Tag: Machine Learning

Harnessing Retail Data Analytics for Business Growth

Posted on by Joaquim Silveira

Retail data analytics involves the process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data related to retail operations. This data can come from various sources such as sales transactions, customer feedback, inventory levels, and even social media interactions.

By understanding and utilizing this data, retailers can make informed decisions that enhance customer experiences, optimize inventory management, and ultimately drive business growth. Data analytics allows retailers to identify trends, predict future sales, and tailor marketing efforts to meet the specific needs of their target audience.

Key Metrics to Track for Retail Success

To achieve success in retail, it’s essential to monitor key metrics that provide insights into various aspects of the business. Some of the most important metrics include sales per square foot, inventory turnover rate, and customer lifetime value.

Sales per square foot measures the efficiency of your retail space in generating revenue. Inventory turnover rate helps in understanding how quickly products are sold and replaced, indicating the effectiveness of inventory management. Customer lifetime value (CLV) provides an estimate of the total revenue a business can expect from a single customer over the course of their relationship. Tracking these metrics helps retailers make data-driven decisions to improve their operations and profitability.

How SAAS Solutions Enhance Retail Data Analytics

Software-as-a-Service (SAAS) solutions have revolutionized retail data analytics by providing accessible, scalable, and cost-effective tools for data management and analysis. These solutions enable retailers to collect and analyze vast amounts of data in real-time, offering actionable insights that can drive business growth.

SAAS platforms often come with advanced features such as machine learning algorithms, predictive analytics, and customizable dashboards. These tools allow retailers to identify patterns, forecast demand, and personalize customer experiences more effectively. By leveraging SAAS solutions, retailers can stay ahead of the competition and respond quickly to changing market conditions.

How ETP Unify Helps with Data Analytics

ETP Unify is a powerful SAAS platform that helps retailers harness the power of data analytics. With its advanced analytics capabilities, ETP Unify enables retailers to gain deep insights into their operations and make data-driven decisions. The platform provides real-time dashboards, customizable reports, and predictive analytics tools that empower retailers to optimize their strategies and drive growth.

Furthermore, ETP Unify integrates seamlessly with existing systems, allowing retailers to consolidate data from multiple sources and gain a holistic view of their business. This integration eliminates data silos and ensures that retailers have access to accurate and up-to-date information. By leveraging ETP Unify, retailers can unlock the full potential of their data and achieve sustainable business growth.

Future Trends in Retail Data Analytics

The future of retail data analytics is poised to be shaped by several emerging trends. One of the most significant trends is the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to enhance data analysis and decision-making processes. AI can help retailers predict consumer behavior, automate inventory management, and optimize pricing strategies.

Another trend is the growing importance of omnichannel data integration, where retailers combine data from various channels, such as online stores, physical stores, and social media, to gain a comprehensive view of their customers. Additionally, privacy and data security will continue to be a critical focus, as retailers must ensure that they are handling customer data responsibly and complying with regulations. By staying attuned to these trends, retailers can harness the full potential of data analytics to drive business growth and innovation.

How Tech and AI are Transforming Retail for Retailers and Customers

Posted on by Omprasad Devadiga

In the rapidly changing and ever–accelerating world of retail, the integration of AI and next-generation technologies is not a trend—it’s an imperative. Retailers who are quick to adopt these innovations will be the winners. Yet, the success of technology-powered transformations hinges upon a fundamental: putting people first. This means both the staff who drive the business and the shoppers who sustain it.

Embracing AI and Next-Gen Technologies

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other next-gen technologies are revolutionising the retail landscape. From predictive analytics to personalised shopping experiences, these tools are reshaping how retailers operate and interact with customers. By leveraging AI, retailers can optimise inventory management, improve demand forecasting, and enhance customer service through chatbots and virtual assistants. Furthermore, technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are creating immersive shopping experiences that bridge the gap between online and offline retail.

Yet, the true potential of these technologies can only be realised when they are integrated with a people-first approach.

The Role of Employees in Tech-Driven Transformations

Employees are the backbone of any retail operation. As retailers embrace new technologies, it is also important to think about the effects on their staff. Automation and AI can make processes more efficient and eliminate manual labor, but also cause workers to worry about losing their jobs. To counteract this, retailers can spend money on upskilling and reskilling staff. Offering training programs and opportunities to develop can empower staff to learn new technologies and make their roles better.

In addition, including the employees in the process of transformation can provide a feeling of ownership and collaboration. Getting inputs from frontline staff through interactions can result in better and more feasible adoption of new technologies. If the employees feel appreciated and cared for, they are more inclined to adopt change and promote a positive work culture.

Improving Customer Experience

At the heart of retail transformation is the customer experience. Shoppers today desire seamless, individualised, and easy shopping experiences. AI and emerging technologies have the potential to drive these outcomes. Personalisation engines can work with customer information to deliver contextual recommendations and offers, while predictive analytics can determine customer needs and wants ahead of time.

Also, AI-driven chatbots can offer immediate support and help, making the customer experience more positive. Yet, a balance must be found between technology and the human touch. Technology can respond to repetitive questions, but tough problems still need the compassion and insight that human agents alone can offer.

Creating a Culture of Innovation

For a people-first transformation strategy to be successful, retailers need to develop an innovative culture. This means promoting a culture of change and creativity. Leadership sets the tone for innovation. By creating a culture where experimentation is promoted and failure is seen as a learning experience, retailers can promote continuous improvement and remain competitive.

The Ethical Considerations

As AI and other technologies are integrated into retailing, the ethical implications need to be tackled. Privacy and security of data are top priorities. Retailers have to take care that customer data is treated confidentially and complies with full disclosure. Trusting the customer is crucial, and this has to be established by keeping the use of data transparent and having strong security in place.

Revolutionising Retail with ETP Unify’s AI-powered Technology

ETP Unify provides actionable, AI-powered insights and innovations for unified commerce success. Its AI-based Product Recommendations powerfully improve the customer experience at checkout. Based on multiple interactions, taking into account both product features and demographic information of customers, these recommendations are made using a Matrix Factorization Algorithm. On choosing a customer, the model makes personalized product suggestions based on the purchase history of the customer and fine-tunes its proposals as more products are moved to the cart. These suggestions are graphically displayed on a two-screen setup for the customer to choose from and can be easily added to the billing screen by the cashier, optimizing the process of checkout and making room for upsell opportunities.

ETP Unify‘s Order Management with AI enhances e-Commerce performance and security by quickly detecting and isolating suspicious orders. The proprietary Machine Learning model detects anomalies by analyzing different order attributes and assigns a confidence score to make intelligence-driven decisions. This real-time detection maximizes inventory for legitimate orders, minimizing risks and preserving operational efficiency. The AI model learns from new orders in real-time, ensuring true prediction and streamlined order processing. With continued research and innovation in AI technologies, ETP Unify is set to discover more opportunities for innovation, revolutionizing the face of unified commerce retail software.

The future of retail is in the successful convergence of AI and emerging technologies. But the secret to unleashing their full potential lies in a people-first strategy. By putting the needs and welfare of both customers and employees first, retailers can build a balanced and innovative culture that stimulates growth and prosperity. Adopting technology with a human face will not only make operations more efficient but also forge long-term relationships with customers and create a high-performing and resilient workforce.

How AI Can Solve the Discoverability Problem for Retailers: Bridging the Language Gap

Posted on by Omprasad Devadiga

In today’s digital age, consumers have access to an unprecedented amount of information. However, this abundance of choice has also created a new challenge: discoverability. Retailers, both big and small, struggle to connect with their target audience and ensure that their products are found by the right people at the right time.

The root of this problem lies in the language gap between customers and brands. Customers often use natural language to describe their needs and preferences, while brands use product descriptions and keywords optimized for search engines. This mismatch can lead to missed opportunities and frustrated customers.

The Role of AI in Bridging the Gap

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool to address this language gap and improve discoverability for retailers. By leveraging advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques, AI can help retailers understand the nuances of customer language and match it to the appropriate products.

Here are some specific ways AI can be used to solve the discoverability problem:

  • Natural Language Processing (NLP):

    • Semantic Search: NLP enables retailers to understand the underlying meaning of customer queries, beyond just matching keywords. This allows them to identify relevant products even if customers use different phrasing or synonyms.
    • Sentiment Analysis: By analysing customer reviews and social media conversations, retailers can gain insights into customer sentiment and preferences. This information can be used to refine product descriptions and marketing strategies.
    • Intent Recognition: AI can identify the intent behind customer queries, whether they are looking for a specific product, seeking advice, or simply browsing. This helps retailers provide more targeted recommendations and personalised experiences.

  • Machine Learning:

    • Product Recommendations: Machine learning algorithms can analyse customer purchase history, browsing behavior, and demographic information to recommend relevant products, helping customers discover new items and increasing sales.
    • Personalised Search: By understanding individual customer preferences, machine learning can personalise search results to deliver more relevant and engaging experiences, reducing the time needed for customers to find what they need.
    • Dynamic Pricing: AI-powered dynamic pricing algorithms can optimise pricing strategies based on real-time demand, competitor pricing, and customer behavior, helping retailers stay competitive and maximise revenue.

  • Computer Vision:

    • Visual Search: Computer vision allows customers to search for products using images rather than text, which is especially useful for fashion and home decor retailers where visual aesthetics are crucial.
    • Image Recognition: By analysing product images, AI can identify relevant attributes and keywords, making it easier for search engines to index and rank products.

How AI is Revolutionising Retail Operations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the retail landscape, offering innovative solutions to optimise operations and enhance customer experiences. By harnessing the power of AI, retailers can gain deeper insights into their business, make data-driven decisions, and streamline processes.

  • Predictive Analytics for Enhanced Demand Forecasting: AI-powered predictive analytics empower retailers to accurately forecast demand, optimising inventory levels and preventing stockouts or overstocking. By analysing historical sales data, market trends, and external factors, AI algorithms can predict future demand with remarkable precision, enabling informed procurement, production, and pricing decisions.
  • Supply Chain Optimisation for Efficient Operations: AI is revolutionising supply chain management by streamlining operations and reducing costs. Machine learning and advanced analytics allow retailers to optimise inventory, improve order fulfillment, and minimise transportation costs, freeing up valuable time and resources.
  • Enhancing In-Store Experience with AI-Powered Solutions: AI transforms the in-store shopping experience through personalised recommendations, efficient checkout processes, and improved customer service. Computer vision can analyse customer behavior to provide tailored recommendations, while AI-powered self-checkout systems streamline the checkout process and reduce wait times.
  • Combatting Retail Theft with AI-Driven Surveillance: AI-powered surveillance systems combat retail theft by detecting suspicious behavior in real-time, alerting security personnel, and optimising store layout to address high-theft areas with targeted security measures.

The Future of AI-Powered Discoverability

As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect even more innovative solutions to the discoverability problem. Some potential future developments include:

  • Voice-Activated Search: Voice assistants powered by AI enable customers to search for products using natural language, making the shopping experience even more convenient.
  • Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): AR and VR can provide immersive shopping experiences, allowing customers to visualise products in their own environment.
  • AI-Powered Chatbots: Chatbots provide real-time customer support, answer questions, and offer personalised recommendations.

By embracing AI, retailers can bridge the language gap between brands and customers, improve discoverability, and ultimately drive sales and customer satisfaction.

Your Guide to Personalised Product Recommendations in e-Commerce

Posted on by Omprasad Devadiga

In today’s fast-paced digital age, online shopping has become the norm for many consumers. However, with the vast array of products and services available, it can be challenging to find exactly what you’re looking for. This is where the power of personalised product recommendations comes into play.

Gone are the days of generic, one-size-fits-all suggestions. Consumers now expect a tailored shopping experience that anticipates their needs and preferences. Traditional methods of compensating for digital shortcomings, such as physical store associates, are no longer sufficient to meet these rising expectations.

Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offer a solution. Recommendation engines leverage vast amounts of customer data and user behavior to predict individual needs with remarkable accuracy. By analysing factors such as purchase history, browsing patterns, and demographics, these engines can deliver highly personalised recommendations in real-time. This not only enhances the overall shopping experience but also drives customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Key Improvements:

  • Conciseness: The text is more concise and focused on the main point.
  • Clarity: The explanation of recommendation engines is clearer and more direct.
  • Stronger language: The language is more impactful and engaging.
  • Emphasis: The importance of real-time personalisation is highlighted.

Optimising Personalised Product Recommendations Across the e-Commerce Journey

Given the complexity of modern e-Commerce customer journeys, recommendation engines must go beyond individual touchpoints to deliver highly personalised experiences. Unlike established giants like Amazon and Netflix, many retailers face challenges with user registration rates. AI-powered solutions like Coveo address this by decoding user behavior to provide personalised recommendations, even for anonymous visitors.

Homepage Recommendations

  • Personalised “For You” Section: Curate a unique selection of products based on the visitor’s browsing history, purchase behavior, and demographics.
  • Featured Collections: Highlight popular or trending categories or products to pique interest and drive engagement.
  • Seasonal or Holiday Recommendations: Tailor recommendations to specific events or occasions to increase relevance and timeliness.

Product Page Recommendations

  • “Customers Also Bought” Section: Showcase items frequently purchased by other customers who viewed or bought the current product.
  • “You Might Also Like” Section: Suggest similar or related products based on product attributes, categories, or user preferences.
  • Upselling Opportunities: Recommend premium versions or add-ons to increase the average order value.

Cart Page Recommendations

  • “Frequently Bought Together” Section: Suggest complementary or related items that can enhance the customer’s overall purchase.
  • “Complete the Look” Section: Offer suggestions to create a cohesive outfit or ensemble.
  • “Bundle Deals” Section: Provide discounts or incentives for purchasing multiple items together.

Product Category Pages

  • “Best Sellers” Section: Highlight top-selling products within the category to guide shoppers towards popular choices.
  • “New Arrivals” Section: Showcase recently added products to generate excitement and encourage exploration.
  • “Editor’s Picks” Section: Curate a selection of products based on expert recommendations or unique features.

By strategically placing recommendation widgets in these key areas, you can provide a more personalised and engaging shopping experience, ultimately increasing customer satisfaction and driving sales.

Revolutionise e-Commerce with ETP Unify: AI-Powered Solutions for Unified Commerce Success

ETP Unify features AI-based Product Recommendations, enhancing the customer experience during checkout. Utilising a Matrix Factorisation Algorithm, these suggestions are founded on various interactions, considering product attributes and customer demographics. Upon selecting a customer, the model provides personalised product recommendations based on the customer’s purchase history and refines its suggestion as more items are added to the cart. These recommendations are visually presented on a dual screen for the customer to select and the cashier to add them seamlessly to the billing screen, streamlining the checkout process and facilitating upselling opportunities.

Personalised Product Recommendations:

ETP Unify’s advanced recommendation engine leverages AI to deliver tailored product suggestions to customers, enhancing their shopping experience and driving sales. By analysing customer behavior and preferences, the system provides highly relevant recommendations that increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.

How it works:

  • Matrix Factorization Algorithm: ETP Unify utilises a sophisticated Matrix Factorization Algorithm to analyse customer interactions and product attributes. This enables the system to identify hidden patterns and correlations that traditional recommendation methods might overlook.
  • Personalised Recommendations: Based on a customer’s purchase history, browsing behavior, and demographics, the system generates personalised product recommendations. These suggestions are tailored to the individual customer’s preferences, increasing the likelihood of conversion.
  • Dynamic Recommendations: As customers add items to their cart, ETP Unify’s recommendation engine updates its suggestions in real-time. This ensures that customers are always presented with the most relevant and enticing product options.
  • Seamless Checkout Experience: ETP Unify’s dual-screen interface provides a seamless checkout experience for both customers and cashiers. Customers can easily view and select recommended products, while cashiers can quickly add them to the billing screen. This streamlined process reduces checkout time and increases customer satisfaction.
  • Upselling Opportunities: ETP Unify’s recommendation engine can also be used to identify upselling opportunities. By suggesting complementary or related products, the system can encourage customers to purchase additional items and increase the average order value.

Benefits:

  • Increased Sales: Personalised product recommendations can help drive sales by guiding customers toward products they are more likely to purchase.
  • Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: By providing a more relevant and engaging shopping experience, ETP Unify can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Reduced Checkout Time: The streamlined checkout process facilitated by ETP Unify can help reduce checkout time and improve customer satisfaction.
  • Increased Average Order Value: By suggesting complementary or related products, ETP Unify can help increase the average order value and boost revenue.

In conclusion, ETP Unify’s AI-based Product Recommendations offer a powerful solution for retailers looking to enhance the customer experience and drive sales. By providing personalised, relevant, and engaging product suggestions, ETP Unify can help retailers stay ahead of the competition and achieve long-term success.

Fraud Detection and Security in Retail: Leveraging AI and ML for Protection

Posted on by Omprasad Devadiga

 

In the fast-paced world of retail, where transactions occur at lightning speed and customer data is constantly flowing, ensuring robust fraud detection and security measures has become imperative. With the rise of e-commerce and digital transactions, retailers face increasingly sophisticated threats from cybercriminals seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in their systems. In response to these challenges, many retailers are turning to cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) – also known as AI in Retail – and Machine Learning (ML) to strengthen their defenses and safeguard their businesses and customers.

What are ML and AI in Retail?

(Artificial Intelligence) AI for retailers involves using automation, data, and technologies like machine learning algorithms to provide consumers with personalized shopping experiences in both physical and digital stores. Whereas machine learning (ML) involves implementing self-learning computer algorithms that are intended to analyze large datasets, find pertinent metrics, patterns, anomalies, or cause-and-effect relationships between variables, and ultimately gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics that shape this sector and the environments in which retailers operate. These advancements highlight the critical role of innovative retail software solutions in addressing the evolving security challenges faced by modern retailers.

Emergence of AI & ML as Powerful Tools

ML and AI in retail have emerged as powerful tools in the fight against fraud in the sector. By leveraging AI and ML algorithms, retailers can enhance their fraud detection capabilities and stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. Additionally, the implementation of AI and ML technologies within (Point-of-Sale) POS software systems further enhances retailers’ capabilities to detect and prevent fraudulent activities, ensuring secure transactions and protecting sensitive customer information

One of the key advantages of AI and ML in fraud detection is their ability to adapt and evolve over time. Traditional rule-based systems are limited by predefined criteria and may struggle to keep pace with rapidly changing fraud patterns. In contrast, AI and ML algorithms can continuously learn from new data, refine their models, and detect emerging threats more effectively. This adaptive approach enables retailers to detect and mitigate fraud more efficiently, reducing the risk of financial losses and reputational damage.

ML and AI in retail industry are also being used to enhance security measures across the retail ecosystem. From online payment gateways to point-of-sale systems, retailers are deploying AI-powered solutions to detect and prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security threats. Advanced authentication methods such as biometric recognition and behavioral analysis are becoming increasingly common, providing an extra layer of protection against fraudsters.

In addition to detecting fraud and enhancing security, AI and ML technologies can also help retailers improve the overall customer experience. By analyzing customer data and transaction histories, retailers can gain valuable insights into consumer behavior, preferences, and purchasing patterns. This data-driven approach enables retailers to personalize their marketing strategies, recommend relevant products, and offer targeted promotions, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Moreover, retailers may anticipate sales with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning by examining data on past sales, industry trends, and consumer behavior. This allows retailers to make well-informed business decisions and in planning their personnel and inventory levels.

Furthermore, AI and ML can play a crucial role in optimizing inventory management and supply chain operations, reducing the risk of fraud and theft within the retail environment. But how do you make your e-commerce business fraud-proof? This is where Ordazzle’s AI-powered Anomaly Detection function comes into play. Its proprietary Machine Learning algorithm helps you isolate the abnormal or deviant new orders to be later reviewed and released for execution or cancellation. This helps you avoid any outlier orders that might be fraudulent further improving your inventory for normal orders.

Want to know more about ETP’s anomaly detection functions?

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Potential Challenges of AI & ML in Retail

Despite the numerous benefits of AI and ML in fraud detection and security, retailers must also be mindful of potential challenges and ethical considerations. As these technologies become increasingly integrated into retail operations, concerns around data privacy, algorithmic bias, and transparency have come to the forefront. Retailers must ensure that they adhere to strict data protection regulations, implement robust security measures, and conduct regular audits to maintain trust and credibility with their customers.

How can the Government support adoption of AI in retail?

While AI presents promising prospects for enhancing marketing and operational efficiency, it’s crucial to employ it ethically and transparently. This requires a supportive policy framework addressing data privacy, security, and ethical considerations while fostering innovation.

Governments can facilitate the adoption of AI for retailers by investing in vital infrastructure and digital connectivity, supporting research and development efforts, and fostering collaboration between industry and academia. Additionally, governments can offer incentives and offers to retailers for implementing AI, and promote AI education and training programs to upskill the workforce, enabling them to effectively collaborate with AI systems.

In conclusion, AI in retail industry and ML are revolutionizing fraud detection, empowering retailers to combat fraud, protect sensitive data, and enhance the overall customer experience. By leveraging the power of these advanced technologies, retailers can stay ahead of emerging threats, mitigate risks, and build a more secure and resilient business environment. Moreover, ETP’s retail solutions integrate seamlessly with AI and ML capabilities, providing retailers with comprehensive tools to streamline operations, enhance security, and optimize the customer journey in today’s rapidly evolving retail landscape. As the retail landscape continues to evolve, AI and ML will undoubtedly play an increasingly central role in shaping the future of fraud detection and security in the digital age.

If you are seeking a reliable retail software solution. ETP is undoubtedly the best choice for maximizing efficiency and ensuring success in your retail business ventures.

The Role of Technology in Enhancing Omni Channel Retailing

Posted on by Omprasad Devadiga

Omni-channel retailing is becoming increasingly significant in the retail business as people look for more flexible and easy purchasing methods. With the development of e-commerce, companies must make sure that buying across all channels is the same. Technology is critical to improving omnichannel commerce because it lets merchants collect and analyze data from all channels, customize the shopping experience, and provide new services to consumers.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System

A customer relationship management (CRM) system is one of the important ways to improve Omni channel retailing. This lets businesses keep track of how customers connect with them across all channels, such as social media, email, and visits to the shop. By doing this, businesses may learn how customers act, what they like, and what they require. This information may then be utilized to make targeted marketing campaigns, product suggestions, and customer support.

Robust Inventory Management System

A robust inventory management system is another critical technology for Omni channel retailing. This lets businesses maintain track of stock levels across all channels, preventing stockouts and ensuring consumers can find what they’re searching for. It also enables stores to provide services like “click-and-collect,” where consumers can buy things online and pick them up in-store.

AI and machine learning

In addition to these technologies, retailers are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning more and more to improve the omni-channel experience. For example, AI-powered chatbots may help consumers locate items and answer queries quickly, and machine-learning algorithms can look at customer data to uncover patterns and offer suggestions.

The Benefits of Enhancing Omni Channel Retailing with Technology

By using technology to improve Omni channel commerce, stores may get a lot of advantages. First, they can enhance the consumer experience by making individualized suggestions, delivering quick and accessible services, and making buying across all channels as smooth as possible. This may make customers more loyal and improve their worth in their lives.

Businesses may learn a lot about how customers act, what they like, and what they need by collecting and evaluating data from all channels. This may help them see patterns and better judge what products to sell, how much to charge, and how to advertise them.

Technology lets merchants provide new services and business models that need to be more feasible. Retailers may offer subscription services, virtual try-on, and mobile payments in-store, among other things.

The Future of Omni Channel Retailing

As technology improves, we expect to see even more creative ways to improve the Omni channel experience and help the retail business expand. For instance, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology might create immersive in-store experiences that blur the barrier between online and offline buying.

In addition, using block chain technology might clarify the supply chain and cut down on fraud in the retail sector. Merchants can ensure everyone can access the same information by keeping track of transactions in a shared ledger. This can cut down on disagreements and delays in the supply chain.

Technology has changed Omni channel retailing, allowing stores to provide consumers with a seamless and customized experience across all channels. By using technologies like CRM systems, inventory management systems, AI, machine learning, and mobile technology, retailers may enhance the customer experience, obtain necessary information, and provide new services and business models. We should expect to see much more as technology keeps getting better.