What we’re reading…

Call to action: equal access for allThe great promise of the World Wide Web is in its potential to be a great

equalizer. However, for those living with a disability, the internet can be

a complicated place for accessing information, goods and services. Every

year, May 15th is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), which aims

to inspire conversation and cognizance about digital accessibility and the

variety of ways people interact with information online. In discussing the

recent landmark case of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) v.

H&R Block, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz explained that unequal access to

the online world puts those with a disability “at a great disadvantage and

further perpetuates a feeling of dependence and reliance on others.” She

went on to state that “with a thoughtful and proper web design, businesses

and organizations can have a great impact on the daily lives of people with

disabilities… who seek to enjoy the benefits of technology.” Learn more

about recent developments in accessible technology at ITWorld. Brand

leaders should check out our recent blog post on this topic and read our

whitepaper to learn more about web accessibility guidelines and the

benefits of ensuring equal access for all.

Mary Meeker on our data-centric digital futuresEvery year, Mary Meeker, venture capitalist and noted tech prophet, releases a presentation widely considered the bible of internet

trend decks. This year’s haul is no different and covers topics as disparate as the new prominence of mobile video advertising, digital

healthcare, and the evolution of online networking into specialized social use cases. Unsurprisingly, central to this year’s forecast is

data. With the proliferation of wearable devices and portable sensors, we’re

collecting more data than ever before. And a large portion of this data is

usable – an estimated 34%. However, only 1% is being analyzed in some

form, leaving much room for data story platforms to enter the market and

propose improvements to everyday problems in traffic patterns, resource

usage and healthcare. For a peek into the future, find her presentation here.

Industry BitesMay 2014

USABLENET // INDUSTRY BITES — MAY 2014 PAGE 1

Ecommerce driving new B2B sales growth Typically, B2B organizations have been lagging behind B2C businesses in

adopting cohesive eCommerce strategies. But in a recent report, Forrester

and Episerver revealed the undeniable impact of eCommerce on a B2B

business’ bottom line: 89% of surveyed B2B eCommerce execs reported

an average increase of sales by 55% and AOV by 31%. Changing customer

expectations for digital interactions mean that the B2B companies taking

cues from user-oriented retail or hospitality experiences are rewarded

with measurable financial results. Click through to access the report, “B2B eCommerce Produces Results — Get on Board Now.”

Much ado about mobileNew York was packed with mobile conferences this month, which meant a free-flowing exchange of ideas, stats and solutions.

Ecommerce executives at Mobile Marketer’s MCommerce Summit shared the progress their teams have made in digital space

– Gilt is working to develop personalized solutions for every platform and Wendy’s is working to crowdsource content for a user-

centric experience. Forrester’s Julie Ask presented on the “Mobile

Mindshift” and how changing customer expectations are resulting

in greater business transparency and experiences designed to

accommodate immediacy, simplicity and convenience. This all

contributes to a mobile influence factor, which combines the myriad

ways mobile contributes to a final sale, even those made in stores

or on other channels. At the Mobile Marketing Association Forum,

the focus was on: meaningful engagement, interpreting data for

useful stories, and the ever-present challenge of measuring mobile

impact. Access presentations from the MCommerce Summit here

and MMAGlobal here.

Usablenet Coverage and Conversation

Modernizing the Milkman With the recent launch of its mobile optimized site, Dairy Crest’s Milk & More service is already

seeing a 6% boost in online traffic. Responding to increasing customer expectation for account

access and transaction capability across channels, Milk & More wanted to grant its users the

greatest possible flexibility. The newly optimized site allows customers to order from a wide

variety of essentials and even place online orders up until 9 pm on the night before next-day

delivery. Read more about the solution at The Grocer, then check out the new site on mobile at:

milkandmore.co.uk!

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White paper: the right moment to engage travelers on mobileA recent white paper co-sponsored by HSMAI and Nor1 looks at how the wide adoption of mobile has granted hotel marketers a

plethora of new opportunities. Now that travelers are connected throughout the span of their trip, they often turn to mobile for

a variety of services and queries that the hotel can support within its unique branded experience. Travel companies should take

advantage of the new points of communication to engage travelers and extend services. Interviewed for the report, Usablenet’s

CMO states: “The booking is only the start of the journey… mobile is there to take the traveler all the way through the trip and back

home again.” For insight into the new opportunities present along the travel funnel, access the whitepaper here.

Designing useful experiences for utilities companiesncreasingly, utilities companies are seizing mobile as the crucial new touchpoint for

customer interaction, especially useful during moments of power failure or crisis, when

open communication between consumer and company is key. Chris Werely, Usablenet’s

Regional Director of Account Management, recently attended the Mobile for Utilities

Summit where discussion centered on design approaches, the importance of speed and

performance, and apps as powerful customer tools. Read about his take on the shared

insights, from experiences designed to ease key self-service transactions to those that

share tips and other lifestyle information, over at the Usablenet blog.

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