Retailers lag in meeting the customer expectations for personalized online shopping, according to this Redpoint Global-sponsored infographic. Just 21% have up-to-date CRM/personalization technology in place, although 60% plan to have current technology within two years. Just 14% have bought a software package with embedded artificial intelligence or machine learning.
Microsoft, which really should know better, has announced its own bird-themed ad targeting solution. Inexcusably-named “Parakeet” assigns people to cohorts similar to Google FLoC, but runs ad auctions in a proxy server rather than the user’s browser. Parakeet was first proposed in February but gained attention this week when Microsoft referred to it in a statement dodging the question of whether it would enable FLoC in its Edge browser.
Any retailers hoping they can avoid improving their online experience by waiting for customers to resume in-store shopping are taking a big risk. This Sitecore study of Gen Z consumers found that 64% want to keep buying almost everything online. They’re a demanding bunch: 83% see shopping as an experience, not a transaction, 71% expect highly personalized treatments, and 38% will switch brands after a second bad experience.
Email and mobile personalization platform Movable Ink has announced a new integration between its Da Vinci content personalization solution and Adobe Journey Optimizer. Joint customers will be able to develop content assets aimed at each individual email recipient and bring them into Adobe Journey Optimizer for deployment. This builds on an existing integration between Movable Ink Da Vinci and Adobe Campaign.