Manufacturing

This report from The Economist focuses on the key challenges facing consumer products companies today when it comes to Big Data initiatives: people and skills; process and organizational structure; and cultural changes.

Looking ahead, Mintel's trends analysts Stacy Glasgow and Jenny Zegler discuss the four key US consumer trends identified by Mintel as the most impactful for 2015 and what this will mean for both consumers and brands in the year ahead. Read on to learn how Get Smart, My Wallet, My Way, Fight for Your Rights and Gender Agenda will impact consumers and brands alike in the coming year.

QVC's mobile commerce business has grown steadily year over year, currently accounting for 37 percent of U.S. e-commerce revenue in the second quarter 2014.

As adoption of hybrid cloud computing accelerates, this relationship is expected to give clients, partners and developers more choice in the cloud, helping them drive new business opportunities, spur innovation and reduce costs.

The 16th annual Consumer Goods Business & Technology Leadership Conference lived up to its reputation last week, touting a blockbuster lineup of knowledgeable and entertaining speakers. Get a recap of the content and conversations that resonated with a highly engaged audience of consumer goods business and technology executives.

The company plans to spend capital of approximately $1 billion for e-commerce and digital initiatives this fiscal year and between $1.2 and $1.5 billion next year.

The system is currently deployed in seven countries with three more planned for 2014. More than 30 additional countries are scheduled to be deployed in 2015, with the remainder of the global business to be completed in 2016.

To date, the company's Innovation Centers have established more than 80 collaborations, including six new announcements with organizations in Australia and China.