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<\/a>With big data capabilities, merchants are using retail business intelligence to improve the shopper experience in their stores.<\/p><\/div>\n
During Tuesday\u2019s keynote panel at the Consumer Electronics Show, \u201cHow Mobile Is Fundamentally Changing our World,\u201d technology experts from across the industry addressed how mobile connectivity is transforming business and personal lives. the panel discussion was hosted by John Ford of CNBC, and included Jan Brockmann, chief technology officer and senior vice president of Electrolux; Phil Abram, chief infotainment officer of General Motors; Steve Mollenkopf, CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated; and Jeroen Tas, CEO HISS of Philips. The panelists discussed concerns regarding mobile connectivity, including privacy and data collection in addition to how different sectors are evolving due to the influence of constant Internet access; for example, the smart home, automobiles and the health care industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are, as an industry, at a very strong point of experimentation,\u201d said Mollenkopf. \u201cPeople are trying to figure out what are these new categories, how do they work, who\u2019s going to win, what will the consumer understand and what will the consumer put up with in terms of data being taken about their daily lives, and how will we manage that as an industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
That last point is key: How much of their personal information will consumers be willing to share, particularly with retailers? And, with the Internet of Things being touted as the \u201cnext big thing,\u201d there is concern that the continuous collection of every ounce of data will reveal too much about individuals. Correlating the \u201cjust right\u201d pieces of information can unravel a person\u2019s anonymity, exposing information not intended for public consumption.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis pervasive collection of data inevitably gives rise to concerns about how all of this personal information will be used. Will the data be used solely to provide services to consumers?\u201d said Edith Ramirez, Chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission in her CES keynote<\/a>. \u201cOr will the information flowing in from our smart cars, smart devices, and smart cities just swell the ocean of \u2018big data,\u2019 which could allow information to be used in ways that are inconsistent with consumers\u2019 expectations or relationship with a company?\u201d<\/p>\n Retailers are in the position to collect huge amounts of data. Consumers should always be provided with clear and simple notices of the proposed uses of their data and a way to opt-in, or out. Where possible, retailers could also de-identify information; data concerning trends in fashion do not need to be personally identifiable, for example. Trends are, after all, general observations. As Ramirez noted, fostering consumer trust is just good business sense.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With the rise in mobility, comes an increase in data. And,if it seems to you that virtually everyone on earth has a mobile phone, you\u2019re right: According to the United Nations Telecommunications agency\u2019s most recent figures, more than 6.8 billion … Continue reading