Small Business Mentorship Offered by Leveraging AI
Seeking to support small businesses worldwide, Mastercard is developing a new initiative that will include a mentorship component by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI). Mastercard Small Business AI was designed in partnership with Create Labs, an AI services company working to help underserved communities gain access to technologies. The AI tool will offer customized assistance to small business owners.
“We are working closely with small business owners at all stages of development and seeing the myriad of challenges they face and the critical importance of mentorship to their success. Mastercard Small Business AI aims to create mentorship at scale, offering always-on advice from an inclusive set of sources,” says Mastercard Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Raja Rajamannar.
The AI tool will leverage data and content — articles, podcasts, interviews — accessible through a recently formed global media coalition, which includes the Small Business Community, Digital Doors, Mastercard Trust Center, Strive USA, and others. Planned early participants in the initiative include Blavity Media Group, Group Black, Newsweek, and TelevisaUnivision. The pilot is first planned for the U.S. in 2024; international markets will be added afterward.
“Through collaboration, we are looking to combine diverse resources to enhance a tool designed for all small- and medium-sized business owners. Our hope is that these collective efforts shape a more equitable world for future generations, reducing the exclusion felt by numerous minorities and empowering them with the resources needed to succeed,’ says Bonin Bough, Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder of Group Black.
Once again, H-E-B has been recognized as the top U.S. Grocery Retailer by customer data experts dunnhumby, according to the seventh annual dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index (RPI) study. This is the third time H-E-B has been named first in dunnhumby’s findings, beating out Amazon and Trader Joe’s — both previously achieved recognition in the top spot only twice.
“Knowing your customer and your competitive positioning regarding customer needs will be critical for retailers to scratch out any organic growth in 2024. Customers are re-evaluating their opinions of retailers more than ever, and that will only intensify in the coming months due to the economic headwinds facing consumers. In this year’s RPI, we illuminate how the consumer views the grocery market, and how different retailers are meeting the general population’s needs as well as the needs of different consumer segments,” explains Matt O’Grady, dunnhumby’s President of the Americas.
The RPI looks at 65 large retailers selling common food and non-food products. Customer perception data is based on a survey of 10,000+ U.S. grocery shoppers.
The dunnhumby study also revealed:
In the U.S., grocery market sales growth will be 0.5% to 1.5% in 2024.
Customers are scrutinizing the value propositions* of retailers.
Low product prices and personalized promotions and rewards point to improved retailer performance over the long term.
* Driving the customer value proposition: price, promos, and rewards; quality; digital; operations; speed and convenience.
Einstein Bros. Bagels® is celebrating National Bagel Day with a delicious offer in January. Customers enrolling in the brand’s Shmear Society Rewards program will score a free bagel with “a cream cheese shmear” with a purchase at participating locations.
“As far as we’re concerned, fresh-baked bagels are always worthy of a celebration. There’s no better excuse than National Bagel Day to brighten everyone’s day with a fresh-baked bagel and cream cheese,” says Chef Chad Thompson, Head of Culinary Innovation at Einstein Bros. Bagels.
Inside its 674 locations across the U.S., Einstein Bros. Bagels produces fresh bagels all day long, providing a tasty incentive to join its rewards program. “Bagel benefits” include points for free food, Unlimited Free Coffee when ordering online or through the brand’s app, and a free sandwich on birthdays.
DIYers can take advantage of a special loyalty program offered by Lowe’s that offers immediate savings on purchases while earning rewards toward future ones. Exclusive perks are delivered to members […]