Google will stop feeding airfare data to travel websites
THE VERGE
Google announced that it will be shutting off developer access to a feed that automates data for airfare search engines, in a move that could affect third-party travel sites. It’s also a sign that Google is becoming increasingly interested in competing with the big names in travel services like Expedia and Orbitz.
The search giant posted a notice on the FAQ page of its site for software developers stating that it would be shutting down its QPX Express API service as of April 10, 2018, and that it would be ending new user registrations for the flight service. It also sent out an email to customers who use this data informing them of the change, according to Hacker News. “If you are actively using the QPX Express API service, you may want to find an alternate solution before April 11, 2018,” the notice read.
READ NOW
Businesses Failing to Align Strategy and Digital Delivery, Finds Inviqa Study
BUSINESS WIRE
LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A report published today by digital partner and consultancy Inviqa reveals that organisations are failing to align business strategy and digital delivery, and that customer experiences are suffering as a direct result.
Businesses are failing to align strategy & digital delivery, and CX is suffering as a result: @Inviqa study
The report – ‘Mind the digital gap: aligning strategy and delivery’ – reveals that organisations are struggling to deliver joined-up digital experiences that meet or exceed customer expectations and are inhibited by internal siloes and unsuitable processes and methodologies.
The survey was completed by 100 UK-based senior digital managers in roles such as chief information officer (CIO), chief digital officer, and head of digital, with the majority of respondents (69%) coming from enterprises that have been trading for more than 15 years.
READ NOW
Web apps are about how you can help users: Anuvrat Rao, Head of Web Product Partnerships, Google
ECONOMIC TIMES
Google works with several startups to build progressive web apps that mimic regular mobile apps but do not take up as much internet bandwidth or space on mobile phones. Anuvrat Rao, head of web product partnerships at the internet giant, in an interview explains why mobile web apps represent a significant technology advancement, especially for a country like India. Edited excerpts:
Take us through the first PWA projects?
It was in November 2015 that the first PWA was launched, and that was of Flipkart’s. Ola, Flipkart, which have big user bases in India, find PWAs a great solution to get to many other users. We are collaborating with many of these companies. This is very much a feedback-andlearning process for us. Seeing PWAs in action with big companies like Flipkart and Ola in the real world, especially in flaky networks, tier 2-3 cities, users with low-end phones… it is really a great sign and good validation to say that this is a technology that has had good impact.
READ NOW
A Very Mobile Christmas?
FORBES
It’s no secret that mobile is becoming increasingly important in consumers’ shopping journeys. Retail brands as diverse as Target and Neiman Marcus have alluded to the pivotal role that digital plays in driving both their online and physical store sales. And of course when we say “digital,” often we mean mobile. In fact, for many retailers, mobile is becoming the front door to the store.
If a just-released study by Adobe Analytics proves to be correct, an important milestone will be reached this holiday season. For the first time ever, more U.S. shoppers will visit a retailer’s site using a mobile device than a desktop computer. Because conversion rates remain higher on “traditional” devices, the amount of actual purchases made on desktops will still exceed those made on a smartphone or tablet. But that’s not likely to be true very much longer.
READ NOW
Apple forecasts holiday sales above most estimates
GLOBE AND MAIL
Apple Inc on Thursday reported better-than-expected earnings and offered a rosy forecast for the holiday shopping season, allaying investor concerns about production delays on the new iPhone X and demonstrating remarkable strength across its growing line of products and services.
The stellar earnings report came just as the iPhone X went on sale Friday morning in Australia. Long lines were forming at Apple stores around the world, recalling the consumer frenzy that greeted early versions of the iPhone, but had faded with more recent launches.
READ NOW
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
— Henry David Thoreau
