Corporate Vision August 2017

CORPORATE VISION / August 2017 7 NEWS , Available as a white label application, Aca- pture’s VR webshop solution can be uti- lised and personalised by any merchant looking to add VR to their offering. The application covers the entire customer journey, from selection to payment. When consumers are ready to make a purchase, the payment is support- ed by Acapture’s award winning payment platform and completed entirely within the VR environment. Webshops created with this appli- cation can be accessed by con- sumers via their smartphone at the lowest-priced headsets available. Moreover, the webshop solution unifies the consumer touch points, gathering the shopping journey data from all online, offline, mobile and virtual channels and creating a complete overview of the con- sumer shopping patterns meant to optimise the ecommerce solutions available for merchants. “This is an exciting moment for Boatsters,” said Nick Ge- levert, Boatsters CEO, “and a ground-breaking moment for com- merce. The VR channel was the missing piece from our offering. We provide not just products, but real world experiences and VR allows our buyers to test that experience in a way no other channel can. With Acapture’s application, we can see how long which consumers browse which products and segments of our catalogue, providing a new level of insight into their shopping journey and allowing us to adjust our process, ultimately leading to higher conversions.” “Since we launched Acapture,” said Rudolf Booker, Acapture CEO, “we’ve dedicated ourselves to providing the complete om- nichannel payment solution meant to maximise revenues for mer- chants. With this application, we’re taking omnichannel to the next level, enabling an immersive shop- ping experience for buyers, while offering merchants customised ecommerce solutions optimised for their customers’ shopping needs.” With 171 million active VR users projected by 2018, VR is very relevant to the present state of commerce, which is increasingly defined by experience. Almost 50% of worldwide shoppers see VR as the next step in the ulti- mate shopping experience, show- ing that consumers, particularly millennials and generation Z, are ready for virtual commerce. With consumers prepared for and de- manding this new shopping chan- nel, merchants are acknowledg- ing the trend and integrating VR technology into their offering. An in-depth analysis into virtual commerce and Acapture’s virtual reality webshop pilot can be found in Acapture’s latest whitepaper, Virtual Commerce, available here. For more information about Acap- ture, please check www.acapture. com In the firm’s third annual report on the manufacturing in- dustry, nearly 80% of respondents said they are more optimistic about the U.S. economy compared to last year while 66% said the same about the manufacturing industry. And 69% expect headcount to increase. Even so, respondents identified addressing workforce challenges as a top priority for their companies and nearly 60% pointed to a lack of qualified workers as a barrier to business growth. “The use of advanced technol- ogies across manufacturing op- erations requires workers with a higher level of training and skills,” said Jerry Murphy, partner-in- charge of Sikich’s manufacturing and distribution practice. “Our report found that while manu- facturers recognise the gaps in workforce development, many simply are not doing enough to train and equip workers to thrive in today’s increasingly complex manufacturing operations.” More than half of respondents said their companies have no involvement with high schools, community colleges or universi- ties to develop skilled workers. And more than 80% said they provide 40 hours or less of annu- al training per employee. “Manufacturers must prioritize workforce training and develop- ment within their organisations and collaborate with schools and professional associations to train and recruit talent,” said Joy Duce, partner-in-charge of Sikich’s hu- man resource consulting services practice. “The companies that embrace workforce development as a key initiative will be in a bet- ter position to ensure long-term viability and competitiveness.” Manufacturers remain vul- nerable to cybersecurity threats As technology continues to change how manufacturers develop products and interact with customers, information technology security risks have increased. Si- kich’s 2017 report found that many manufacturers fail to take the nec- essary steps to protect their data. For example, 44% of respondents said they do not perform annual intrusion testing, in which security Acapture and Boatsters Launch the First, End-to- End VR Webshop professionals attempt to infiltrate a company’s IT systems or applica- tions to identify weaknesses. Additionally, while training employees on cybersecurity best practices is necessary to ensure company-wide vigilance, nearly 70% of respondents said they do not conduct annual staff training. “Manufacturers cannot afford to deprioritise cybersecurity prepar- edness today,” said Brad Lutgen, partner in Sikich’s security and compliance practice. “As the number of connected products in manufacturing operations increases, external and internal vulnerabilities abound in the industry. Manufacturers need to take preventative steps to secure valuable intellectual property and protect their investments in new high-tech manufacturing equip- ment, which can be exploited if not configured properly.” Report identifies manufac- turers’ growth strategies Manufacturers view organic growth in existing domestic markets and new product or service development as the top opportunities for growth over the next 12-18 months. Despite the emphasis on new products, however, 78% of respondents said they invest 5% of sales or less in research and develop- ment. Further, nearly half do not take advantage of research and experimentation tax credits. “The optimism manufacturers feel in today’s economy is war- ranted, but our report showcases several areas of vulnerability,” Murphy said. “From workforce development to technology to financial planning, manufacturers cannot afford to grow complacent in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The companies that stay ahead of industry trends and seek constant improvement will be the ones well-positioned to innovate and grow.” For the 2017 Manufacturing Re- port, Sikich surveyed more than 250 respondents from companies across industrial sectors, includ- ing metal fabrication, industrial equipment, food and beverage, chemical and petroleum, automo- tive, plastics and distribution. www.sikich.com Acapture, a global, data-driven omnichannel PSP, together with Boatsters, a world leading rental platform for yachts and boats, have launched a Virtual Reality (VR) webshop pilot project.