Digital banking has become a priority for many central banks during the pandemic. As a result, many financial institutions have taken advantage of the opportunity to reduce their branch network. According to research, 2021 had one of the highest rates of bank closures, up 38% from the previous year. With banks making decisions to close […]
5 Mistakes Banks Are Making With Bank Branch Closures Read More »
SLD President Jean-Pierre Lacroix delivers a presentation on what the future of sustainable packaging looks like to the Canadian Produce Marketing Association. The video below will cover: The challenge with sustainable packaging in both Canada and North America Why the Circular Economy might be a solution A visual exploration of what the Supermarket of the
Canadian Produce Marketing Association 2023 Read More »
We are emerging from the pandemic and should expect a period of chaos as customers establish new values, such as working from home, inflation, and the recession. At the same time, companies try to respond to remain relevant. Our predictions for 2022 were fairly accurate, citing increased automation, the need to go green, the emergence
What Will 2023 Look Like For Retail Brands? Read More »
As the calendar turns to the new year, brands have faced numerous challenges throughout the year. From growing digital workforces to the latest NFT craze, brands have found success by listening to what their customers and audiences truly want. 2023 is set to be a year when brands show their appreciation for not only their
SLD’s 2023 Trends Report Read More »
Banking trust is still regarded as one of the top priorities for consumers, with research indicating that it is one of the most important factors in selecting a bank. It is critical to demonstrate trust as a brand and as a service in order to attract customers and create customer engagement. With the rise of
Why Digital Banking Services Can’t Beat The Superior Branch Read More »
No brand is immune to falling from grace even beloved brands have come under fire for both serious misconduct and things that are completely beyond their control. Some have managed to regain consumer confidence while others stumbled for years or even completely faltered. In today’s conversation, we’re talking about how brands need to address negative
Overcoming Bad Press Read More »
Most financial institutions continue to prioritize digital transformation and digital technology, leveraging their online and mobile platforms to reduce customer attrition caused by branch relocation and closure. As a result of this shift, many banks and credit unions have shifted from traditional banking to digital-first institutions. This change increases online and mobile customer usage and
Why Bank Branches Are The Solution for Successful Digital Transformation in Banking Read More »
The Banking Experience Summit recently convened leading bankers from three continents in Chicago to discuss the industry’s challenges and the future of banking. The two-day event drew more than 40 top institutions, ranging from large national and regional banks like JP Morgan Chase and Regions Bank to a diverse range of mid-sized institutions and credit
5 Interesting Ways to Humanize the Banking Customer Experience Read More »
TRANSCRIPTION Male Speaker: This is “Think Retail,” a podcast where top designers, strategists, thought leaders, and business people discuss what’s coming next. Melinda: Hi, I’m Melinda, and you are listening to “Think Retail.” And today we’re gonna be talking about some different approaches you can take to customer segmentation. Understanding your target consumer is key
Understanding Customer Segmentation Read More »
The future of payment systems has been evolving as technology continues to make its mark on the payments landscape. Finance and retail have long been inextricably linked, and with customers obsessing over the latest technology, payment systems have had to keep up. In this dynamic environment, businesses are increasingly exploring innovative solutions to streamline transactions,
The Future of Payment Systems Read More »
This three-part blog series on the future of the store focuses on insights from the Future Stores Conference in Seattle, Washington. In the first two parts, we discussed the changing role of retail and how retailers need to shift from focusing on the consumers to front-line associates. The third and final section will focus on how brands
Part 3: The Future of the Store Read More »
Social media is constantly evolving. Something as little as removing the number of likes can make a big difference in the way users respond to a post. Just when marketers feel like they figured it out, a new platform, a new trend, or a tweak to the algorithm switches it all up again. Today, we’re
Social Media Trends In Retail Read More »
As consumer shopping patterns and expectations are constantly evolving, it’s important for retailers to ensure an effective omnichannel strategy is implemented within their customer journey. To deliver an impactful service experience, organizations need to ensure that all customer touch points truly reflect their customer’s shopping habits. Not only should the customer journey consider both the
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The customer journey is closer to becoming seamless with the convergence of brand focus on UX, omnichannel, and overall shopping experience. However, much will change as a new sales channel emerges with the advent of the metaverse and augmented reality. What seems like a novel platform gained momentum with the recent announcement that Apple’s creation
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Understanding the sustainable packaging context Brands, retailers, and consumers increasingly want to reduce their use of unsustainable products and packaging. However, visiting a supermarket anywhere in North America doesn’t necessarily reflect this desire. Consumers still shop without reusable shopping bags, and the recycling bins are only getting fuller. There are some positive signs: in 2021,
The Future of Sustainable Packaging Read More »
Retail brands want to know what an NFT is but should be focused on how fast they can start utilizing them. From its ongoing Twitter popularity to being featured on Saturday Night Live, the term NFT was even chosen by some dictionaries as the 2021 Word of the Year. Many have heard the word, but
The Retailers Guide to NFTs Read More »
The healthcare industry has experienced significant challenges as a result of the pandemic, including the rising cost of operations and the growing scrutiny of governments. As a sector that has been somewhat insulated from disruptions occurring in other industries, such as retail and banking, it can no longer assume it’s “business as usual.” Healthcare needs
Why Culture and People are Key to Healthcare Transformation Read More »
What does the healthcare clinic of the future look like? In our latest design exploration, we explore how healthcare providers can leverage branding and design to better engage with their clients and create a truly holistic experience. From selecting the right brand identity to designing a physical space that is impactful and welcoming, we divided
Humanizing the Health and Wellness Clinic Read More »
The movie Ready Player One, live events hosted by Fortnite, and Facebook’s recent name change to “Meta” are all harbingers of a coming advance in technology that will be a game-changer: the metaverse. Just how far away we are from the vision Mark Zuckerberg laid out in his infamous video is a subject of great
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The Current State of Transformation Digital transformation, for many institutions, has ended at the doorstep of their retail channels. The pandemic has accelerated the growth of both Amazon and Fintech, forcing banks and retailers to shift their focus to digital to help drive sales and customer retention. However, as digital transformation efforts mature and
Five Ways to Fill the Digital Transformation Gap for Retail Brands Read More »
