This month, Econsultancy’s Digital Transformation Monthly reports on the latest developments in the retail and grocery, food and drink, finance, and healthcare sectors. It looks at brands navigating new retail formats, emerging fintech competitors, digital loyalty schemes and technology-driven healthcare. Stories covered include:
- Q-commerce: Ultrafast grocery delivery firm Jiffy is pioneering q-commerce as a service, trialling a partnership with BrewDog in Islington and Teddington in London. Could Jiffy’s expertise in rapid delivery solutions be the gateway for more brands hoping to enter the competitive q-commerce arena?
- Skis for hire: Decathlon has partnered with rental platform Hirestreet to enable customers to hire ski gear and outerwear from the Hirestreet website. With concerns about the environment and sustainability driving a boom in the resale and rental market, will more activewear brands jump on the gear-for-hire initiative?
- Buy now, pay later: Santander is launching an in-house BNPL platform, Zinia, to go up against the likes of Klarna, Zilch and Clearpay. Will the bank’s established scale, reputability and reach give it the edge it needs to succeed in the heavily scrutinised BNPL market?
- Digital rewards: McDonald’s is expanding its digital loyalty program, MyMcDonald’s Rewards, to customers in the UK for the first time. With engagement and frequency up among the brand’s digital customers, is digital-first the way forward for quick-service restaurants?
- NHS app landmark: The NHS app, first launched in December 2018, now has more than 22 million users and is one of the most downloaded apps in the UK. With users able to register their decisions regarding organ donation and book GP appointments through the app, what’s next for technology-driven healthcare in the UK?
Read on for analysis of all these stories and more in our February edition of Digital Transformation Monthly.