New intelligent systems are making our lives simpler and more productive. Driverless cars empowered by AI are a great example of what can be done to improve devices that were formerly entirely dependent on human direction.

Human-computer interaction will soon be screenless, citing the strength of the Apple Watch Series 3 as a shift that will fundamentally rewire the way we think about marketing, experience design, and the world around us over the next several years, says the report.

The retail industry is now shifting to smaller stores. In 2015, small format retail categories, drug, dollar and convenience stores, outgrew larger format stores by almost 400%, making up a more than $1 trillion market, says the report.

Mobile commerce is expected to account for 34.5% of total e-commerce sales this year, and it's further anticipated to surpass 50% by 2021, says eMarketer's Mobile Commerce Roundup.

86% of consumers say that authenticity is most important when deciding what brands they like and support. Nearly three times as many people said content from friends and family influences their purchase decision.

47% of online shoppers in the US, UK and Australia deemed speed "critical" to a great online experience, with another 47% saying it's "important."

The challenges posed by increasing customer expectations around shipping for small and midsize retailers can be managed with a shipping strategy that includes automation, a mix of carriers including the USPS.

As every advertiser knows, says a new report by StrikeSocial, November and December mark the biggest months for retail sales each year. The analysis by StrikeSocal of YouTube budgets and expenditures for opportunities and strategies during the holidays, shows holiday spending in the U.S. reaching a whopping $655.8 billion in 2016, another $94 billion was spent in the U.K., while Japan saw its spending grow to $35.7 billion. And, this year, U.S. holiday shopping alone is expected to grow another 4%, to $678.8. This giant sum of cash translates into the average American shopper spending $900 on holiday gifts. Parents alone dole out …

Marketers are under more scrutiny than ever, and increasingly more accountable, for their company's revenue results. Sales and marketing teams need to effectively partner.

Birthday email is one of the best-performing personalized marketing campaigns, and has been for years. On that special day, "all we want is just to be remembered."