When More is More: Harnessing Retail’s Data Deluge

In the latest episode of the Spieckerman Speaks Retail podcast, I conducted a wide-ranging interview with Hélène Clary, VP of business development for ClicData, an end-to-end data platform that enables thousands of businesses to track performance and accelerate growth through powerful analytics. The following article offers highlights from the interview. 

As second quarter 2022 results roll in, it’s clear that retailers are reeling from unpredictable consumer spending shifts and the inability to plan future inventory based on historic trends. Although retailers have access to more data from more sources than ever before, using it to make clear decisions presents a frustrating challenge. ClicData’s VP of business development, Hélène Clary, cites obstacles to effective planning, such as reliance on static snapshots of current performance and an overall lack of agility. She states that “In order to get the right picture, retailers need to keep accounting for new factors. There needs to be dynamic data integration.”

According to Clary, most ClicData engagements are triggered by a need for data unification to address several current retail data realities and challenges.

• Retailers often rely on multiple, disconnected solutions that serve various purposes and generate reams of disjointed data.

• Data comes from an ever-expanding list of consumer touch points including social media platforms, point-of-sale systems, loyalty programs, and mobile apps.

• Access points and retail data formats can vary widely to include Excel spreadsheets, legacy databases, and APIs.

• The acceleration in retail acquisitions and partnerships increases complexity as companies attempt to bring unique data environments together.

• Executing complex, resource-intensive IT implementations can bring data operations to a standstill and aren’t feasible for many small- to mid-sized companies.

Clary states, “The earlier you bring the data together, the better.” She points out that, whether complexity and lack of unity exist between companies, within organizations, or among channels and data formats, an absence of clear data insights inhibits retailers’ ability to manage against objectives.  

She cites ClicData’s ability to integrate and unify data from over 250 formats as a foundational capability noting, “It’s the heart of our product development. Whatever the data is, or wherever it resides, we always have a way of integrating it into the mix.” The company’s overarching mission is to remove barriers inherent with data management and sharing. To access these tools, customers can simply visit the ClicData website, create an account, and start working without the need to build additional infrastructure. These services also ensure a consistent user experience regardless of the operating systems being utilized.  

Clary reports that the company’s white label option is popular with retailers, allowing them to embed the ClicData solution into a suite of services to add even more value to brand and partner relationships. That’s particularly compelling as more retailers build in-house ad platforms as a revenue stream and a way to monetize first-party shopper data.  

Clary summed up the benefits consumers can gain by saying, “Leveraging data is complex. Implementing ClicData is not, and that’s where we can make a difference.”