Amazon v Wal-Mart

Can new kinds of tech partnering make the difference?

Amazon and Walmart’s rivalry is reshaping how we’ll buy everything in the future
The retail war is expanding to cloud computing, grocery delivery, and streaming video
By Nick Statt@nickstatt in TheVerge

Walmart’s ongoing battle with Amazon for the retail crown is expanding well beyond retail, and it’s forcing one of the largest companies in the world to reexamine its DNA. In the last six months alone, Walmart has partnered with scores of tech firms to better compete with Amazon and make progress in markets that may become pivotal years down the line. It’s also begun rethinking how it views itself: a traditional big-box retail giant that now hopes it can be nimble enough to compete with one of technology’s most powerful players.    "

Google and Measurement Strategy

Without accurate in context measurement strategy, you don't have much of anything.  Here is how Google works with partners in this space.  Consider how this works outside marketing as well.

Why partners play a critical role in Google’s measurement strategy

Measurement continues to be critical for brands trying to understand the impact of their marketing. But as the customer journey has become more complex, marketers often find it difficult to gain a complete view of customer engagement and attribute marketing’s impact accurately. That’s why Google has introduced Google Measurement Partners, which includes over 20 measurement providers and combines the best of Google and partner technology across the marketing funnel. ... ." 

Grocers Partner for Digital Growth

Some interesting data on the value of digital in grocery.  In particular big investments in leading edge technologies.    Also the relatively rare use of the term ROI as welll.

Grocers Partner For Digital Growth
Ananda Chakravarty,  Senior Analyst

Grocers Are Partnering For Digital Growth
The last few months have been a watershed of new deals around grocery fulfillment.  Walmart is partnering with DoorDash, Kroger is investing in Ocado, Target is acquiring Shipt, and Amazon is delivering groceries to consumer vehicles.  Fulfillment has become the key parameter for grocers to grow their digital business.  Why?  Digital grocery is still small, and grocers are unable to justify fulfillment costs.  Digital grocery is growing at a CAGR of 17% globally but remains less than 3% of the US retail grocery market.[1]  The lack of comparable ROI data in the small digital grocery market has made it difficult for grocers to make the case to invest in digital expansion, especially since grocers expect rapid payback on investments. With the exception of large grocers like Walmart or Kroger, most grocers have little ability to invest in broad scale digital initiatives given average net margins for retail grocery of 1.62%.[2]  Tiny margins, combined with delivery costs and cold chain requirements for perishables, make profitable eCommerce solutions for grocers very difficult. To make eCommerce investments economical, grocers are:  ... "

CPG Supply Chains

An element of cost and capability that cannot be ignored.  Do you know the processes in play? Architecture should be frequently re-examined.

Rising costs, complexities of supply chain are top concern for CPG companies 
Increased product portfolios and online shopping formats have contributed to a decline in customer service and rising freight costs for manufacturers, according to a survey from GMA and Boston Consulting Group. "Traditional best practices are no longer sufficient," said Peter Dawe, a Boston Consulting Group partner and a co-author of the report. "Today's challenges require greater strategic partnership between the supply chain and the business as a whole. And when that happens, the supply chain can actually enable enterprise growth ...  " 

Big Data Blurring Industry Lines

In Forbes,   Morphing of analyses and businesses. Expect more of this.   And the partnership aspects, note the book Reciprocity Advantage , by colleagues Bob Johansen and Karl Ronn  previously mentioned, on this topic

" .. By way of example, let’s examine a well-known company being driven into multiple new industries through analytics. If you asked 100 people randomly on the street what Nike does, you’d probably get 98-percent or more telling you the company makes sneakers or sportswear. That’s true enough, but Nike has also become a pioneer in smart, wearable technologies, from its Nike+ running app in 2006, to the 2012 release of its FuelBand fitness tracker and its potential wearable tech-focused partnership with Apple. Products like the FuelBand contain sensors that automatically measure things like your sleep patterns and the number of steps you take each day.  I’m among the 3.3 million Americans who use FuelBand, or other devices like it. And, while Nike has plans to discontinue that particular physical product, wearable technology is helping Nike’s business model morph in new ways.  ... "

Partner World

IBM colleagues inform me that Partner World has started.

The agenda  can be found here.  You can also watch sessions online.  Twitter hashtag #IBMPWLC

Lots of interesting work that connects with analytics, will report on some of it here.

I see that colleague Paul Gillin, who consults on social media for IBM is speaking.  See my post on his excellent new book.   On the attack of the customer.