and in the right moment Despite the low participation of Brazil in the semiconductors industry, the country has a great potential to use the Internet of Things and to develop in this sector. It is a field in which no one has the advantage yet: we are, theoretically, in the same level as United States and China.

Besides that, a chip to a sensor for IoT is cheaper and easier to develop than one made for smartphones. Therefore, it is less costly to invest in IoT.

|November 2017|

José Antônio Scodiero Director - Founding Partner of FAST COMPANY BRAZIL With over 30 years of experience in areas like information technology, personal computing, semiconductors, entrepreneurship and startups, José Antônio Scodiero has already acted as a high level executive in several big and successful international corporations like: IBM; Apple Computer; OkiData, where he was president of the Brazilian subsidiary, and more recently; AMD, leader in the semiconductors segment, where he held the position of Vice-President for the Latin America region. José Antônio Scodiero is graduated in Electronics Engineering with specialization in hardware and microelectronics and has an MBA in Corporate Administrations by Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado (FAAP).

As an entrepreneur, he founded lots of startup companies since the 90’s, having created his first company when he was only 24 years old. In 2009 he founded Fast Company Brazil, with the objective of catapulting multinational organizations, from sectors like digital technology, semiconductors and software that are seeking to install subsidiaries in the Brazilian and Latin American markets. In 2010 he obtained the certification of Corporate Governance from the Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance (IBGC) and started acting as a consulting advisor in companies in 2011. In 2012, he became president of the task force of semiconductors of AMCHAM - American Chamber for Brazil and USA. Still in 2012, Scodiero was also elected Director of SBMICRO - Brazilian Society of Microelectronics, where he remains until the end of 2016.

|November 2017|

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Mentor’s Perspective

In the technology world, the innovation chain has inverted itself recently, with the large domain of big multinational companies giving space to startups and new entrepreneurs. This movement creates a pulverization of opportunities. It is no longer something concentrated, in the domain of few big players like it used to be. There is space for companies from outside the country and also for the appearance of new local players that can learn and develop their own systems and foment the industry.

The technology giants, that lost a wave of opportunities that emerged with the mobile business (smartphones, tablets and M2M), now are moving rapidly so they don’t miss out on the opportunities that the IoT segment will bring. There are several examples in this direction and IBM is one of them, since its announcement, in December of 2015, to return to the consumer electronics market, ten years after selling its computer division to the Chinese Lenovo. The problem is that there are a lot of companies, big and small, repeating the same strategies in the search of its own space in the technology market. This needs to change. The motto “Innovate or Die” also needs to be applied in the planning.

IoT as a transforming agent of an economy As well as in great transformations of the past, the revolution caused by IoT will change the entire landscape of the career scenario. It is estimated that in time, it will be possible to see 20 to 30 million jobs migrate, and some functions might disappear, thanks to robotics, intelligent machines and artificial intelligence (AI), that will infiltrate in new corporate areas and automate the positions that are repetitive and transitional.

But what it seems like bad news is in fact a readaptation, from work stations focused on operational to opportunities in areas that demands data analysis, ability to solve problems, think creatively, innovate and work within a team. Nothing too distant from the profile that today is comprehended as a good professional. It is an evolutionary movement, driven by technology.

If the job openings in operational work stations tend to drop, the opportunities to professionals that seek qualification and even reinvention will grow a lot. It is a market that, according to IDC, will grow about US$1, 7 trillion until 2020. This amount needs, and will be, shared among the professionals that manage to keep up with the demands of the market.

18

|November 2017|

2020 Companies: The Premier Brand behind Every Brand

Christopher B. Munday Chairman & CEO

A

consumer electronics company wanted to gain insight into why and how it was being outperformed by the competition at home improvement and appliance retailers. The firm that the client chose to identify shortcomings, used its mapping technology to split over 2,800 locations into geographical routes. The firm then mobilized 729 field reps to physically survey the inventory of 119 SKUs. Its team provided pictures and critical insights from locations in 44 states and 1,497 cities, all within twelve days. In less than two weeks, they had compiled over 300,000 retail insight data points that allowed the client to focus on the right products in the right markets. Meet 2020 Companies—a premier nationwide outsourced sales, merchandising and marketing agency that creates memorable sales- and merchandisingfocused experiences for its customers.

Delivering Optimum Brand Experience 2020 employs over 10,000 highly-skilled brand execution and consumer engagement experts who specialize in merchandising, sales, training, advocacy, and experiential marketing initiatives.

This pioneering company has over 25 years of experience serving the Consumer Electronics, Personal Audio, Home Appliances, Consumer Packaged Goods, Sporting Goods,

20

Telecom, and Energy industries. It offers a collaborative turnkey solution that engages and activates consumers during the final leg of their purchase journey. Specializing in visual merchandising continuity, project execution, and audit services, 2020 delivers the optimum brand experience wherever the consumer’s journey leads them.

It works with leading manufacturers and brands to develop a custom go-to-market strategy including Consumer Activation Ideation, Sales/Merchandising Territory Design, Retail Coverage Modeling, POS Design and Manufacturing, POS Logistics, and Retail/Competitive Insights.

Utilizing its innovating A5 strategy, 2020 creates the optimum talent solution to activate all brands. Whether they are building interactive gaming displays in Best Buy or designing and staffing pop-up retail locations for the holiday season, 2020 is the perfect partner for every brand and industry.

A Magnetic and Driven Leader Christopher B. Munday, Chairman and CEO of 2020, grew up in the projects of Kent, England and was a fierce competitor even at an early age. His tenacity and drive, coupled with his charm, make him a magnetic leader. Chris

|November 2017|

“2020 Companies is perfectly positioned to grow in an everchanging world and retail landscape. We have put in place the best systems, infrastructure, and people to support exponential growth with existing and future clients”

leads the organization by empowering his team and challenging them to increasingly higher levels of achievement. His perfect balance of support in challenging times and uncompromising drive during periods of growth creates a cohesive team environment that drives results.

After joining 2020 Companies in 2008, Chris’s focus included assembling a proven leadership team which included Steve Peters, President, and Steve Zink, CFO, in an effort to enhance culture, innovation, structural capabilities and client diversification. Over the next 24 months, the team put a plan in motion which would lead the company through a masterfully-executed growth trajectory. Together, they transformed the culture, reengineered the operation and grew top line revenue and EBITDA by over 3 times.

Together, Everyone Achieves More 2020’s involved leadership is complemented by a world class innovation team. They have built custom business applications using Salesforce to capture each moment of a shopper’s journey; this translates into business insights that will be used to drive future brand initiatives for its partners. Some of these solutions include PULSE, Albert, Amplify360, and Autogen. Over 10,000 remote employees use these apps every day.

Some of the notable features and functions of its innovative solutions include territory management, compliance, scheduling/people

|November 2017|

logistics, on-demand video training, gathering data (consumer, retail, and competitive), business insights, geolocation services, real time photo gallery, and automated business expense tracking. Where most competitors take days and weeks to drive new initiatives through their team, 2020 Companies uses PULSE to create instantaneous change to schedules and activities.

2020’s solutions follow both consumers’ and employees’ journey across all channels to ensure that the team delivers on the client’s goals while delivering a brand-right customer experience.

Allowing Maximum Activation and Return on Investment Because 2020 is the “brand behind the brand”, it is relatively unknown in an established industry. However, it has built a best in class back office and has the necessary infrastructure to support and scale large accounts. The company offers a well-balanced line of services across multiple industries and works with some of the largest and most valuable brands in the world.

As one clients mentions, “I’ve had the pleasure to partner with 2020 Companies for over 3 years, running one of the largest merchandising programs in the country. The overall quality 2020 brings to the table is unlike anything I’ve experienced in my 20 years in retail. They continually bring new and innovative ideas to the table resulting in reduced time to completion and improved client satisfaction.”

Moving Ahead with Innovation 2020 will continue to assist manufactures and retailers through dedicated teams to ensure that retail standards are met for every client.

Expect to see 2020 Companies crossing into new industries, expanding services with existing customers, and continuing to impress with innovation.

2020’s guiding principles are collaboration, team work, flexibility, and mutual respect. Each client receives a brand champion and crossfunctional project team responsible for discovery through deployment and execution. Using PULSE, 2020 customizes brand engagement to trigger maximum activation and return on investment for each partner.

21

Brand Talk

Essential Qualities of

A World Class Brand A

ccording to many brand surveys, more than 50 percent customers prefer to buy a product from a familiar brand, rather than a new brand, which makes the life hard for new small brands and their entreprenaures as most of the customers stay devoted to their age old brand. That's why each and every brand has to be different, especially in order to change the consumer mindset. Already confused? Don’t worry, we are here with the list, so that you can differentiate your brand from others, which will eventually help you raise your brand value.

Awareness The best brands in the world understand the market thoroughly; they know everything from the target market, to how they communicate and even what their interests are.

Understanding the target market and audience is the key, as it helps to set the tone and the reach of a marketing campaign, with the overall identity of a brand. Finding the perfect target market always helps in creating the right branding approach.

Uniqueness To create a great brand appeal, one must make the brand unique. For example, Tesla and Apple is renowned for their innovative products, which are minimalistic in design but when it comes to asthetics, then these two companies score much more than others. Domino is used to provide a 30 minutes guarantee for their pizza or else it would be free.

Mobile phone brands such as Mi and OnePlus provides flagship phone experience at a cheaper price.

Innovation Given today’s hyper competitive market one must be innovative to stay alive. The company should anticipate what their customers want, and it should surprise its customers with constant flow of innovation. For example,

22

Apple launched its personal assistant named Siri, even before anyone anticipated. Apple also launched iPad, which was the first tablet in the industry that later changed the shape of mobile industry, Tesla’s self driving car was also a great innovation for its time. So, with constant stream of innovation, any company can be at the top of the priority list.

Reliable Products To be a best brand, one must create such products that are reliable enough. If a product is innovative and unique but lacks reliability, then it can hurt the brand’s image to a great extent. As example one can easily look at Nokia 3310, the phone was so reliable that Nokia sold almost 130 million units of the phone, and even after a decade, some people are using the phone without any problem.

Leadership There’s always an influential leader who stands tall behind every successful company. One has to step up and take the steering in order to coordinate the efforts of team members and guide a brand perfectly. A true leader always resolves complications and works as a bridge between different departments in order to maintain proper communication.

For example, Steve Jobs always wanted to create great products at Apple and in order to maintain that, he wouldn’t care about psychological damage of his employees. On the other hand, Tim Cook has worked more for his employees which has helped him improve the work culture of Apple.

However, it lacks the innovation, which has led to sales drop.

Adaptibility Strong brands also have to be adaptable enough so that they can thrive even in the toughest time which can be anything from changes in competition to, economic conditions or

|November 2017|

market trends. A brand has to conquer all these and it has to stay relevant to consumer needs and interest. For example, we can look at Blackberry and Nokia; these two companies tried to stay in the competition with their own OS when the whole world was bending towards iOS and Android, and they failed to change themselves as per the changing market needs which resulted in massive sales drop. Eventually, Microsoft acquired Nokia and rebranded Nokia smartphones as Lumia.

Friendliness towards the society Those brands who understand the importance of doing social work often gets a special place in its consumer’s heart.

Additionally, brands that are involved with social causes are perceived as valuable as the customers understand that a certain

percentage of their spending is going for a social cause. For example, recently Philips has introduced some of its new ‘green’ healthcare products to improve patient outcome and increase access to treatment, which has helped increase sales for the company. Another example is Toms Shoes, where the company has promised that they will donate a pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair purchased.

At the end, one can say that a brand has to be relevant to meet all its consumer demands. In the last few years, there’s been many hype about brands, many promises are made and broken about how a brand performed, how it's positioned and about the real value of the brand. However, consumers are looking for something with long lasting life cycle, they always look for quality, not for quantity.

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ApplyBoard: Connecting Students to their Dream School in less than 60 Seconds

Martin Basiri CEO & Co-founder

I

t’s easy to have a limited view of the world we live in, but international education can relieve you of this.

There are many personal benefits of studying abroad, and ways to grow both professionally and personally. In fact, choosing to study abroad can be one of the most enriching, interesting, fulfilling, and educationally stimulating experiences of your entire life.

One of the best things about studying in an international environment is that it brings you into contact with people from all over the world, empowering you to create a global network of contacts. These international connections aren’t just a source of new good friends; they could prove to be invaluable, even years down the line, when it comes to your career.

Fueling this educational insight enters ApplyBoard.com, an online platform for international students to find and apply to the best institutions in the USA and Canada. Founded in 2015, the website assists hundreds of students daily to apply for some of the most esteemed colleges and universities in North America.

The Commencement ApplyBoard’s founders, Martin, Meti were both international students who came to Canada to get a better education. They knew how difficult the process is for international students applying to study abroad, so they

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designed ApplyBoard.com to help students through the process of applying to schools in Canada or the USA. The CEO and Co-Founder of the company, Martin Basiri, is a persistent and intuitive technology impresario.

He has been thoughtfully innovating since a very young age, and invented his first device at the age of 14. To date, Martin has invented more than 25 devices and is the owner of 10 patents, 2 of which are in the education market.

Martin won a gold medal at the Geneva International Invention show and won second place at the National Youth Invention Festival. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Shiraz University in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master’s degree in Mechatronics, Robotics and Automation Engineering from the University of Waterloo, in Canada.

At ApplyBoard, Martin uses AI and Machine Learning Techniques to change the entire application process. His passion goes beyond ApplyBoard. He aims to revolutionize learning to help students become the best version of themselves.

Application Process Made Easy & Efficient ApplyBoard has partnered with universities, colleges, language centers, and high schools across Canada and the United States. Using AI, ApplyBoard helps international

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“We are empowering students from all over the world to access the best education”

students apply to their partner institutions. The process is assisted through a fully integrated online platform that uses the student’s eligibility to match them with suitable programs, thereby providing them a 96% chance of acceptance. Their software and in-house team collaborates to assist every student who uses the platform in every step of their application.

ApplyBoard supplies a one-stop shop for the entire application process through its online platform. Their software allows a student to enter their qualifications and field(s) of interest, and a list of schools and programs is generated to match their eligibility.

ApplyBoard also takes into consideration other aspects, such as the student’s English proficiency and available funds. Their in-house team assists with each applicant with

everything they need, including homestay and travel arrangements, airport pick-up, medical insurance and the visa application with the help of their partner companies.

ApplyBoard diversifies and enriches their partner schools’ campuses with highly qualified students through their meticulous application procedure.

They also promote their partners through their website and social media.

Initially, ApplyBoard needed to aggregate all the program information, identifying the differences between programs and their individual applications. The software needed to be adjusted and customized to suit these differences. Another challenge was ensuring that students everywhere were introduced to the platform and that there were team members who could communicate with students who spoke different languages.

The Determination behind their Exceptional Success ApplyBoard is the first company to involve AI in its software in order to help students with the application.

Students have the ability to apply to multiple schools with just one dynamic application. Every aspect of the application is streamlined and results are delivered automatically.

ApplyBoard recognizes that students from all around the world are using the platform, so they need to take into consideration aspects such as academic grading systems. For example, a student can enter their highest level of education with their most recent scores and their software will generate the scores in the Canadian / U.S. grading systems.

Future Endeavors It is quite evident that college education is becoming increasingly essential in the modern-day economy.

In its future proceedings, ApplyBoard expects to expand its markets and make education more and more accessible to anyone who wishes to pursue it.

Currently they are connecting international students with schools in Canada and the U.S. and are planning to partner with schools all across the globe so students from Canada and the U.S. will be encouraged to study abroad as well. ApplyBoard leads in education with their experience in capital market and their constant dedication to the future of academia and to student success.

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Expert’s Opinion

W

e used to say that the storytelling business is all about the people. Talents from different fields – writing, producing, editing, the list goes on – come together to craft amazing video content that go on to inform, inspire and entertain people through their television sets.

These days, technological innovation plays a huge role in not only democratizing the filmmaking process; making it more affordable to tell stories at a professional quality. It is also transforming what kind of stories we tell, where people can get it and how they consume it. And it’s not just about the television anymore, it’s the second screen, wait no, it’s also the virtual screen. Technology is reshaping the very face and fate of the content business and those who can grasp its true potential early and make the brave leap forward, could reap the rewards.

The factors are simply too compelling to ignore. In the following paragraphs, I hope to give you a snapshot of how embracing the convergence of storytelling and technology, changed our business dramatically.

Jocelyn and I set up Beach House Pictures 12 years ago to create content that we are passionate about. Sure, it was also important that there was a gap in the Asian marketplace for great international quality programs, and that Singapore supported the media in a myriad of ways, but from the very beginning, it has always been about the storytelling.

We learned quickly that running the company is like running a marathon.

You keep one eye on the future,

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Jocelyn Li le Managing Director

while you build on what you’ve got. So, while we were a two-man team moving our own furniture, we kept investing in diversification and scaling up. We learnt to remain steadfast to our vision (great stories, globally), but to stay flexible to adapt. Good thing too, because in the last 12 years, technology threw us curveball after curveball.

Within the first two years, a co-production for Discovery Channel called Man Made Marvels challenged us to upgrade from Standard Definition (SD) program deliveries to High Definition (HD) deliveries, to keep up with international benchmarks. For a small outfit with limited resources, it was a tough learning curve. You can either turn it into an opportunity to grow. Or fail and be viewed as inadequate to compete with the rest of the world. The choice was simple.

That transition paved the way for our next technological leap – 3D filmmaking. Not too long ago, the world was going ga-ga over Avatar and the latest 3D TV sets.

Manufacturers saw an opportunity to make a lot of money, but making the content that would keep people glued to the device was no easy task. The main problem was making it fast enough, good enough, affordable enough, and at volume. We couldn’t compete with the larger companies throwing millions at mega-productions, but we could develop cost effective methods of filming 3D that achieved a documentary aesthetic (most 3D footage were slaves to a tripod, we made ours handheld) and passed QC at the highest levels. More importantly, they had to be good stories. We made over 15 hours of content in just two years, which was a great measure of success.

However, 3D TV eventually faded away due to a lack of demand, with another video format rising through the ranks – |November 2017|

Donovan Chan Crea ve Director Beach House Pictures

About the Author: Donovan is a founding partner of Beach House Pictures and spearheads strategy and content development. He also executive produces, writes and directs many of the company’s international productions, and is overseeing BHP’s expansion into online content with the integration of new technologies. One of Asia’s most experienced factual filmmakers, Donovan has worked on award winning shows including Lonely Planet Six Degrees for TLC (Best Entertainment & Best Editing – Asian TV Awards) and Megastructures: Singapore’s Vegas for Nat Geo International (Silver World Medal – New York Festivals).

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Expert’s Opinion

Ultra-High Definition (UHD), commonly known as 4K. Within a space of a few years, we had to innovate again to stay ahead of the curve. By this point, we had grown as a company from a two to twenty-man team. We had a growing business to feed, yet we could not ignore the opportunities of UHD. A lot of effort and time was put into multi-tasking in both growth areas.

Culminating in successful early UHD deliveries to Nat Geo Wild (Otter Town) and Channel News Asia (Aerial India). With Otter Town getting the nod as finalists at the 2017 New York Festivals for Best Nature & Wildlife and Best Sound Design.

As UHD looks set for explosive growth, another exciting new area of story-tech convergence came to our attention. And the timing was too good to ignore.

By this time, we were a 70-man company with more resources to invest in the potential new revenue stream - Virtual Reality.

We believe that the ‘experiential’ content have come and gone and that VR (especially 360 video) need to be enhanced by great storytelling and directed towards definitive user groups, like education. BHP soon became the first company that the Ministry of Education allowed to pilot VR in Singapore schools and, in addition to the MOE we also worked with Samsung for hardware. This single experience has led to even more opportunities, which could fundamentally change our business yet again.

You could say that the moral of the story, is to well, stick to telling a great story, your story, while embracing change. Less simply put, never ignore how seemingly divergent ideas could converge to transform your business. We live in a rapidly evolving status quo. And while it can be very scary, it is also full of hope.

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|November 2017|

Costomer ‘N’ovation

Should

Innovation be Customer-driven?

I

f Henry Ford had questioned people what they wanted, would they really have said ‘faster horses’?

In the realms of business and innovation, Henry Ford was one of the world’s greatest innovators and a quotable aristocrat. Perhaps the most famous quote credited to Ford goes: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”

But there are no such real evidences which could prove that Ford ever stated this, but words applied to him still portray that true innovation is done without customer input. Though one of the most successful capitalists in American

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history had said it, it wouldn’t make the proverb any more appropriate.

In fact, there is a possibility, that customers might have told Ford exactly what they wanted — explicitly, a faster mode of transportation. They might not have talked about the need for a combustion engine, but that’s the part of art and science of understanding customer feedback.

The customers do not always know the form factors that are available to them, and that’s exactly where your opportunity lies to innovate and cash out your innovation as a businessman.

Clients often understand their problems and communicate enough information that you can use to grow your business.

Here are some insights on how to get optimized customer feedback.

Enquire Thoroughly

always ask questions around their problem statement and then bridge the gap with your talent and innovation.

Statistical Analysis of Numbers and Behaviors A trick to get more reliable feedback indicators is to study the numbers and behavior pattern of the client. If your clients keep saying they love a product in green, but instead, each time they intent to buy blue, then always stick with blue. Study your data and behaviors persistently to make sure that the customers’ words match their actions.

Distinguish between Destructive Critics and Constructive Critics While it’s vital to consider all the feedback, including the one from online critics and also customer services, you need to explore more into who is giving that feedback. For example, if you are receiving posts about a problem, take a deep dig into it and find out if it’s a real problem. If it doesn’t exist, disregard it.

Most of the times, customers know what they want but are unable to articulate it properly. So, you have to ask precise questions that would allow you to collect perceptions to be used for your innovation. Studies show that giving a client too many choices often nets you poor and disorganized feedback, but it’s also important to give them the opportunity to bring up something that you haven’t anticipated.

The same insight goes for wants. A handful of individuals may go whiny wheels for a personal want, but that doesn’t signify that the broader base of clienteles wants the same, so do more research.

You should also ask about their personal or business problems. Never ask feature-based questions, if you are selling and innovating with technology for small businesses. Because, they aren’t thinking about technology features, they are more focused on making money and saving time. So,

Also, keep a check on minions. These are the same group of gofers that keep probing for something or complaining together. If such a thing is happening, they might be just a co-dependent group of trolls you need not worry about. If you are observing different patrons giving concerned response and

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inputs around the same issues, that would be considered more reliable than many posts or inquiries from the same group of people. The exception to this could be when the group is well-thought-out influential among your customer base.

It’s always beneficial to solicit your feedback through private surveys instead of public ones so the vocal minority doesn’t sway your community.

Always Segregate the Relevant Group To get a broader scope of responses and valuable feedbacks, reach out to your best existing and desired target customers. If you aren’t sure what and how your customers think, select an evocative number of people and ask them. Surprisingly, customers are more likely to provide you feedbacks if you actually ask them. But, first assure that they are true buyers of your product — if the responders aren’t going to buy your product, their responses would neither help you nor them.

Conclusively, innovation could be customer driven most of the times, but we need to play safe and keep our visions clear. Bag in all the constructive criticism since without criticism there’s no success and innovation.

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EDITED: The Real-time Analytics Platform

Julia Fowler Co-founder & COO

Geoff Watts Co-founder & CEO

T

he merchandising industry is fast-paced and increasingly demanding; fulfilling customer expectations irrespective of shrinking products is a tough ask. Thus, analytical insights about product opportunities and market trends are essential to flourish in the industry.

In such a turbulent merchandising environment, EDITED is a real time analytics platform that gives retailers information about pricing, assortment, demand and competitive metrics. These sit at the very core of retailing, and is how all the value is created or lost in the industry.

The software is used by buyers, planners and trading teams to generate a huge competitive advantage. The software has fueled growth at a number of globally acclaimed brands like Topshop, Ralph Lauren and Mango.

Since its establishment in 2009, EDITED now has offices in New York, San Francisco and London, and has customers in countries as diverse as Germany, Spain, Russia, South Korea, the US and UK, to name a few.

Disrupting The Global Apparel Industry With Data The apparel industry is constantly generating information about types of products, how well they sold and at what price point, which sizes or colors sold out quickest, and whether that product was discounted or replenished. This information is extremely valuable in helping retailers and brands inform their future decisions.

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The EDITED platform packages that data alongside visual merchandising information and strategic insights to help retailers trade more competitively. In the competitive fashion industry, where one good decision can make you millions, and a bad one can cost you just as much, EDITED is the only solution that gives retailers the data they need to get it right every time.

In retail, buying and merchandising teams are the most important people, as their decisions dictate the entire productivity of the business. Doing it well requires having targeted, market-proven insights available in seconds.

Retailers like Zappos and Saks Fifth Avenue are bringing around 1,800-2,500 new products to market each week impossible figures for a human to keep track of. Rather than fruitlessly browsing competitors’ websites and manually tracking the market, EDITED’s real-time data helps buyers and merchandisers turn insights into action smartly.

Retailers are using EDITED in different ways. Buying teams use the platform to comp shop and plan their ranges.

Merchandising teams use the Market Analytics technology to plan their open-to-buy budgets and prepare trade reports.

Marketing teams use the Visual Merchandising feature to strengthen their messaging and stories and fine tune their promotional calendars.

It is an extremely effective tool for fast-fashion retailers who use it to monitor trends and customer demand.

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“We help retailers have the right product, at the right price, at the right time”

Meanwhile luxury brands use it to track prices at their competitors, as well as their own pricing at retailers to make sure their wholesale contracts are being honored.

The Initial Challenge Initially, one of the biggest challenges the company faced was helping the apparel retail industry understand how to trade better using analytics.

Consumers these days are better informed, and efficiency in supply chains and logistics have improved dramatically, helping apparel retailers go to market faster on new products, and with a quicker cycle. As a result, customers expect new products with greater frequency. And more and more they’re bringing technology into stores, using their phones to compare prices as they browse. To avoid being overlooked in an already overcrowded market, retailers need to make sure they’re using the digital space to always be ready with the right product assortment, priced correctly.

AI Driven Platform That Makes It Easier To Sell Online The traditional merchandising model involves manually analyzing the market and identifying opportunities (comp shopping). This process is fraught with inaccuracy simply because humans are incapable of crunching the numbers at the rate of the machine learning analytics tools available today. As a result, EDITED has been able to successfully position as having an unparalleled level of realtime data and insights for the apparel retail industry.

EDITED analyzes more than 690 million products online adding more than half a million every week. The company applies machine learning, neural networks and other statistical models to help brands understand competitor’s pricing, discounts and promotional strategies.

“What keeps us innovative is our own ambition to exceed and contribute to

what has been done with data and analytics up to this point in other sectors, like finance, manufacturing and healthcare,” said EDITED cofounder, Julia Fowler. “We’re huge believers in software development, data science and computer engineering, so it’s second nature for us to constantly be innovating and building on what we’ve already done. No one with as much experience as the people in our tech teams wants to stay static.”

The company’s desire to constantly better serve their clients has already paid off. Retailers using their platform have grown their revenue by an average of 15.2% and one of the biggest luxury brands in the world reported gains of over 30% on the year.

The Founders The people behind the innovative solution are Geoff Watts, Chief Executive Officer, and Julia Fowler, Chief Operating Officer. Geoff was a specialist software engineer having vast experience in big data computing and management, previously for globally reputed brands like Fiat and Fonterra. Julia’s background was as a fashion designer, and the product was borne out of her frustrations with a lack of data in the fashion industry in which to base decisions off. They built the first version of the software together, and the company is now made up of over 100 people.

The leaders have been acknowledged by many popular institutions for their innovative product. Julia has been listed in Forbes ‘Women Entrepreneurs to Watch’ and is named on the National Retail Federation’s ‘The List of 25 People Shaping Retail’s Future.’

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GreenMile: Advanced Cloud-based Technology for Merchandising

James Frasier Vice President of Customer Success

A

n essential factor to having an effective merchandising program is ensuring that merchandising services take place at an appropriate time and for a suitable duration. GreenMile is a leading cloud-based platform and mobile solutions company that was started in an effort to help distributors better control their last-mile delivery costs while improving customer satisfaction levels. In doing so, it quickly became evident that there were many hands involved in the customer satisfaction and success process, and managing only the delivery trucks didn’t address the entire problem in last-mile distribution. Complete customer satisfaction is a result of the distributor’s entire team being able to operate together effectively, and a solution was needed that could orchestrate and align the sales team, delivery team, and merchandising team in concert. That’s what lead to GreenMile’s turn-key Customer Satisfaction Solution, managing everything from sales call frequency and time onsite with customers, to efficient delivery windows and service times, to streamlining the merchandising process ensuring efficient in-store execution of the product to the shelf. GreenMile is the technology backbone that provides real-time information and visibility between all of a distributor’s various departments to ensure effectiveness in the field, resulting in the customer being serviced correctly.

It starts with Effective Leadership With more than twenty years of experience in supply chain and logistics software, James Frasier, Vice President of

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Customer Success and a Co-founder of GreenMile, has been helping to lead GreenMile down that path of success.

GreenMile offers a set of solutions and services that provide companies around the globe with optimal logistics planning and real-time visibility into last-mile transportation, helping them become more efficient while improving profitability.

Over the past two decades, James has successfully applied his business development skills to help GreenMile become a leader in the logistics software market. James points out that, “for distributors, merchandising is often directly tied to customer satisfaction and increased retail sales, and GreenMile is the key to managing all aspects of the merchandiser’s day.”

The merchandiser is often the last person who touches the product to put it into the best light before it goes home with the consumer. The GreenMile Merchandiser mobile application runs on any Android or iOS device and facilitates all aspects of a Merchandiser’s day including “clock in – clock out”, assigned or taken breaks, and lunch are all captured and reported on. This timecard information can also be seamlessly passed over to any time & attendance solution being used by the distributor.

GreenMile has always exceled at retail data collection in order to satisfy the growing appetite of wholesalers looking for market intelligence data. GreenMile’s Smart Survey functionality makes using the app as easy and effective for front line employees as it is for the management team to get

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“GreenMile is the technology backbone that provides real-time information and visibility between all of a distributor’s various departments to ensure effectiveness in the eld, resulting in the customer being serviced correctly” the real-time data being passed straight back from the field. Quantity data by SKU and store location is easily retrieved through GreenMile’s reporting & dashboard tools. All of this detailed data is augmented by photos that are time and GPS stamped and automatically filed into the customer’s account profile in GreenMile’s cloud portal. The customer’s photo albums are particularly useful in seeing how the products were merchandised, helping to ensure a positive consumer shopping experience. The app even allows the Merchandiser capture a signature for proof of service after the visit is completed.

Wholesalers know that the key to having a strong merchandising program is making sure that merchandising activities take place on the correct day and time, and for the required duration that was planned for that service visit. GreenMile does just that – automatically! Our Merchandiser application helps distributors verify that services have been completed on the dates and times prescribed in their service plan. Both daily and weekly plans can be managed using GreenMile; even wholesalers without set merchandising routes can leverage GreenMile’s technology by automatically capturing the customers visited in the Merchandiser’s territory along with the time spent on site at each account.

Oftentimes Merchandisers utilize their own vehicles in the field, causing the distributor headaches with having to manage time & mileage tracking and reimbursement for these employees.

Questions like, “Were all these miles for company purposes?” Did she start her day at home or her first stop?”, and “Was the first stop a customer account,

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or just a stop at the local convenience store for a beverage?” are all answered quickly and easily using GreenMile’s technology. Accurate mileage data can be seamlessly transferred to most mileage reimbursement solutions, and distributors that are able to capture mileage information from GPS typically experience 15 – 20% savings over manual data capture methods.

In today’s competitive landscape, being able to measure and manage the “cost to serve” is of utmost importance to the wholesaler. And that starts with identifying all of the moving parts involved in supporting the customer, including Sales, Delivery, and Merchandising. GreenMile provides mobile applications to provide visibility to these mobile workers as well as help track and improve their productivity while in the field. The end result: increased sales and happier customers.

“We are evangelists for helping our customer base reduce their transportation costs while helping them to provide outstanding levels of customer service in an ever-changing and challenging business climate.”

-James Frasier.

The GreenMile Platform: Technology Enabling Distributors to Succeed GreenMile Live- Effective route planning is half of the equation.

Executing that plan effectively is the other half. GreenMile Live is a cloud-based solution that combines route plan information with real-time actual vs. planned data from mobile and telematics devices to help your company increase visibility, improve performance and reduce the costs of your mobile resources, whether they

are drivers, merchandisers, sales reps, or technicians.

GreenMile Driver – Stay up-to-date on route status, delivery status (pending, delivered, cancelled, postponed) and order updates as they occur with GreenMile Driver.

Transportation companies’ field resources can receive real-time updates from dispatch while management gains instant access to performance statistics and on-time percentages.

GreenMile Merchandiser –Instantly notify your merchandisers after a delivery is completed so they can service your customers more effectively. GreenMile Merchandiser efficiently manages a merchandiser’s daily workload while allowing your company to easily track mileage and service times to better manage field performance and improve customer service levels.

GreenMile Sales – Provide your Sales team with real-time access into the delivery status of each and every one of their customers right on their Android or iOS device. Additionally, the GreenMile Sales mobile app can also track a salesperson’s miles and activity level within their sales territory, providing management insight into top-line revenue efforts in the field.

GreenMile Manager - Service & delivery exception notifications can be sent in real-time to any Android or iOS device, allowing managers to see how the delivery day is unfolding.

GreenMile Manager provides quick and easy access into the delivery day – helping your management team measure performance metrics to better manage delivery success.

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The Astute Panel

Innovation: The Catalyst in

Human

Evolution Where We Came From The stroke of a rock against another rock gave early humans the idea of stone tools. Man started designing stone tools for hunting, farming and even for protection against wild animals. Stone tools were also responsible for the very first discovery of fire. When man discovered ways to generate and control fire, it opened an entire new horizon of capabilities. For the very first time, humans were not scared to travel in the dark. It also opened an entire set of gastronomic options in the form of cooking. Humans for the first time were able to survive the cold. They started building shelters to protect themselves and they had fire to illuminate their interiors and keep themselves warm.

The invention of wheel was another ground breaking revolution in the path to evolution of mankind. Man started travelling long and far. This is the time when the explorer instinct took charge in humans. Humans were brandishing their reasoning skills. People living at different locations, interacted with each other. They started having a whole new perspective of how the world was working. The more they

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saw, the more they learnt which contributed to a raised IQ. The wheeled carts made it possible to carry more belongings for longer distances. This eventually led to the birth of trade and commerce. Of course, the wheels and carts became much sturdier with the invention of the nails.

With nails, humans built one sturdy construction after another. This led to the invention of massive ships that allowed man to sail across the seas.

With all the innovations that had been made till then, man was able to learn many things really fast. With the invention of paper, came the invention of books. Maps do require an honourable mention here. Of all the writing materials that were available back then, paper really withstood the test of time. Man started jotting down all his learning to share them with those he met and with those he didn’t. The Printing Press further boosted the rapid dispersion of knowledge across the globe. Innovations were being made around the globe. People found out about events and personalities from far different places. The scenario was set for more innovations. People were getting inspired.

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We can safely say that the 18th and the 19th century were the centuries of innovation. They brought about technical, social and cultural revolutions in the journey of evolution.

The light bulb for instance was one such notable invention.

With the invention of the incandescent light bulbs, gas and fuel powered streetlights were replaced by the longer burning bulbs. People actually started having a night life.

Factories started introducing the night shifts with the help of the bulbs. In order to bring the bulbs to common households, power generators and power distribution networks were devised. People started receiving electricity in their homes. With the advent of electricity, came the many home appliances at homes. Women were less tied up with their household chores and were more involved in the societal matters. This led to the concept of working women.

Countries started having more workforce and hence increased production. Art and culture boomed. Many women came to fore during that period. Many social changes took place during this period. However, the biggest contribution to the widespread changes in the world came from the invention of engine. The internal combustion engine gave rise to the automobiles and people had faster mode of transport. The world was actually starting to get smaller in size. This introduced the concept of weekly and monthly journals and magazines that were published and distributed to far off places. People were getting weekly and

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monthly updates of the events occurring around the world.

The scientiďŹ c world was taking huge leaps in medicine, physics, chemistry and philosophy.

With the advancements in the communication systems in the form of Telephone, Television and Telegraph; came the need for advanced analytical processing systems. Thus, was born the computers. In a few years, the internet was born which took our world to the Digital Age that we see today.

Where we are heading to Well, predicting from all the scenarios that have occurred till now, we can safely say that all the future innovations would be based on the advancements in the networking technology. From interconnected vehicles to smart homes, internet is going to play the most vital role in the lives of all living and non-living beings on this planet. Transportation & Logistics is set to become faster and cheaper with advancements in fuel, vehicles and infrastructure.

With the rise in population and limited resources, advanced methods of food cultivation and its sustenance would dominate the research and the commercial ďŹ elds of our future.

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LivePOS: Hybrid Cloud POS Software Solution with Multi-store and Access Levels

T

he SaaS market is surging ahead with organizations exploring various functions in several software categories. Add to these, established players are actively securing and incorporating the most promising new services and CSBs are simplifying organizations’ path into the cloud. Established in 2006, LivePOS is one such Software as a Service (SaaS) provider of real-time cloud Point of Sale (POS) solution for chains and franchises. The company strives to develop and provide the best POS system relevant to its customers’ needs, which are easy to understand and use.

LivePOS is a Hybrid Cloud POS software solution that offers and allows its customer and inventory management users to view sales, track inventory and manage business operations from anywhere with an available internet connection. The system is suited for multi-location, multi-

store retail operations. The company is privately held and employs over 150 people in its offices globally. Its corporate office is presently headquartered in Sunny La Jolla, California, while its other offices are sited in China, Israel, and the Philippines.

Ground Breaking Services by LivePOS LivePOS is designed to deliver cost-effective and simple solutions to implement in small and mid-tier retailers, chains and franchises, who wish to grow their businesses. It can be used by a wide-variety of businesses, such as clothing boutiques, cosmetics kiosks, sports shops, and bookstores. As a Hybrid POS solution, it consists of two parts; the store side and the admin site also known as LivePOS online dashboard.

The online dashboard is the focal point in the multilocation, multi-store retail operation. The centralized dashboard allows its customers to manage inventory, update pricing, employees, expenses and sales report anytime and anywhere with any internet capable device such as mobile phone, tablet or a laptop.

In the LivePOS online dashboard, all the store information is collected and displayed in a simple and cohesive manner, thereby making it easy to get real-time snapshot of your business.

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“While LivePOS is a hybrid, it is primarily a cloud-based software provider that also incorporates a locally-installed front end app, allowing you to keep your register running during a Wi-Fi outage” – Liad Biton CEO & Co-Founder

Moreover, in his spare time, he promotes STEM education by introducing children to the world of aviation from end-to-end small airplanes and UAVs (Drones).

Initial Challenges leading to Triumph With the shift of credit card processing towards EMV, customers wanted to expand their payment options in order to meet the new industry standards.

Thus, LivePOS helped to adhered to the requirements of customer needs of expanding the payment options by creating integration with First Data and its partners to allow customers the ability to accept chip-based cards, Apple Pay, NFC and other mobile wallets using an EMV Pinpad device from Verifone.

The team at LivePOS works one-onone with prospective clients to assess their needs and showcase the features that would help in streamlining and simplifying their businesses. On the other hand, its tech support team is available with its 24x7 support, hence ensuring every feature of the software is operational and the queries of each and every customer is addressed on time. In addition to the live support, it also includes an online support center that offers tons of helpful articles as well as providing access to several how-to videos, which is also included in the monthly pricing structure.

Since, LivePOS is a real-time cloud POS solution, POS requirements of its customers are attended carefully i.e. |November 2017|

data is backed up on daily basis, while version updates and new features are free of charge and is automatically available for customers when released.

LivePOS utilizes Amazon AWS, which is used by thousands of brand name companies such as Hulu, Netflix and Waze.

At LivePOS, the team works one-onone with its prospective clients to assess their needs and showcase the features that will help streamline and simplify their business.

Architect behind Evolution of Hybrid Cloud POS Software Solution

LivePOS team is preparing to launch LivePAD—a mobile POS solution that runs a full version of the LivePOS software. With the imminent launch of LivePAD, customers will no longer be restraining behind the counter. Besides, customers can receive a free VX 805 PinPad device from their partner company.

Liad Biton is the CEO and CoFounder of LivePOS, a technology facing corporation, with over 15 years of experience in the cloud, retail, and tech space. Designed with a single principle in mind, LivePOS is the brainchild of Liad Biton.

A Future Filled with New Innovations

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NextOrbit: Building the Perfect AI Universe for Retailers and Brands

Kishore Rajgopal CEO & Founder

H

ave you ever stopped at a red light despite no visible signs of any vehicles in your vicinity?

Have you ever been annoyed by people who do?

In hindsight, it is amusing to see we as human beings and our judgments in daily matters that are prone to errors.

Being human requires us to separate the substance in our life experiences from our emotions, moral and sentimental values. Additionally, we also require knowledge about the world in order to apply our life experiences and maximize the output of our actions. Being human also demands us to recognize that as a rule of thumb, we will fail more often in this journey than we will succeed. But what if instead of human beings, objective machines driven by real time data were guiding us to be the best of ourselves? There is a new kind of space race happening all around us and the new universe human beings are chasing is the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Some industry leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk are betting big money on AI because – it will revolutionize the way we understand and apply ourselves forever.

NextOrbit is competing in this global race to reinvent the world. Predictive algorithms in its cloud platform use retailer data and relevant contextual information to uncover insights into customer behavior and management.

This information is essential for three important business objectives: To improve sales, to improve customer loyalty, and, to optimize stock. NextOrbit works with fashion

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brands and retailers to increase sales while significantly reducing costs.

Challenging the Traditional Worldview The business environment is becoming safer every day from external factors, all around the world. Retail stores and fashion brands experience three major issues which directly compromises their bottom line: Over-stock – The average brand has a full price sell through of 60% at least once a year. This means that 40% has to be marked down due to gross overestimations - this has a huge negative impact on margins.

Out-of-stock – The industry experiences an out-of-stock situation in 4-15% of their total operational hours.

Misallocation – Sending products to stores where there is little or no demand. The product could easily satisfy another customer at another location and earn brand loyalty in return.

Each of these areas requires significant improvements because there is such a small margin of error before profits are significantly impacted.

With the help of Next Orbit’s data analysis and cloud technology, businesses will be able to accurately predict future demand and improve stock allocation in terms of both quantity and geography.

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“Our cloud platform is easy to embrace and it has been designed to grow with the needs of every retailer”

Building an Innovative World

Leadership

Many global companies are competing for a share of the AI technology pie.

NextOrbit distinguishes itself by adding various X factors to its analysis and final evaluation.

NextOrbit is venturing into areas of data consolidation and analysis which no other company has explored. This requires a leader at the helm who can navigate through practical hurdles without losing sight of its future goals.

NextOrbit data analysis takes into consideration macro-economic factors, local-national events, the weather and social signals, all of which often have huge bearings on the final outcomes for businesses.

For example, Thanksgiving is a major holiday in the U.S. By taking this holiday into account, a machine can analyze data from the previous year to understand customer behavior on this particular day. It can suggest items to pre-order and even suggest the optimum discount for each item to achieve maximum profit.

NextOrbit founder and CEO, Kishore Rajgopal has both the experience to deal with challenging situations and the foresight to look beyond short-term solutions. Mr. Rajgopal led the Retail Technology Consulting department of Infosys in the U.S. from 2000 to 2009.

This gives him and the company an ideal vantage point from which to predict, understand and address the difficulties retailers face.

Mr. Rajgopal also has over 20 years of experience in product development, business development, business

intelligence and analytics. Potential investors in NextOrbit will be encouraged to know that he has cofounded a successful similar venture before, Crowdanalytix.

Crowdanalytix is a platform that led to the development of predictive models using a global crowdsourcing approach; it received multi-milliondollar Series A funding from reputed Venture Capital firms.

The Road Ahead – The Road Less Travelled The cloud industry has proven itself to be a trailblazer in many ways and ever more companies are opting for cloud technology to safely secure their data, make it easily available for employees, and for other practical and business reasons. So, what makes the NextOrbit cloud platform stand out from those of its rivals?

NextOrbit CEO, Kishore Rajgopal believes they have a lot more to offer than just top-of-the-line AI technology, “Our cloud platform is easy to embrace and it has been designed to grow with the needs of every retailer”.

The company’s focus on innovation and the leadership of its founder makes NextOrbit a delight to observe as the company continues to craft inventive, practical solutions to revolutionize the way retailers do business.

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