Matt Laukaitis

About Matt Laukaitis

Matt Laukaitis is the senior vice president and general manager of SAP’s Retail industry practice in North America and is responsible for the division’s strategy, business operations, and sales performance throughout the region.

How to Successfully Enable “Work from Home” in Retail and Consumer Businesses

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As we all continue to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, daily life has changed dramatically for many workers dedicated to retail and consumer-facing businesses. Brands everywhere are having to make difficult decisions on how they will support compliance with local regulations and closures, continue to serve the business, and strategize on how to emerge stronger after this is over. For many, this means that large populations of employees - including those who work in headquarters and store support centers, store associates, and distribution …

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Promoting Inclusivity and Driving Real Business with Adaptive Fashion

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If you haven't heard of adaptive clothing, you aren't alone. Essentially, it's the modification of mainstream clothing to better serve the needs of people with disabilities. One in seven people across the globe have a physical and/or cognitive disability, adding up to more than one billion people living with a disability worldwide. And yet, this market has been underserved by mainstream brands and retailers to date. As an industry, we can do much better. In fact, leading companies are innovating and providing functional and fashionable clothing …

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On the Runway: Consumer Experiences, Powered by Technology

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The fast-moving fashion industry continues to provide consumers with an opportunity to connect with their favorite brands and designers, while enabling personalized style statements. As part of this dynamic equation between the consumer and her love for, and interaction with her favorite designers, technology has transformed the way the industry operates. With the continued importance of e-commerce and social media, consumers are able to share their voices more so than ever before. Now technology is allowing consumers to share their …

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Who Will Win This Holiday Season? Those Who Deliver Trusted Experiences

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The National Retail Federation (NRF) reports that holiday sales during November and December 2017 increased 5.5 percent over the same period in 2016, and they expect another increase between 4.3 and 4.8 percent this year. This is a crucial opportunity for retailers, as the NRF predicts holiday sales could reach as much as $720.89 billion in 2018. Factoring in NRF's claim that the holidays can account for up to 30 percent of a retailers' annual revenue, this is not just an opportunity - it's a make-or-break moment. The retailers that find the …

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Direct-to-Consumer vs. Brick & Mortar

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As retail continues its renaissance, leading brands are continuing to innovate around their consumer experiences - opening new types of physical stores, experimenting with new online capabilities, collaborating with nontraditional partners and doing so all at a rapid speed. This is especially true with fast growing, new brands who have largely established themselves through online and social channels, leveraging a highly differentiated experience to draw passionate fans to new locations. For example, online pioneer Allbirds is investing …

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Making a Connection with the iGeneration

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As the industry adapts to the rapidly evolving consumer landscape, fashion brands and retailers must focus on reaching digital-first consumers, such as Gen Z. While the oldest in the generation have only recently entered the workforce, Gen Z is already emerging from the shadow of millennials in regard to their buying power. Gen Z makes up about a quarter of the U.S. population and controls $44 billion in purchasing power. This purchasing power will only grow, even though many of them are still too young to buy their own products. However, …

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Making the Case for Blockchain in Retail

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Blockchain continues to be a topic in boardrooms as brand leaders explore new ways to unleash the power of technology to drive authentic conversations with their consumers. This isn’t surprising, as the World Economic Forum expects 10 percent of GDP will be stored on blockchain technology by 2027. While it’s still an emerging technology, blockchain can make a profound impact on businesses, helping leaders close the retail execution gap – between vision and execution. It’s critical that brands start to look at its potential to transform their …

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Technology is Rewriting the Rules of Retail

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Retail today continues to change at lightning speed, and technology is helping leaders to rewrite all the rules. Taking into account shifting consumer expectations and an unrelenting flood of data, a single digital core is essential to executing a winning consumer experience strategy (no matter where or how they shop), which is the key to driving future growth and market share. As more consumers browse, buy and socialize online, having a complete omnichannel presence merely gives retailers the opportunity to compete – the retailers that want …

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