Strategic Foresight

DeepReal Part 2: The Blurring Line Between Fact and Fiction

The inability to tell fact from fiction is being driven by a number of factors and is challenging the way that consumers perceive and engage with brands. To help gain a better understanding of how consumers discern information and make their purchase decisions, SLD conducted a study among 2000 respondents in January, 2021. As part […]

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Robot using an interactive screen

How Robot Greeters Are Changing the Service Sector

The Ins and Outs of Robot Greeters   How Can Robot Greeters Improve Your Customer Experience?   These electronic greeters are available 24/7, multilingual, responsive, always smiling and capable to handle an almost infinite amount of information. Their strength also lies in the fact that they can be “emotional” and “non-emotional.” Their “emotions” powered by

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Mall of the Future Rendering

The Future Of The Mall – A Design Exploration

Even before COVID-19, the shopping mall was under siege. As more consumers turned to online shopping and local, independent bricks and mortar retailers, it was not uncommon to see spaces for lease within malls and empty parking lots outside. In some cities, malls were being turned into mixed-use spaces, condos or distribution warehouses. Then the

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Finger pointing towards a blue open banking digital graphic

What Does Smart Banking Look Like in 2021?

After a tumultuous 2020, the banking industry is transforming itself from being the root of the issue in the last financial crisis (2008) to being part of the solution in this one. Not surprisingly though, different banks are at different stages of transformation. In this article, we look at some of the best practices from

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Man and woman watering a plant with money in the background

Show Me You Care: Building a Social Brand in 2021

2020 was a tough year for many, and although 2021 is looking a little more hopeful, the fact remains that our way of life will be very different moving forward. As a result, brands should consider how to best support their customers. A year marked by a global pandemic, widespread social protests, and man-made environmental

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2021 trends to watch out for

2021 Trends and Implications for Retail Brands

If 2020 taught us anything, it is that predictions and best laid plans don’t always come to fruition. While many brands learned this the hard way, there are countless success stories from the past year – stories of brands that adapted, listened and inspired. As we look ahead to 2021, the unknowns and challenges that

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Scientists in a lab testing a COVID-19 vaccine

What Brands Can Learn from the COVID-19 Vaccine Trials

The world continues to struggle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, and in its wake, consumer behavior, and therefore, brand service design, is being rewired. The good news is the recent announcements by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna regarding the viability of their vaccines energized financial markets and provided a much-needed sign of hope. The race to

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Drawing of a large gathering with lots of different people

Using Strategic Foresight to Understand the Future of Large Gatherings

Any business that relies on bringing people together has been forced to pivot quickly in 2020. In some cases, innovation and resilience has shone through. In other cases, a lack of preparedness had meant closures and bankruptcies. At SLD, we have decided to take a longer view of how current trends and events have altered

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Stuart Armstrong headshot

Digital Ecosystems and the Future of Retail and Banking

Digital transformation was something retail organizations and financial institutions were already talking about before COVID hit. The pandemic has accelerated the trend and brought with it more challenges that were not anticipated. While brands have adopted many makeshift processes and systems to address these needs, companies are now wondering what’s going to stick after the

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Digital Ecosystems Ebook cover

THINK FUTURE: How Digital Ecosystems Will Change Retail and Banking

From the growth of online-only retail platforms and Fintechs to a global pandemic that has pushed many customers online, it is no secret that the retail and banking industries are at a crossroads. As new technologies emerge, SLD and JohnRyan have conducted an extensive study among retail and bank executives to better understand the new direction

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illustration of people shopping in a retail store during covid 19

COVID-19: Retail’s New Reality

The retail industry is one that has been significantly impacted by technology with the growth of online-only retail platforms, the rising cost of labor and the growth of alternative payment platforms such as mobile wallets. Ironically, in spite of this disruption, our retail consumer study conducted in May clearly identifies that retail stores remain a

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woman shopping during covid 19

Insights for Retailers & CPG Brands in the Post-COVID-19 World

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, BXP and VMSD Magazine partnered to host a webinar focused on the current customer landscape and how it might change in post-COVID-19 reality. Titled “A Look Ahead: Insights for Retailers & CPG Brands in a Post-COVID-19 World,” the webinar featured guests from The Kroger Co., Walgreens, Soapbox and Westwin, as well as

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Illustration of man on his computer at home

COVID-19: How Foodservice Brands Can Remain Relevant

To help foodservice operators better understand how to handle COVID-19, SLD has conducted consumer and industry studies to determine how consumer needs, behaviors, and loyalty have been impacted by the current pandemic. The results of these studies, as well as tactical strategies for foodservice brands, are shared in the webinar below. Watch as Jean-Pierre Lacroix, President

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