Originally Posted at EnterpriseWorld
As convenience and efficiency drive consumer expectations, its effects can be seen in the retail sector and its transformative shift. At the forefront of this shift is Ned Hill, a visionary entrepreneur whose passion for innovation has redefined how retailers and consumers interact. As the Founder and CEO of Position Imaging, Hill has dedicated his career to developing cutting-edge position-tracking technologies that streamline last-mile logistics, enhance customer experiences, and revolutionize package management—emerging as one of The Most Visionary Leaders Shaping the Future of Retail and E-Commerce.
A Passion for Innovation and a Vision for Impact
Ned’s journey into the world of technology began with a simple yet innovative idea—developing a wireless point-to-point range detection system to create a virtual fence for dogs. While the technology was effective, his vision for the company’s future diverged from that of the Board. Determined to build a platform that could make a meaningful impact, he chose to build his own path.
In 2006, driven by his passion for innovation and the transformative potential of position-tracking technologies, he founded Position Imaging. Since then, the company has been dedicated to pioneering advancements in this field, continually pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
Revolutionizing Package Management and Retail with AI-Powered Technology
Position Imaging has made significant strides with its Smart Package Room systems, which utilize AI-driven position-tracking technology to streamline package delivery and pickup in multifamily apartment complexes. The seamless experience has been widely embraced by both residents and property managers. Seeing the broader potential of this technology, the company set its sights on the retail sector.
By applying its advanced tracking solutions to eCommerce, Position Imaging is transforming the way consumers pick up, return, and exchange online purchases. This automated iPickup retail platform not only enhances customer convenience but also empowers retailers to boost brand loyalty, cater to omnichannel shoppers, and optimize staff efficiency—allowing them to focus on delivering exceptional service and driving sales.
Simplifying Innovation for Seamless Retail Integration
One of the biggest challenges for Position Imaging has been refining the extensive technology behind its iPickup platform into a user-friendly, intuitive solution for retail partners. Simplicity is key when it comes to product design, which led the company to develop two distinct solutions.
The first leverages AI-powered computer vision, enabling the system to visually tag and track an order’s location and movement. The second, known as iClip, physically attaches to items—such as apparel on hangers, photo packets, groceries, and quick-service restaurant (QSR) takeout—ensuring precise tracking until the consumer retrieves their order. By streamlining these innovations, Position Imaging continues to enhance efficiency and convenience for retailers and their customers.
Enhancing eCommerce Fulfillment with Speed and Convenience
The iPickup platform is redefining e-commerce fulfillment by enabling fast, frictionless order pickup and returns. With the ability to stage and retrieve online orders in under 20 seconds—significantly outpacing industry norms—iPickup eliminates the need for dedicated pickup counters or lockers. This reduces staffing demands, allowing retail associates to focus on sales and customer service, ultimately driving revenue. Shoppers, especially families, benefit from the seamless experience of securing items online, trying them on in-store, and continuing their shopping journey with ease.
Redefining Retail Logistics with Self-Service and Real-Time Inventory Management
As online shopping and self-checkout preferences continue to rise, retailers face a growing challenge—73% of shoppers prefer handling returns independently, yet most stores lack the infrastructure to support this shift. The iPickup platform bridges this gap, revolutionizing retail operations by enabling seamless self-service returns and efficient order staging.
By leveraging back-of-house staff to prepare online orders before stores open, front-of-house employees can concentrate on in-store customers and sales. Moreover, iPickup’s integration with a retailer’s Order Management System (OMS) provides real-time purchase data, allowing for just-in-time inventory management that optimizes stock levels and enhances overall efficiency.
Harnessing AI and Computer Vision for Smarter Retail Operations
AI and computer vision are at the heart of iPickup, enabling seamless automation for in-store pickups, returns, and back-of-house inventory tracking. By allowing the platform to effectively “watch” and manage a store’s goods, retailers can shift their focus to what truly matters—serving and selling to customers. As automation continues to handle non-revenue-generating tasks, retailers can optimize staffing, enhance efficiency, and improve customer service, ultimately doing more with less while delivering a superior shopping experience.
Creating a Frictionless Shopping Experience with iPickup
Today, convenience is key. The faster an online shopper can retrieve their order in-store, the more time they save—and the more likely they are to continue shopping. iPickup is designed to be the ATM of first and last-mile delivery, offering a fast, efficient, and intuitive pickup process without the need for lockers or staff involvement. By streamlining these workflows, retailers not only enhance the shopping experience but also strengthen brand loyalty in an increasingly competitive retail sector where consumers have endless choices for when, where, and how they shop.
Anticipating Retail Trends to Drive Innovation
At Position Imaging, staying ahead of retail trends is a continuous effort. By closely analyzing market forces and consumer behavior, the company ensures its solutions evolve with the industry. A team of seasoned retail experts provides invaluable insights into the future of shopping, while the dedicated engineering team leverages these findings alongside patented position-tracking technologies to fuel innovation. This commitment to research and development keeps Position Imaging at the forefront of retail transformation, delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of both retailers and consumers.
Transforming Retail Stores into Smart Fulfillment Hubs
With the expansion of online discount periods, retailers have more opportunities to attract omnichannel shoppers into their stores. This shift has led to brick-and-mortar locations being increasingly used as regional fulfillment centers, optimizing inventory and order management. The key to this transformation lies in real-time data insights—understanding what consumers buy, where they shop, and how they pick up their orders.
As online shopping continues to grow, frictionless eCommerce fulfillment solutions like iPickup empower retailers with unprecedented data, enabling smarter, more efficient inventory management and a seamless shopping experience.
A Culture of Innovation, Resilience, and Growth
At Position Imaging, innovation is the driving force behind its technology, solutions and vision. Its world-class engineering team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of position-tracking technology and developing groundbreaking solutions that address real-world challenges. With a high bar for excellence, its small-but-mighty team competes with the best in the tech industry, bringing passion and expertise to every project. Position Imaging employees are united by a shared mission—to create transformative technologies that leave a lasting impact on the world.
There’s no denying that the right team makes anything possible. At Position Imaging, its creative and open environment fuels bold ideas, but true innovation thrives through strong engineering and product leadership. The company has built a team of exceptional talent, providing them with the resources to turn groundbreaking concepts into reality. Failure is not feared—it’s embraced as a natural part of pushing boundaries and redefining possibilities. By failing fast and failing forward, Position Imaging continues to take calculated risks, ensuring that every challenge brings it closer to the next breakthrough in position-tracking technology.
Visionary Leadership and a Culture of Collaboration
In his role as CEO of Position Imaging, Ned believes that strong leadership is about focusing on the big picture while trusting the right people to execute the vision. At Position Imaging, every engineer, whether a seasoned expert or an intern, has a valued voice in shaping innovation. Its culture ensures that the best ideas always win, fostering an exciting environment where creativity thrives. Many of its top engineers began as interns, contributing from day one and choosing to grow their careers with the company. This deep personal investment in its solutions, like the iPickup platform, makes every breakthrough a shared success—driven by passion, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence.
Shaping the Future of Omnichannel Retail
As the retail and eCommerce landscape evolves, the demand for a seamless omnichannel shopping experience continues to grow. Position Imaging leverages advanced tracking and position-locating technologies to streamline order pickups and returns, eliminating friction in the process. As it pushes the boundaries of retail innovation, its solutions will become even faster, smarter, and more intuitive. Backed by extensive market research, it remains dedicated to helping retailers meet and exceed consumer expectations.
Redefining Retail Convenience
Position Imaging envisions a future where iPickup is as essential to retail as ATMs are to banking. A world where picking up an online order is as effortless as grabbing a shopping cart. By partnering with forward-thinking retailers, Position Imaging is transforming the shopping experience—making order pickups and returns frictionless, intuitive, and second nature for consumers.
“For us, success means that when shoppers enter a store to pick up or return an order, they won’t just see our iPickup logo—they’ll know to look for it!”
About The Leader
| Name: | Ned Hill |
| Designation: | Founder & CEO |
| Company Name: | Position Imaging |
| Founded: | 2006 |
| Headquarters: | Stratham, New Hampshire |
| Company Website: | https://www.position-imaging.com/ |
5 Key Insights from Ned Hill’s Leadership
1. Revolutionizing Retail with AI-Powered Tracking
Position Imaging’s iPickup platform leverages AI and computer vision to automate in-store pickups and returns, reducing friction for both retailers and consumers.
2. Enhancing Customer Convenience and Brand Loyalty
By eliminating wait times and simplifying order retrieval, Position Imaging empowers retailers to boost customer satisfaction and drive repeat business, making online-to-offline shopping seamless.
3. Transforming Stores into Smart Fulfillment Hubs
As brick-and-mortar locations evolve into regional fulfillment centers, iPickup helps retailers optimize inventory management and staffing efficiency, giving them the tools to stay ahead in an omnichannel world.
4. A Culture of Innovation and Resilience
Hill fosters a collaborative environment where bold ideas thrive, failure is embraced as a learning tool, and cutting-edge technology is continuously refined to meet real-world retail challenges.
5. A Vision for Frictionless Retail
Position Imaging aims to make iPickup as ubiquitous as ATMs in banking, ensuring a fast, intuitive, and automated shopping experience that aligns with modern consumer expectations.