“Organisations need to move from data being this asset that is hidden and processed and managed by one team and make it an asset visible to the entire organisation,” says Yael Cosset, CIO of global customer science company Dunhummby.

...A good example of a core project Wolfe started was the re-architecture of the company's front-end Oracle ATG e-commerce platform to the Amazon Web Service (AWS) public cloud. This was key to enhancing customer experience across Shop Direct's retail websites, with availability the main area of focus. The retailer's entire e-commerce infrastructure now sits on the cloud - including ATG and Oracle's enterprise data discovery platform Endeca, as well as the AWS-provided Elastic Load Balancing and Relational Database services, which now support Shop Direct's database. "The migration was a good example of that drive to get service under control, and since our shop is always open, availability is critical to us and therefore the first thing to tackle," says Wolfe.

Speaking at Shop.org Summit 2014 in Seattle last week, David Dorf of Oracle Retail talked about what the Internet of Things means for retailers. "With an increasing number of connected devices, and the development of more and more smart objects on top of all the electronics we currently use in-store and in-office, the potential is extraordinary."

Speaking at Shop.org Summit 2014 in Seattle last week, David Dorf of Oracle Retail talked about what the Internet of Things means for retailers. "With an increasing number of connected devices, and the development of more and more smart objects on top of all the electronics we currently use in-store and in-office, the potential is extraordinary."

David Dorf, senior director of technology strategy for Oracle Retail, says the phrase "big data" first began to gain "buzz" status around five years ago. "It has come to represent the exponential growth of data and the complexity of analyzing it," he says. He starts with what has become the generic definition for big data - volume, variety and velocity. "Retailers have always dealt with big data in the sense that they handle thousands of [products], hundreds of stores and a steady stream of transactions," he says. "What's new is the variety of data. Some of it is highly formatted transactional data, but increasingly it's coming from sources such as a Twitter stream where there is natural language that's hard to understand using systems. The other thing that has changed is the velocity. Data is coming at us at a much faster pace."

David Dorf, senior director of technology strategy for Oracle Retail, says the phrase "big data" first began to gain "buzz" status around five years ago. "It has come to represent the exponential growth of data and the complexity of analyzing it," he says. He starts with what has become the generic definition for big data - volume, variety and velocity. "Retailers have always dealt with big data in the sense that they handle thousands of [products], hundreds of stores and a steady stream of transactions," he says. "What's new is the variety of data. Some of it is highly formatted transactional data, but increasingly it's coming from sources such as a Twitter stream where there is natural language that's hard to understand using systems. The other thing that has changed is the velocity. Data is coming at us at a much faster pace."

By selecting a hosted version of Oracle Commerce, Big Lots is providing its business users with cost-effective, cutting-edge tools to shape a personalized customer experience through multi-channel promotions, targeted offers, and image-rich product profiles.

By selecting a hosted version of Oracle Commerce, Big Lots is providing its business users with cost-effective, cutting-edge tools to shape a personalized customer experience through multi-channel promotions, targeted offers, and image-rich product profiles.

It was telling from the first big keynote, that Oracle remains serious about retail. Walgreens, P&G and Dunnhumby were all on stage talking about their use of big data and the cloud in retail.

It was telling from the first big keynote, that Oracle remains serious about retail. Walgreens, P&G and Dunnhumby were all on stage talking about their use of big data and the cloud in retail.

During a keynote at the recent Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco, Tim Theriault, senior VP/CIO of Walgreens, discussed his company's ongoing efforts at IT innovation. Walgreens has been involved in a number of notable recent innovative technology implementations, but column looks at the underlying strategy that helps ensure the success of those rollouts. Here are three takeaways other retailers can glean from Walgreens' innovation strategy...

During a keynote at the recent Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco, Tim Theriault, senior VP/CIO of Walgreens, discussed his company's ongoing efforts at IT innovation. Walgreens has been involved in a number of notable recent innovative technology implementations, but column looks at the underlying strategy that helps ensure the success of those rollouts. Here are three takeaways other retailers can glean from Walgreens' innovation strategy...

Oracle experts continues to investigate the revenue potential of beacons, particularly in retail. John Yopp, senior manager Retail Global Business Unit at Oracle, runs a research lab focused on future use cases for shoppers. Yopp contends that one big appeal of beacons is that they are easy to integrate with and inexpensive

Oracle experts continues to investigate the revenue potential of beacons, particularly in retail. John Yopp, senior manager Retail Global Business Unit at Oracle, runs a research lab focused on future use cases for shoppers. Yopp contends that one big appeal of beacons is that they are easy to integrate with and inexpensive

Customers want retailers to be available to them around the clock, necessitating systems that run constantly. Senior Director of Technology Strategy for Oracle Retail David Dorf offers a preview of an Oracle OpenWorld session devoted to the advantages of running Oracle Retail on Oracle systems.

Customers want retailers to be available to them around the clock, necessitating systems that run constantly. Senior Director of Technology Strategy for Oracle Retail David Dorf offers a preview of an Oracle OpenWorld session devoted to the advantages of running Oracle Retail on Oracle systems.

How can retailers meet the needs of distinctly different fashion consumers? It takes more than the traditional "arts" of planning and merchandising, though these are still vital to any successful strategy. Today there's also a pressing need to apply science to multiple aspects of fashion retailing and solutions are readily available.

How can retailers meet the needs of distinctly different fashion consumers? It takes more than the traditional "arts" of planning and merchandising, though these are still vital to any successful strategy. Today there's also a pressing need to apply science to multiple aspects of fashion retailing and solutions are readily available.

Internet Retailer - MAGAZINE_ISSUE_September2014 - Going for growth: ... Moure, from PureFormulas.com, says that in the run-up to its launch of Oracle Commerce, the vendor was "still pursuing us, making sure we are OK, making sure things run smoothly."

Internet Retailer - MAGAZINE_ISSUE_September2014 - Going for growth: ... Moure, from PureFormulas.com, says that in the run-up to its launch of Oracle Commerce, the vendor was "still pursuing us, making sure we are OK, making sure things run smoothly."

PureFormulas.com spent an estimated 1,000 hours, or more than 40 full days, meeting with or investigating all the major e-commerce platform vendors-including Demandware Inc., hybris AG, Magento-before buying from Oracle Corp. The retailer signed a contract with Oracle in May 2013, downloading Oracle Commerce software on its own servers. The implementation required in-house design work and coding in advance of the full launch in August of the retailer's new platform-which has also been deployed by larger retailers, including, last year, Kohl's Corp., a retail chain that took in $1.76 billion in web sales in 2013, according to Top500Guide.com.

PureFormulas.com spent an estimated 1,000 hours, or more than 40 full days, meeting with or investigating all the major e-commerce platform vendors-including Demandware Inc., hybris AG, Magento-before buying from Oracle Corp. The retailer signed a contract with Oracle in May 2013, downloading Oracle Commerce software on its own servers. The implementation required in-house design work and coding in advance of the full launch in August of the retailer's new platform-which has also been deployed by larger retailers, including, last year, Kohl's Corp., a retail chain that took in $1.76 billion in web sales in 2013, according to Top500Guide.com.

PureFormulas.com spent an estimated 1,000 hours, or more than 40 full days, meeting with or investigating all the major e-commerce platform vendors-including Demandware Inc., hybris AG, Magento-before buying from Oracle Corp. The retailer signed a contract with Oracle in May 2013, downloading Oracle Commerce software on its own servers. The implementation required in-house design work and coding in advance of the full launch in August of the retailer's new platform-which has also been deployed by larger retailers, including, last year, Kohl's Corp., a retail chain that took in $1.76 billion in web sales in 2013, according to Top500Guide.com.

Grocers use customer insights to manage assortments

Grocers use customer insights to manage assortments

When it was time to upgrade its e-commerce platform, Work 'N Gear wanted a solution that would have lasting impact. CEO Anthony DiPaolo talked to Oracle about his company, their vision and why they chose Oracle to support their e-commerce growth.

When it was time to upgrade its e-commerce platform, Work 'N Gear wanted a solution that would have lasting impact. CEO Anthony DiPaolo talked to Oracle about his company, their vision and why they chose Oracle to support their e-commerce growth.

Today's retail systems must accommodate consumer journeys - from online to mobile to store - that traverse the silos of traditional retail business processes. Learn about four common initiatives driving the evolution "commerce anywhere" retailing.

Today's retail systems must accommodate consumer journeys - from online to mobile to store - that traverse the silos of traditional retail business processes. Learn about four common initiatives driving the evolution "commerce anywhere" retailing.

You don't have to be a sailing enthusiast to become engrossed in the story of the 2013 America's Cup...

Groupe Dynamite now has a single cross-channel view of inventory that enables "commerce anywhere" for in-store and online customers and employees, while streamlining inventory management

Groupe Dynamite now has a single cross-channel view of inventory that enables "commerce anywhere" for in-store and online customers and employees, while streamlining inventory management

Oracle Retail is very bullish--confident but far from complacent--about its track record and outlook. By its own estimate the business has strung together a win streak that beats just about any major league sports team record. We see continued balance between the number of retailers selecting Oracle for enterprise transformation and best-of-breed applications and continued customer satisfaction evidenced by steady streams of expansion in existing accounts and go-lives. The business unit continues to command an impressive bounty of R&D funds, is increasing its investment in its partner ecosystem, and building out rollout and application support assets.