You're getting a payback on software just by the money you will save in credit-card fees.

Contemplating a complete refresh of in-store technologies used to be daunting enough but now the need for real time information across multiple channels to multiple constituencies makes it even more challenging. But savvy retailers understand that bringing information to the consumer and store employees and managers can boost both top and bottom line results.

The key business benefit of today's advanced planning and replenishment technology is its ability to solve this seemingly intractable problem. Aberdeen's latest research confirms that advances in usability, scalability and improvements in the math are key differentiators in today's planning and replenishment technologies.

Technology can empower small retailers, freeing them up from mundane chores such as managing inventory and accounting systems manually. It can enable them to be a little more creative, a lot more efficient and a lot less sweaty.

There was hope at the time that Linux would really make headway into retail. But then, there was a certain sense of disappointment when Linux didn't really 'take off' from there.

Out of stocks are the dirty little secret of all retailer segments and tiers. Lost sales are a far bigger problem than markdowns for overall retailer health.