IT for retail and logistics

[email protected]: From bricks to clicks – how technology has changed the shopping experience

As Computer Weekly prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, we look back at how retail has evolved from the small corner store of the 1960s to the omni-channel world of today Continue Reading

CW ANZ: May 2016

The Australian payments system is being transformed with mobile banking and programmable tap-to-pay terminals now ubiquitous and a major shake-up of the national payments system underway. It’s clear the country’s biggest banks aren’t afraid of innovation, with investments being made in the financial services digital development trend, known as fintech. But why are Australian banks afraid of Apple Pay, which has been mostly ignored by banks? Continue Reading

Cyber security in Belgium will gain prominence after terror attacks

Belgium’s physical security has been branded inadequate, so how does the country’s cyber security measure up? Continue Reading

Saudi Arabia could warm to cloud computing, so long as regulation and connectivity keep pace

One of the world’s biggest oil producers has responded to tumbling crude prices by announcing a $2tn war chest to fund an economic diversification strategy, with IT set to be a beneficiary Continue Reading

Payment card industry issues data security standard update

PCI DSS version 3.2 introduces six new requirements for compliance, some additional guidance and a raft of clarifications Continue Reading

Disrupting IT in the Nordics, from banks to taxis

IT is dramatically changing traditional industry sectors in the Nordic region. Computer Weekly examines the transformation Continue Reading

Mobilising a workforce drives up performance and productivity

Mobile workers are also more creative, satisfied and loyal, says EIU study Continue Reading

Singapore is second most cloud ready country in Asia-Pacific

Broadband quality, data privacy and pro-business regime makes Singapore the second most cloud ready country in the Apac region Continue Reading

Indonesian internet users turn to smartphones to go online

Organisations with a cyber footprint in Indonesia must understand most internet users in the country access online content and services on smartphones Continue Reading

Singapore online grocer RedMart uses cloud ERP to drive growth

Online retailer RedMart turned to cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) when its existing system struggled to keep up with business growth Continue Reading

E-commerce struggles for growth in Asean countries

Online retail market growth in the Asean nations remains slow but nonetheless significant, according to a survey of consumer habits in the region Continue Reading

John Lewis launches 2016 round of accelerator programme Jlab

Retailer John Lewis launches the 2016 round of Jlab, a programme designed to bring innovation and disruption to the retail industry with technology startups Continue Reading

CIO interview: Stuart Birrell, Heathrow Airport

Heathrow’s CIO is working to future-proof the airport, using technology to improve the passenger experience, reduce environmental impact and build a new operational model Continue Reading

Everyone should be a chief customer officer, says PetsPyjamas CEO

CEO of pet-friendly product company PetsPyjamas says the idea of the chief customer officer is redundant Continue Reading

Private mobile network powers Ocado’s robotic warehouse

Online supermarket Ocado rethinks 4G mobile technology to power a network of 1,000 robot workers operating in the grocer's 'hive' warehouse Continue Reading

Nationwide unifies business and public Wi-Fi in 700 branches

Nationwide Building Society rolls out a unified Wi-Fi network across both its public and enterprise properties Continue Reading

Retailers are in the “dial up” stage of omni-channel

A Retail Business Technology Expo panel likened the current omni-channel movement to the dial-up stage of internet connectivity Continue Reading

Royal Mail becomes eighth accredited Gov.uk Verify provider

The Royal Mail is the latest provider to be accredited to support the government’s Gov.uk Verify identity assurance service Continue Reading

Startup trials autonomous delivery robots in Greenwich

Estonian robotics startup Starship Technologies secures permission to trial self-driving delivery robots in Greenwich, south-east London Continue Reading

DHL Asia-Pacific Innovation Centre incubates future logistics technology

DHL's innovation centre in Singapore is trying out the future logistics technologies it plans to introduce across its Asian business Continue Reading

HR technology heads to cloud in Finland

Computer Weekly talked to Finnish experts about Finnish enterprises moving to cloud-based HR IT systems Continue Reading

CIO interview: Catherine Doran, Royal Mail

Royal Mail CIO talks about replacing legacy systems, new contracts and moving to a platform-based model Continue Reading

Media and marketing industries on the lookout for digital skills

Creative industries such as media, marketing, advertising and sales place more value on digital skills than IT and telecoms sector does Continue Reading

CW Europe: February 2016

In Europe cloud is restricted and hybrid setups make use of local compute and storage. Continue Reading

EU managers need to up cyber security collaboration, study finds

There is still much work to be done in the area of collaboration and sharing responsibility when it comes to preventing data breaches, a study has found Continue Reading

'We stumbled on e-commerce,' says Ecco marketing head

Head of e-commerce at retailer Ecco Dana Schwartz explains how the firm’s transformational journey happened as a result of e-commerce adoption Continue Reading

US IT professionals overconfident in cyber attack detection, study finds

Most US IT professionals are confident in key security controls to detect cyber attacks – but unsure how long it would take automated tools to discover a breach Continue Reading

Social engineering is top hacking method, survey shows

Social engineering tops the list of popular hacking methods, underlining the need for continuous monitoring, according to security firm Balabit Continue Reading

The OpenStack Foundation: Building enterprise trust in open-source clouds

With HMRC and the European Commission emerging as OpenStack adopters, the OpenStack Foundation's CEO explains how it has set about winning over the enterprise with its open-source cloud platform Continue Reading

Bulk data collection unnecessary for surveillance, says cyber expert

Opting for bulk data collection and other intrusive surveillance overlooks other means available that do not involve collateral damage to businesses and innocent people, says cyber expert Continue Reading

Wal-Mart to make huge data and analytics investment in India

Retail giant Wal-Mart is investing heavily in its IT development centre in Bangalore, turning the city into its most important centre outside the US Continue Reading

Social media exert influence on millennials' shopping habits

Consumers aged 18 to 34 are more likely to buy items based on what they see on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube Continue Reading

Lacking the digital skills to shop online costs consumers £744 a year

If consumers are not shopping online for the best deals, they could be missing out on hundreds of pounds of potential savings Continue Reading

NRF 2016: Shopping centres will become “platforms for experiences”, says Westfield co-CEO

As digital causes a shift towards “showrooming”, Westfield co-CEO claims shopping centres will become more experience-focused Continue Reading

Crunch time for Australian CIOs as analytics platforms drive strategy in 2016

CIOs in Australia and elsewhere will be expected to deploy technologies that promise to help them get more from the information they own Continue Reading

PwC acquires Polish cloud consultancy for European operation

PwC is buying Poland-based IT services firm Outbox to build its cloud skills and resources across Europe Continue Reading

Fears of software skills shortage in Germany and the Netherlands

Organisations in Germany and the Netherlands are struggling to fill positions for software developers as they digitise Continue Reading

Top 10 internet of things stories of 2015

2015 was the year the internet of things began to move from theory to widespread practice, and the fledgling industry shook off the millstone of connected kitchen appliances Continue Reading

Royal Mail acquires cloud platform

Royal Mail acquires cloud-based delivery company as automation and better use of data become essential in a rapidly changing sector Continue Reading

Poundland launches e-commerce Christmas push with Rackspace managed support

Budget retailer has turned to Rackspace to ensure its first foray into online retail can withstand the seasonal rush Continue Reading

UK firms act quickly to fix payment card data encryption

Security firm found that 16 global companies had failed to effectively encrypt traffic to the payment portion of their websites and apps Continue Reading

Russian big data in early stages

The use of big data technologies in Russia is still embryonic and the economic slowdown is stalling developments Continue Reading

DHL opens Singapore centre for logistics technology innovation

DHL has opened a centre in Singapore to research technologies that can be used in the logistics industry Continue Reading

Cyber attacks an increasing concern for Asean countries

Organisations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are increasingly the targets for cyber criminals, according to a report focused on the region Continue Reading

India’s HCL opens Estonian operation to support Nordic customers

HCL Technologies opens an Estonian delivery centre which will support customers across Europe, including those in the Nordic region Continue Reading

UKtech50 2015 - The most influential people in UK IT

Computer Weekly's annual search for the 50 most influential people in the UK tech scene is complete - meet the winners Continue Reading

UKtech50 2015 - The most influential people in UK IT

Computer Weekly has announced the sixth annual UKtech50 – our definitive list of the movers and shakers in the UK IT sector Continue Reading

CIO interview: Jesper Riis, DSV

IT plays a business-critical role at Danish logistics and transportation company DSV. CIO Jesper Riis tells Computer Weekly about his current challenges Continue Reading

Data breach hits Hilton Worldwide hotel chain

Hilton Worldwide says malware found its way onto point of sale (PoS) systems and enabled attackers to steal payment card information Continue Reading

Five key strategies for IoT success

Companies need to be agile because in some IoT systems, it will be a question of the winner taking it all, according to Kent Eriksson, IoT business consultant at PTC Continue Reading

Group litigation against Post Office being prepared in Horizon dispute

Subpostmasters who believe they have been wrongly punished for misaccounting or theft due to flawed computer system prepare group legal action against Post Office Continue Reading

Post Office IT support email reveals known Horizon flaw

An email from Post Office IT support reveals a problem with the Horizon system and supporting processes that could lead to accounting errors Continue Reading

Germany is finalising legislation to shore up CNI cyber security

Germany is working to ensure digital sovereignty through IT security legislation and negotiations on IT security regulations and transatlantic trade at a European Union level Continue Reading

Communication Workers Union warns subpostmasters of flaw in Post Office Horizon accounting system

The union that represents Post Office subpostmasters has warned of a problem with the Horizon accounting system at the centre of a long-running dispute Continue Reading

M&S data breach forces retailer to temporarily suspend service

A glitch that allowed online customers to see each others' details forced retailer Mark & Spencer to take its website offline while it resolved the issue Continue Reading

Retailers will never have pure play, says Watchfinder founder

Founder of luxury second-hand watch reseller Watchfinder explains that retailers will never have an entirely online or offline business Continue Reading

Transforming Singapore Post through modern technology

When Singapore Post realised it had to change its business model to survive, it appointed its first CIO to front the technology transformation Continue Reading

Yakult uses data analytics to boost growth in the Netherlands by 20%

Probiotics maker Yakult is using analytics and data visualisation tools to boost its sales in the Netherlands Continue Reading

Expo Milano 2015 – Powered by Accenture

This year, Accenture supported the universal exhibition in Milan showcasing technology with the theme ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’ Continue Reading

German rail and transport group turns to virtual reality in war for talent

Deutsche Bahn claims to be the first company in Germany to use virtual reality as a recruitment tool Continue Reading

CIO interview: Frans Westerlund, Fiskars

Fiskars CIO Frans Westerlund tells Computer Weekly about the challenges faced by IT when a business instigates a major strategic transformation Continue Reading

James Arbuthnot takes Post Office IT fight to House of Lords

James Arbuthnot takes his seat in the House of Lords and continues campaign for subpostmasters who claim to have been wronged by faulty Horizon IT system Continue Reading

Infosec pros should start preparing for the future, say experts

Information security professionals need to grow their skills, engage with the business, increase security awareness, set business goals and tailor their messages, says a panel of experts Continue Reading

How CIOs can raise their 'IT clock speed' as pressure to innovate grows

CIOs are facing pressure from the board to roll out IT projects increasingly quickly. How can they do that without running unacceptable risks? This article, based on cutting-edge research among leading businesses, offers some answers Continue Reading

Amazon sues sellers using paid-for product reviews

Amazon’s brand is being damaged by "false, misleading and inauthentic" reviews – paid for by sellers – to lure buyers, the organisation says in a lawsuit Continue Reading

Cyber security innovation is crucial, says security evangelist

Visibility and automation are key areas of cyber security innovation, but firms should concentrate first on the basics and not overlook the human element of security Continue Reading

Travelex rewrites its digital strategy

Travelex’s digital transformation is based on short-term wins, long-term goals and disruption, according to its chief digital officer, Sean Cornwell Continue Reading

Samsung Pay isolated from LoopPay attack

Hackers who compromised LoopPay’s computer systems had no access to Samsung Pay’s user data or other core information, says Samsung Continue Reading

Tesco decides to keep Dunnhumby after strategic review of business

Supermarket giant Tesco has scrapped plans to sell analytics arm Dunnhumby after restructuring and analysing its assets Continue Reading

Internet of things is next step along Infiniti Red Bull’s F1 journey

Formula 1 team Infiniti Red Bull Racing is beginning to explore the potential of the IoT as it makes ongoing improvements to its networking infrastructure with support from AT&T Continue Reading

Researchers find credential-stealing webmail server APT attack

Security researchers have discovered a new and unique advanced persistent threat (APT) technique that involves a malicious module loaded onto a webmail server Continue Reading

What to consider when IT outsourcing contracts come up for renewal

Outsourcing contracts worth billions of pounds come up for renewal over the next few years – but unprecedented industry change complicates the CIO's decision Continue Reading

David Jones online customers hit by data breach

Hackers have accessed the personal details of an unknown number of David Jones online customers, but the retailer says payment details and passwords are not affected Continue Reading

Two thirds of UK businesses never meet important customers

British businesses don't always meet their best customers or the people they do most business with, because of trends in modern technology Continue Reading

Almost 30% of retailers use facial recognition technology to track consumers in store

Retailers are using more technology in store to track customer behaviour, with the younger generation finding it useful for their shopping experience Continue Reading

Why insurer Axa is entering the retail e-commerce market

Digitisation in insurance is usually associated with digital policy documents – but Axa is using technology to take a lateral approach to the indemnity business Continue Reading

Most DDoS attacks hiding something more sinister, Neustar warns

Smaller DDoS attacks can be more dangerous than a powerful attack that knocks a company offline but does not install malware or steal data, warns Neustar Continue Reading

DD4BC cyber extortion gang adds social media to arsenal

Cyber extortion gang DD4BC is using social media campaigns to garner more attention for its ability to create service disruptions by publicly embarrassing large organisations Continue Reading

Case study: French delivery company Chronopost looks to NoSQL for big data challenge

French delivery company Chronopost is using open-source NoSQL systems to improve services and customer retention Continue Reading

Why Pegasystems' CEO, Alan Trefler, has learned to think smaller

Pegasystems has made its name supplying CRM, analytics and case management software to the world's largest companies. Now CEO Alan Trefler plans to use cloud computing to broaden Pega's appeal Continue Reading

DDoS attack on NCA highlights need to be prepared, says Barracuda Networks

A Lizard Squad DDoS attack the NCA says is a fact of life highlights the need for organisations to be prepared, according to Barracuda Networks Continue Reading

Police arrest six UK teenagers for using DDoS cyber attack tool

Police arrest six UK teenagers on suspicion of using a DDoS attack tool targeting a national newspaper, a school and online gaming companies and retailers Continue Reading

Many firms not getting to grips with third-party data security risk

Supply chain data security risk is pervasive, but being unable to deal with it is down to basic failings, says a cyber risk expert Continue Reading

CIO interview: Elisabeth Stjernstoft, Apoteket

When the Swedish government introduced competition to the pharmaceuticals sector in 2009, the former monopoly faced a major IT transformation Continue Reading

Computer Weekly – 25 August 2015: Coping with a crisis

In this week’s Computer Weekly, IT leaders discuss their experiences of dealing with disaster and the importance of planning to ensure business continuity. Jaeger’s CIO talks about bring the iconic fashion brand into the digital age. And we look at the issues around writing supplier contracts for agile software development. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Why the time is ripe for security behaviour analytics

Recent months have seen an uptick in announcements by security suppliers around behavioural analytics, but what is driving this trend? Continue Reading

Contactless card fraud highlights need for 2FA

A Which? report on contactless card fraud highlights the need for multi-factor authentication for payments, say security experts Continue Reading

Software project will save Ford tens of millions a year in car repair bills

Car maker Ford is rolling out sophisticated warranty software to 12,000 dealers worldwide in a project that is expected to bring rapid financial returns Continue Reading

CIO interview: Mattias Forsberg, Systembolaget

Systembolaget CIO Mattias Forsberg says IT and business need to have a relationship of co-operation and expects every successful IT project to include some pain Continue Reading

CIO interview: Lars Ruben Hansen, Rema 1000 Denmark and Reitan Distribution

The CIO of supermarket chain Rema 1000 Denmark and wholesale company Reitan Distribution wants his staff to love coming to work Continue Reading

MtGox chief Mark Karpeles arrested for fraud

Former chief Mark Karpeles is under arrest on suspicion of $1m fraud and involvement in the disappearance of 650,000 bitcoins Continue Reading

Dashlane bullish about the future despite LastPass hack

Password management firm Dashlane is confident its business model will evolve and continue to be relevant even if passwords eventually disappear Continue Reading

Nordic retailers get physical to combat international digital giants

Nordic retails must evolve if they are to prosper in a sector where competition from international online giants is fierce Continue Reading

Wi-Fi enhances guest experience and profitability for Belgian theme park

Bobbejaanland, one of the largest theme parks in Belgium, is using a Fortinet Wi-Fi network to offer visitors access on the go, and improve its management capabilities Continue Reading

TNT continues outsourcing push

TNT continues to outsource as it strives to free up resources to focus on its core competency, signing a five-year BPO deal with Accenture Continue Reading

Using data analytics to deliver more personalised customer service

Personalisation has been the goal for many retailers, but can the emergence of big data analytics be the solution they are looking for? Continue Reading

Case study: Model railway company Hornby overhauls payments with Braintree

Hornby’s head of digital strategy explains how the firm chose Braintree as its online payments platform following its website migration last year Continue Reading

Waitrose uses ServiceNow for business continuity planning

Luxury retail brand Waitrose deploys ServiceNow to cope with business continuity across its supply chain Continue Reading

Legacy systems holding back 90% of businesses

Most businesses are being held back from making digital advances by their reliance on legacy applications Continue Reading

CIO interview: Alan Jensen, Dansk Supermarked

Danske Supermarked is moving to an omni-channel model, and the CIO must ensure IT and business departments are on the journey together Continue Reading