Analyst Insight: In the age of information, there is a tremendous opportunity for retail companies to distinguish themselves as consumer-centric by exceeding expectations for online product content. Many retailers and brands are stepping up their ability to provide the detailed, accurate digital product information consumers need to make informed purchase decisions. To create competitive end-to-end shopping experiences, these companies are leveraging global standards to make it easy for consumers to discover and purchase products whenever and wherever they are. - Rich Richardson, vice president of standards development, GS1 US

Analyst Insight: The retail industry might be the most impacted by digital disruptions, on top of the obvious turmoil retailers' face due to the rapid growth of e-commerce. Retailers also face all of the disruptions in the transportation industry, as retail has always been about moving merchandise from its point of origin into the hands of consumers. - Jim Tompkins, CEO, Tompkins International

Going up against the behemoth that is Amazon.com, does the smaller e-commerce provider have a chance?

Somebody out there is talking about your product. And you had better be listening.

In a quick counter-salvo, Amazon has announced it's lowering the free shipping threshold for non-Prime members from $49 to $35, a response to Walmart's move earlier this month.

Packaging for e-commerce may well look different from that of the traditional retailer. And lucky that it is, given commerce sales grew in the U.S. at 14.6 percent in 2015, according to Internet Retailer.