This year, for the first time, 5G phones will make up the majority, or 56%, of smartphone shipments worldwide. By the end of 2026, their share will grow to 76%. As 5G phones become ubiquitous, their average selling price will decrease by $168 over the next four years.
On today's episode, we discuss what to make of the new and improved loyalty program from Bed Bath & Beyond, what to keep in mind when thinking about personalization, gamification, and additional membership perks, and what the best loyalty program out there is. "In Other News," we talk about Walgreens associates refusing to sell over-the-counter and prescription contraceptives and the potential impact of a new touchless self-checkout option. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Patty Soltis.
AI applications are becoming more common across functions including supply chain, product, and back office. Brands are using AI tools to generate deep customer insights, track supplier pricing, and more.
For global brands like Airbnb and Volkswagen, building online communities offers a way to strengthen relationships with customers, advance product development, and drive business value.
Elon Musk doesn’t own Twitter, but he partially owns its Q2 results: The Tesla CEO has been a headwind factoring into the platform's weak Q2 results.
PLUS: We predict where Amazon is headed next
Big Tech is lobbying antitrust with big dollars: The biggest technology monoliths collectively spent twice as much as big pharma in lobbying and could gain the upper hand as Congress heads into fall recess
The CFPB is reportedly planning new rules to stamp out P2P payment fraud.
LGBT+ population grows in US but sees threats: Despite its increased numbers, this demographic group faces significant barriers to well-being and economic security.
The livestream shopping landscape has completely transformed in recent years. QVC, which saw 45% of the downloads among the top 10 US livestream shopping apps two years ago, accounted for just 10% in the first five months of this year. (Apps like YouTube and TikTok were excluded because ecommerce is a secondary feature of their platforms.)
Amazon, Twitter, and HBO Max are all dealing with fraud: Spam and fakery are affecting multiple facets of the digital economy.
Paving the path to the metaverse: Unprecedented interest in the emerging metaverse might cool if the tech industry can’t sustain momentum on innovation and public enthusiasm during the downturn.
Despite a less-than-stellar Q2, eBay still has few tricks up its sleeve.
An end to password authentication: Poor password security resulted in $52B in losses in 2021. There’s an opportunity to compete in the passwordless authentication market.
The lender said “healthy spend levels” boosted Q2 earnings, in line with other issuers.
Retailers embrace unconventional returns tactics: While some like Boohoo are charging fees to offset costs, other methods like UGC content and peer-to-peer returns are gaining steam.