Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition, better known as IRCE(opens in new tab) kicks off June 6 in Chicago. The annual event brings together thousands of industry experts and solution providers to learn and network on all things ecommerce(opens in new tab). Before we head to the Windy City, I asked our thought-leaders from our team what they think will be the most compelling trends at this year’s conference.
B2B Ecommerce and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
At this year’s IRCE, we expect to see a stronger presence and focus on B2B ecommerce(opens in new tab) and AI. Businesses are exploring how they can use digital channels to streamline and automate B2B interactions by better connecting both the supply and buy side of commerce, locally and globally.
AI has also has gained significant traction beyond commoditized recommendation engines. The underlying technology has evolved exponentially and we expect to see significant advancements in AI applications for customer experience, search, marketing, order management(opens in new tab) and logistics.
Sanjay Mehta
Principal Solution Specialist, Ecommerce
Oracle + NetSuite
Retail Fashion Forward
The retail store has found itself in a do or die situation, having to find a way to marry the digital and physical store experiences in order to survive. I believe the best digital strategies focus on three main value drivers – Fulfillment, Inspiration and Friction Free. Today’s retailers need to reimagine their stores for the digital consumer. That means focusing on inspiration and convenience as key values that drive traffic to the stores, while also striking a balance between transactions and fulfillment. The new track – Fashion: Try it on! – will showcase some great sessions to explore new ways to heighten personalization and how to take advantage of new opportunities to create unique connections with customers.
Matthew Rhodus
Director, Industry Principle Retail Vertical
Oracle + NetSuite
Customer Personalization
We’re going to hear a lot about customer personalization and, likely, the role of AI in adopting it at this year’s conference. During my own talk during the show, I’ll be honing in on how to personalize consumer lifecycle emails, such as cart abandonment and welcome series campaigns. Sending static, non-customized messages in these campaigns is no longer good enough. Personalizing every step of the customer journey, especially within email, is not only critical in delivering a relevant and engaging brand experience, but very doable with today’s technologies.
Greg Zakowicz
Senior Commerce Marketing Analyst
Oracle + Bronto
In today’s world of digital commerce, IRCE is one of the best conferences to help you advance your knowledge. If you’re interested in learning more about taking your commerce platform to the cloud, stop by booth 701 to learn how you can deliver seamless brand experiences with a unified, cloud commerce platform. You can even schedule a personalized demo(opens in new tab) for an in-depth look at how the NetSuite solution can transform your business.