Latest news with #loyalty
National Post
4 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
Next-Gen AI Agents from Exchange Solutions Set New Standard for Loyalty Intelligence
Article content New capabilities extend the company's industry-first AI leadership with marketer-focused AI agents across personalization, analytics, audience discovery, and competitive intelligence. Article content Article content BOSTON — Exchange Solutions, a leading provider of personalized loyalty solutions, today announced the expansion of its AI capabilities rounding out a comprehensive suite of AI agents purpose-built to increase marketer efficiency, optimize personalization, and sharpen decision-making. This second-phase rollout follows the company's industry-first generative AI feature enablement launched last year. Article content Exchange Solutions' newly launched AI agents unleash virtually unlimited capacity and instant intelligence, redefining what's possible for marketers. By delivering real-time analytics and actionable insights on demand, these agents supercharge loyalty and promotional program performance, empowering teams to do more with less and drive maximum ROI without limits. The expanded suite of AI agents includes: Article content Analytics Agent The Analytics Agent leverages generative AI to create and explain complex member metrics such as recency-frequency-monetary (RFM) scores, churn risk, and propensity indicators. Beyond surface-level data, this agent provides contextual narratives around each score, translating raw data into business-ready insights. The agent also recommends strategic next steps like which segments to prioritize or where to adjust engagement tactics, empowering marketers to take immediate, informed action without waiting on analyst resources. Article content Insights Agent The Insights Agent uses generative AI to proactively surface meaningful trends, anomalies, and optimization opportunities hidden within loyalty program data. Tailored to each user's role and priorities, the agent delivers timely, relevant observations that highlight performance gaps or emerging patterns; helping teams make confident, data-driven decisions faster. Whether flagging unexpected shifts in member behavior or uncovering underperforming segments, the Insights Agent keeps decision-makers focused on what truly moves the needle. Article content These new agents are in addition to existing agents launched last year: Article content Offer Agent: Automates and personalizes offer targeting using machine learning and LLMs to optimize for relevancy, profitability, and churn risk. Audience Agent: Uses generative AI and NLP to empower non-technical users to identify and build advanced audience segments for higher promotional impact. Support Agent: Delivers real-time, AI-driven assistance across the platform, reducing training time and dependency on documentation. Our phase three launch, set to deploy later in 2025 includes: Article content Market Intelligence Agent: Gathers and interprets loyalty strategies and promotional moves from competitors to help sharpen program positioning. Voice-of-Member Agent: Captures and interprets real-time member sentiment and feedback to guide loyalty program design and CX improvements. Article content 'Our clients continue to ask for smarter, faster ways to act on their data,' said Mike Hughes, CEO at Exchange Solutions. 'With this next phase of AI innovation, we're answering that call by embedding intelligent agents directly into the loyalty platform to enable marketers to operate more strategically, with real-time insights and automated guidance at their fingertips.' Article content This expanded suite of AI agents is available as part of Exchange Solutions' modular loyalty platform, allowing brands to adopt AI-powered capabilities at their own pace, aligned to their existing program goals and technology stack. Article content Exchange Solutions is a cloud-based loyalty platform management company that delivers personalized loyalty solutions to B2C and B2B businesses, enabling them to build deeper and more profitable engagement with their customers. With more than 25 years of experience in the industry, Exchange Solutions transforms loyalty programs and promotions from being costly applications to productive and profitable capabilities for clients across various industries in the US and Canada. Current clients include retailers such as Esso™ and Mobil™, Sobeys Inc., McKesson, Indochino, Suncor, Foot Locker and Bealls Inc. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For media inquiries, please contact: Article content Article content Article content
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
After DOGE firings White House asks new job seekers to write Trump loyalty essays, from lawyers to janitors
After a months-long freeze on hiring new federal employees and the Elon Musk-led DOGE cuts to the government workforce, the Trump administration is ready to resume civil service hiring — as long as the applicants answer a few essay questions about their level of loyalty to the president and his mission. The Office of Personnel Management last week quietly published a memorandum authored by Vince Haley, the White House 's head of domestic policy that was addressed to the head or acting head of every agency across the entire executive branch. According to the White House's directive, a copy of which was reviewed by The Independent, anyone applying for a civil service position at entry level or above — including such jobs as nurses, janitors, economists and lawyers, among others — must respond to a series of essay questions before they can even be considered for an interview. The 'merit hiring plan' lays out in detail how to implement a January executive order signed by Trump to 'prioritize recruitment of individuals committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.' The plan also seeks to prevent anyone who is 'unwilling to defend the Constitution or to faithfully serve the Executive Branch' from being employed in the civil service. One question asks applicants about their 'commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States,' while another question asks applicants to state how they would 'help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities' and to 'identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives' that they find significant to them. They must also explain how they'd help implement these orders or initiatives. If applicants write answers that are satisfactory enough to land them an interview, the memorandum also states that they must participate in an 'executive interview' with a political appointee from 'agency leadership' who will evaluate their 'organizational fit and commitment to American ideals.' For civil service experts and good-government advocates, the new applicant screening process is setting off alarm bells. Adam Bonica, a Stanford University political scientist who publishes the 'On Data and Democracy' newsletter on Substack, wrote on Sunday that the White House's directive 'signals a profound departure from a cornerstone of American democracy: the non-partisan, merit-based civil service' and looks to implement Project 2025 efforts to deconstruct the nonpartisan civil service in favor of a return to the 'spoils system' that was in place until the late 1800s. 'A merit-based civil service that took generations to build is being dismantled via memo,' he charged. The new hiring guidelines aren't the only way Trump and his allies are upending the nonpartisan system that was set up to govern federal hiring in the wake of President James Garfield's 1881 assassination by a disgruntled office seeker. Shortly after he returned to power in January, Trump signed an executive order that ordered agencies to reclassify career employees who work on policy matters into a new 'schedule' that strips them of nearly all civil service protections. The directive largely re-implements an October 2020 order Trump signed to establish what was then called 'Schedule F' and was set to be comprised of any federal worker in 'confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating positions.' That broad category includes most of the government's non-partisan experts such as scientists, doctors, lawyers and economists, whose work to advise and inform policymakers is supposed to be done in a way that is fact-driven and devoid of politics. Combined with the more than 100,000 open positions created by the massive number of firings and resignations across the entire executive branch during Trump's first few months back in power, these new policies could allow the administration to recruit an equal number of MAGA devotees who would eventually acquire protection from removal by future administrations. Max Stier, president of the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, told Axios on Monday that it looks like the administration is 'emptying the shelves of the existing nonpartisan expert civil servants' and 'restocking' those same shelves with 'loyalists.' Jeri Buchholz, a former head of HR at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, told the outlet that traditional federal hiring, by law, was meant to 'focus on the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the position.' She said the Trump White House's required questions are by contrast 'philosophical' and 'not even aptitude related,' making them difficult to square with the 'merit hiring plan,' especially since it purports to require agencies to speed up hiring decisions.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Starbucks removes a major perk for rewards members
Starbucks Rewards members are fuming after learning they'll no longer earn 25 stars for using personal cups . Instead, the coffee giant will offer double stars on the full order — a change many say is a downgrade. Outraged customers took to Reddit, saying the switch will slash their rewards. 'It's like Starbucks doesn't want customers anymore,' one user wrote. Some vowed to stop visiting entirely. 'This was my last reason to go daily,' one fan said. 'Guess I'll be making coffee at home now.' Another added: 'Without this, I'd rather go somewhere else — they don't even have new drinks anymore.' This change, which starts on June 24, benefits those making larger purchases, as higher spenders will collect more stars under the new system. For example, a $30 order will yield 60 Stars instead of the previous 55, whereas a $5 purchase will drop from 30 to just 10 Stars. Stars earn freebies. For example, 25 gets a shot, 100 a brewed coffee or a bakery item, 200 a latter and 300 a sandwich. The 25-star bonus has been a fan-favorite Starbucks perk since 2022. Several Reddit users revealed they were some of the many customers who used the perk daily to score a free coffee, tea, or snack when reaching the 100 point redemption level. A few Reddit users were 'unsurprised' by the action since CEO Brian Niccol revealed that reducing discounts and promotions for loyalty members for part of the company's 'Back to Starbucks' plan. Loyalty members will still earn one star per dollar spent when paying at the register or through a payment method on the app. If they pay through money on a digital Starbucks card or gift card, they will earn two. The company will continue to give its loyalty members a $0.10 discount on their orders when they use personal cups. However, the perk removal is one of many Starbucks changes that fans have slammed online. Employees and customers were frustrated by the return of its writing on cups policy , which baristas claimed couldn't include popular terms like 'YOLO' and 'GOAT .' Workers also roasted Niccol for implementing a new dress code, many of which threatened to quit their jobs . While many changes were controversial, there were some that left customers impressed. The chain stopped charging customers extra money for dairy alternatives shortly after announcing it would simplify its ' overly complex menu .' All the changes have made customers fear for the fate of the chain . Its profits have declined drastically over the last few years, which was a factor in its decision to hire Niccol as CEO . They have yet to get back on track, and Starbucks recently confirmed its global and North American comparable store sales each declined by 1 percent during its latest quarter. However, the net revenue for its North American sales increased by 1 percent, and Niccol is still confident the turnaround plan is the 'right strategy' to better the company. has reached out to Starbucks for comment regarding the removal of the perk.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Woman Feels Guilty After Being Asked to Lie to a Friend's Husband About Her Drinking and Vape Usage as They Try for a Baby
A woman wrote on Mumsnet that she feels guilty lying to her friend's husband about her drinking and vape usage She said her friend and her husband are attempting to have a baby but they have suffered numerous miscarriages "I've been keeping it a secret out of my loyalty towards her," the woman saidA woman is feeling guilty about being asked to lie to her friend's husband. In a post on the U.K.-based forum Mumsnet, the woman said her friend and her spouse are in a 'rocky marriage" as they have been trying for a baby but have suffered numerous miscarriages. The husband, the woman said, wants his wife to quit drinking and vaping to increase their likliehood to conceive, but the woman said her friend is "hiding the fact that she's doing both from him." Recently, the woman said her friend's vape "fell out of her pocket" and her husband "saw it." The woman said her friend asked her to lie and say it belonged to her, but she wasn't onboard with the idea. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! "I tell her firmly, NO, that I feel very uncomfortable doing that, because it means that I am now lying to [her husband], who is also a friend of mine, and he's told me that he does not want her vaping," she wrote. "I've been keeping it a secret out of my loyalty towards her." Continued the woman, "I told her instead that she needs to tell [her husband], sincerely, that this is the last time FOR REAL that she smoked, but she tells me IT'S NOT GOING TO BE." Still, despite her decision to not back her friend, the woman said she is now thinking she should've. "I told her no, but I am feeling guilty," she explained. "I feel like I should have just said that the pen was mine, I left at their house so she was carrying it around for me, etc." "But a part of me did not want to lie for her anymore," the woman added. Other Mumsnet users overwhelmingly felt that the woman had nothing to feel guilty about. 'She's adult enough to be married, so she is adult enough to take responsibility for her actions,' one wrote. Another insisted, 'Never get involved in other people's lies.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest meanwhile, questioned why the couple, who had a relationship "full of red flags," wanted to expand their family when their relationship was not at its strongest. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Photo – Inter Milan Reveal Record-Breaking San Siro Attendance In 2024/25 Season
Inter Milan fans have shown unparalleled loyalty and commitment to the club this season. It has been a turbulent campaign, marred by injuries, VAR controversy, and busted expectations. However, the Nerazzurri supporters have always been there. Advertisement Furthermore, the reigning Italian champions have already broken the gate receipt records in the Champions League. Meanwhile, fans have been equally committed to the cause in the domestic championship. As a result, Inter have recorded an unprecedented 1,986,908 spectators at San Siro this season. That's a remarkable display of passion and support from the stands. Inter Milan took to Twitter to unveil this historic milestone.
