A few weeks ago, my friend Scott called me, frantic. The first words out of his mouth when I picked up the phone were, "Benj, I hate distributors." As a bit of background, Scott started a company that is creating an advanced protein that can break down plastic waste more than ten times faster than current methods. By combining single-molecule biophysics, deep learning and chemistry, his company aims to break down plastic waste while using 50% less energy than traditional methods and zero new fossil fuels. In the past few months, Scott has built a team of over 30 professionals.

Elevating the customer experience is the top priority for corporate retailers; thus, it is vital that they investigate all the factors that contribute to it. With things returning to normalcy and relaxed COVID restrictions, retailers are now expecting better store footfalls. One of the essential elements in a retail checkout is a well-developed point-of-sale system or PoS application. What is a POS application? A PoS system combines hardware and software elements to facilitate merchant transactions between retailers and customers.

Globally the popularity of chatbot has reached all time high and the estimated market value of chatbots crossed $190 million in 2016 and it is supposed to grow at faster pace in the coming years. So, Chatbots are not only here to stay but to become an era defining aspect of modern web development and digital experience. A recent study conducted by Aspect Software Research is an eye opener in this respect. According to this study 44% of customers across niches openly expressed their preference for a chatbot over human customer service professionals. According to predictions of Gartner, by the time we reach 2020, more than 80% of customer services and direct customer engagement will happen through chatbots.

According to a Deloitte report, "A strong customer experience can not only lead to stronger financial performance but also form the basis for competitive differentiation. Successfully differentiating the brand both in terms of products and the experience can have a positive impact on a company's bottom line with higher conversion rates and increased customer loyalty." Not surprisingly, Gartner has predicted that over 50% of organizations will redirect their investments to CX (customer experience) innovations in 2019. But where should you start -- is that the question echoing in your mind as you read these words on your screen? Well, if you ask us, investing in customer support technology can give you great results in terms of improving your CX. A report indicates that "62% of organizations view customer experience provided through contact centers as a competitive differentiator."

It's late Saturday morning and Mrs. Little enters her usual supermarket, eyes fixed on her watch. In front of her, the aisles are overrun with shopping carts overflowing with all different types of products. She plunges into the crowd, weaving her way between the shoppers and dodging the promotional displays which block the middle of the aisles. Somehow, she manages to pick up two packs of water before fighting her way back to the other end of the store to get some dog food. As her cart becomes heavier, it becomes more difficult to maneuver.

The global study, carried out by Hanover Research on behalf of PROS, a provider of AI-powered solutions, reveals the expectations and digital initiatives of more than 700 companies. The respondents work for B2B organisations that sell to clients across a variety of sectors, including process manufacturing, discrete manufacturing, wholesale distributors and services. The report reveals that respondents think that the ability of AI to predict customer needs is the most significant way that it will impact sales, followed by automating orders and optimising pricing for buying scenarios. As a result of its impact, 73% of respondents believe AI will be a high priority for marketing and sales activities within two years, compared to 48% today. While 62% of businesses think more than half of their sales will come from eCommerce within the next five years, tripling the 20% achieved at present.

A survey last year found that 98 percent of smartphone owners had used their device's artificial intelligence-based virtual personal assistant (VPA). The majority of those surveyed were inhibited about talking to their artificial intelligence (AI)-powered VPAs in public, but that's likely to change as AI becomes more firmly entrenched in everyday life. As AI becomes a part of daily living, brand leaders are realizing the potential the technology has to transform marketing. With AI, marketers can understand customers more completely and connect with them on a deeper, more personal level. This can allow brands to deliver a buying experience that is relevant to the customer.