Rakuten Viber acquires mobile commerce partner

Rakuten Viber rolled out an Instant Shopping feature, a key technology developed by the year-old startup it now owns, Chatter Commerce.

By Dan O'Shea • July 23, 2017

Walmart expands Pickup Towers for online orders

The giant, tower-like vending machines further Walmart's initiative to use stores as distribution points in new, high-tech ways. 

By Daphne Howland • July 21, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

What's shaping the e-commerce landscape?

From pivots in digital strategies to challenges retailers must overcome with reverse logistics, here are some of the forces shaping online retail.

By Retail Dive staff

Destination XL makes a big and tall push onto mobile

The specialty apparel retailer launches its first app, one that favors practicality over glitz.

By Dan O'Shea • July 20, 2017

Amazon acquires comparison search firm Graphiq with Alexa in mind

As Amazon continues to expand Alexa's value, the e-commerce giant buys a company that enhances its search functionality.

By Dan O'Shea • July 20, 2017

Dick's Sporting Goods expands price match to Amazon

Price-based competition remains fierce for retailers, both online and off.

By Daphne Howland • July 20, 2017

Survey: 25% of households use chatbots daily

A study from 3C Interactive paints a different picture of the chatbot trend from other recent studies, but that doesn’t necessarily mean chatbot usage is suddenly booming.

By Dan O'Shea • July 19, 2017

Alibaba completes rollout of 13 grocery stores

The new stores are part of the Chinese retail giant's "New Retail" strategy, which aims to transform and digitize the 85% of the Chinese retail market that isn't online.

By Daphne Howland • July 19, 2017

Report: Everlane to open first flagship store

CEO Michael Preysman once dismissed the notion, but now the company has pivoted and is reconsidering stores.

By Daphne Howland • July 19, 2017

Report: Amazon BTS shoppers are overpaying by 15%

Amazon’s new price comparison practice is hardly an improvement over its old one, and may be more deceptive, according to a watchdog group. 

By Daphne Howland • July 19, 2017

Amazon launches Spark, a shoppable social content feed

The company is dipping its toe into the social media pool with Spark, a feed in which users can "smile" at other users' posts and run product searches on items in photos.

By Dan O'Shea • July 18, 2017

NewStore lands $50M to fuel mobile expansion

Demandware founder Stephan Schambach's latest startup will use the funding to support its "Streaming Retail" mobile commerce vision.

By Dan O'Shea • July 18, 2017

Walmart opens massive e-commerce fulfillment center

The new center is part of the retailer's broader effort to ramp up digital operations and challenge Amazon.

By Dan O'Shea • July 18, 2017

Amazon Prime Day’s top tech successes: Echo and mobile

Technology devices registered big wins on Amazon Prime Day as mobile use skyrocketed.

By Cara Salpini • July 18, 2017

Walmart apologizes for racial slur in marketplace listing

The listing, which uses a racial slur to describe an item's color, also involved a product that its maker said was counterfeit and shows the risks of running a marketplace.

By Daphne Howland • July 18, 2017

Amazon picks nine startups for first Alexa Accelerator session

Nine startups are in line to get a six-figure check as well as development and management help in pursuing conversational commerce efforts.

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 2017

Virtual fitting room startup Metail raises $12.9M

The concept of a virtual fitting room is not new, but Metail just raised close to $12.9 million in funding for its ability to personalize the concept for each customer trying on clothes.

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 2017

Why retailers are going all in on subscription services

Stitch Fix, Amazon Prime Wardrobe, Trunk Club, Rent the Runway and a growing list of subscription services streamline shopping for busy customers, but not every brand has the right formula.

By Lara Ewen • July 17, 2017

Amazon's getting into Blue Apron's meal kit space

The long-rumored effort is spelled out in a trademark application from Amazon and could be aided greatly by its Whole Foods acquisition.

By Daphne Howland • July 17, 2017

Beauty brand Glossier expands

The vertical online beauty retailer has built a loyal following in the U.S. and is now responding to growing global demand.

By Daphne Howland • July 17, 2017

Lowe’s develops ultra-realistic 3D

Lowe's Innovation Labs is among the most productive of retail innovation units, and its latest is a 3D scanning technology that delivers a more realistic shopping experience.

By Dan O'Shea • July 16, 2017

Bon-Ton Stores chases curated outfit craze

The retailer is launching weekly online events to showcase outfits curated by store stylists available for one-click purchasing.

By Dan O'Shea • July 16, 2017

Amazon Echo/Alexa chief departs after nearly 2 decades at the company

Mike George, who has been with the company since 1998, is stepping down just as the smart assistant and its devices begin to see explosive growth.

By Dan O'Shea • July 16, 2017

Amazon reportedly upgrading Echo device with new look, tech specs

Amazon's Echo could be getting a new look and audio updates just in time for Apple's HomePod to arrive.

By Dan O'Shea • July 14, 2017

Apple devices to support PayPal payments

In an uncharacteristic move, Apple is about to start letting users of iPhones and other Apple devices to use PayPal to pay for Apple services.

By Dan O'Shea • July 13, 2017

Brandless' all private-label model to challenge retailers

The new online brand takes cues from no-frills grocery stores like Aldi, in a new venture that appears to be simpler than Jet and cheaper than Amazon.

By Daphne Howland • July 13, 2017