Walmart Takes The Lead In The Race To Fix Healthcare With New Health Supercenters

As healthcare clinics start to reopen, many patients continue to put off necessary care. For some, cost is a major barrier to care. While the hurdle is not new, rising unemployment and financial uncertainty make it harder, if not impossible, to overcome. At the same time, providers also face a dire financial situation. Primary care is expected to take a $15 billion hit due to drastic declines in office visits from March to May 2020. Many clinics face potential closure, which creates a shortage of care, especially in rural areas. Enter Walmart Health clinics. They provide a range of services, including primary and urgent care, labs, X-rays and diagnostics, and behavioral health services, and focus on clients who pay cash for treatment. For example, a primary care appointment is $40 or $20 for children. A key part of Walmart’s strategy is a low-tech approach that addresses the heart of consumers’ pain in healthcare: cost. As we face a potential national healthcare crisis of delayed care, delivering local, convenient care at a low price point will meet the needs of individuals who cannot access virtual care or need healthcare that must be delivered in person, such as labs or an eye exam. By leading with customers’ needs, Walmart is becoming a force of change in healthcare.

Marketing Automation Spend Is Essential During The Pandemic

Marketing automation accounts for more than half of all martech spending and supports the brand experiences that companies are trying to deliver. In May, we forecasted an overall 28% drop in marketing spend through the end of 2021 but a 3% increase in marketing automation, as marketers use these applications to offset the workload of furloughed or laid-off staff. Two months later, we’re starting to see this play out. For firms that have already invested in marketing automation, we’ve seen a spike in inquiries about replatforming to achieve lower costs. And we expect an acceleration in the deployment of marketing automation, particularly in industries that are digital marketing laggards such as manufacturing, healthcare, distribution, and other large commercial enterprises. We’re also seeing interest in better analytics and tools that help collect, store, and analyze quality data and turn it into insights for better engagement. To find out where to prioritize martech resources and investments for the remainder of 2020, check out our recent roundtable webinar.

The Connecticut Department Of Transportation Is Using Tech-Driven Innovation To Increase Public Transit Accessibility

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is driving an automated public transit innovation that will improve rider experiences along its CTfastrak corridor. Expected to launch in 2021, this tech-driven innovation will automate precision docking to minimize platform gaps, ensure ADA-compliance-level boarding, and increase accessibility for all passengers. This move is one of the first such efforts in North America to empower massive transportation systems. The solution is being codeveloped with Robotic Research, a worldwide autonomous technology provider, and uses its AutoDrive advanced driver-assistance systemAutoDrive is an edge computing system that provides autonomous functionality on surfaces ranging from urban-improved roads to off-road terrain, all while the vehicle is collecting and analyzing data to enhance the future of transportation. To learn more about how tech-driven innovation can improve customer experiences, schedule an inquiry.