E-tailers face challenges

According to the latest Forrester report, Australian online retailers, while growing rapidly, face stumbling blocks to their further growth and competitiveness, reports Computerworld.

The study, Online Retailing in Australia 2010, examined a total of 334 Australian online retail professionals and found that while they have typically lagged behind in the international market - due to under-investment by larger retailers - they are growing quickly, often selling internationally, and performing against key metrics such as conversion rates.

Despite this, the research found online retailers will need to overcome issues such as haphazard fulfilment, if they are to continue their rate of growth in the future.

Microsoft Dynamics AX for the retail industry was released this week in North America, as well as parts of Europe, Asia and SA, says Redmond Mag.

The enterprise resource planning solution currently is available in "more than 16 markets," according to Michael Griffiths, global director of product management for Microsoft Dynamics Retail. In the coming months, availability will be expanded to an additional 22 markets, he stated.

Microsoft's main selling point to retailers is that Dynamics AX for Retail integrates with the Microsoft solution stack. It's designed for mid-size retailers, supporting various functions, such as merchandising, point-of-sale, store management and supply chain operations.

POS terminal payments made by UniCredit Bulbank cardholders this year are up 28% on the 2009 usage statistics, says the head of its bankcards department, Slavka Valkova, according to Focus Information Agency.

In her words, clients have been increasingly using their plastic money to pay in stores, rather than for making cash withdrawals.

To further stimulate bankcard payments, the lender is organising a lottery to pick two of its Visa cardholders and send them on a trip to Thailand, the sole requirement being a record of at least five non-cash payments in stores or online in the period 2 August to 30 September.