Google updates Shopping features to compete with Amazon

Google is aiming to improve shopping search results by giving manufacturers more control over the product details that come up.

By Dan O'Shea • July 12, 2017

New tools from Salesforce to help retailers manage their field forces

As retailers increasingly put their own employees in the field to provide on-site support services for customers, Salesforce has come up with tools to help them.

By Dan O'Shea • July 12, 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

Qubit revamps product discovery for mobile shoppers

The company has released a beta version of a platform intended to revitalize product discovery for shoppers who have grown weary of clunky mobile search.

By Dan O'Shea • July 11, 2017

Walmart leans on machine learning across all channels

The technology has become a key tool for Walmart, perhaps to a surprising degree for a brick-and-mortar giant, as it looks to improve customer experiences.

By Dan O'Shea • July 11, 2017

Walmart's Jet inks sampling deal

With consumer product retail under pressure, even the most brand-loyal shoppers may be persuaded by a freebie that arrives on their doorstep.

By Daphne Howland • July 11, 2017

UPDATE: Prime Day could fetch Amazon $2B in sales

The e-commerce giant's holiday in July is expected to set new records as rival retailers take the day to promote their own deals.  

By Ben Unglesbee • July 11, 2017

On Prime Day, in Alexa we trust... sort of

Roughly 77% of Amazon customers who have ordered products through Alexa say they checked Amazon to make sure the order was placed correctly.

By Dan O'Shea • July 11, 2017

Finish Line bets on mobile to boost sales amid store strategy overhaul

The retailer's mobile loyalty app was a bright spot on its most recent quarterly performance, even as it continues to remodel some stores and close others.

By Dan O'Shea • July 9, 2017

Amazon developer series aims to expand Alexa skills

A traveling series of learning events for developers is the latest step in Amazon's ongoing push to expand its Alexa ecosystem.

By Dan O'Shea • July 9, 2017

Is this the Amazon Century?

The e-commerce giant's dominance is about much more than the Whole Foods takeover, writes Lee Peterson at WD Partners.

By Lee Peterson • July 7, 2017

Other retailers ride Amazon Prime Day coattails

From J.C. Penney's "Penney Palooza" to Sur La Table's "Lime Day," retailers are getting creative with competitive deals they hope will boost summer sales.

By Daphne Howland • July 7, 2017

QVC-HSN merger puts Amazon and Walmart on notice

The deal creates a new retail powerhouse and the third largest e-commerce company after Amazon and Walmart. 

By Daphne Howland • July 7, 2017

Amazon forging new partnerships as Prime hits 85M members

Amazon is reportedly in talks with Dish Network and is adding new exclusives as Prime membership jumps 35% in just one year. 

By Daphne Howland • July 7, 2017

West Elm taps Pinterest images for product recommendations

The West Elm Pinterest Style Finder aims to give the retailer's customers an easy way to shop using Pinterest board images as inspiration.

By Dan O'Shea • July 6, 2017

Alibaba to launch an Alexa-like virtual assistant

Alibaba is rolling out its own home speaker and virtual assistant just in time to join an increasingly crowded marketplace. 

By Dan O'Shea • July 6, 2017

Yoox Net-a-Porter opens Tech Hub to drive ‘mobile-only’ effort

The luxury brand looks to grow its reputation as an aggressive innovator with the opening of a new technology hub.

By Dan O'Shea • July 6, 2017

Amazon adds South Korea to international expansion plans

The country is well positioned for disruption by Amazon, which has mostly focused its efforts there on its cloud services unit.

By Daphne Howland • July 6, 2017

Walmart's marketplace is growing fast

Large merchants in particular are turning to Walmart to help diversify online sales beyond Amazon's marketplace juggernaut.

By Daphne Howland • July 6, 2017

Eloquii adds brick-and-mortar stores to growth plan

The plus size brand, restarted as a private company three years ago, is finding success as an independent, fashion-forward retailer.

By Daphne Howland • July 6, 2017

Report: Snapdeal balked at Flipkart’s lowball bid

The rejected bid was between $850 million and $900 million, which is well below a widely reported estimated value of $1 billion.

By Dan O'Shea • July 5, 2017

Amazon sweetens Alexa for Prime Day

Amazon is offering more Prime Day deals for Alexa users to speed adoption as Alexa is on pace to add roughly $10 billion in revenue by 2020.

By Daphne Howland • July 5, 2017

Resale sites threaten off-price retailers

The online re-sale business is one of the fastest-growing e-commerce segments, thanks to its mobile capabilities and treasure hunt atmosphere.

By Daphne Howland • July 5, 2017

Analyst: Amazon poised to enter drugstore market

Walgreens Boots Alliance's CEO Stefano Pessina dismissed the notion that the e-commerce giant could become a major competitor.

By Daphne Howland • July 5, 2017

Walmart Open Call event grants entrepreneurs shelf space

The big-box retailer made deals with some 100 entrepreneurs, allowing their products to be sold by Walmart, as it continues to broaden its product lineup.

By Dan O'Shea • July 4, 2017

'Disturbingly slow' e-commerce site load times turning away shoppers

An evaluation of 80 retailers showed One Kings Lane received the lowest score for site speed, and average load times were nowhere near the threshold at which customers tend to give up and visit other websites.

By Dan O'Shea • June 30, 2017