The rise, fall and return of RFID

Fifteen years after Walmart launched a costly pilot project, the sensors are coming back in style thanks to proven benefits for retailers and their suppliers.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Aug. 22, 2018

Nordstrom tackles its 'last frontier' with new omnichannel hub

Executives said the company will open a new distribution center in California next year as it vies to create a 'seamless ecosystem' for shoppers.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 21, 2018

Walmart reportedly pushing beauty suppliers to source outside China

Threats for even more tariffs on Chinese goods are throwing retailers and their suppliers off balance as the holidays loom.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 20, 2018

Kohl's brings Amazon returns to 21 more stores

The unlikely partnership has turned out to be a boon for Kohl's, and makes the expensive problem of online returns much more efficient for Amazon.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 16, 2018

Sam's Club to retrofit closed store into e-commerce fulfillment center

The retailer plans to convert a total of 12 shuttered stores into online distribution hubs, as it continues to expect e-commerce sales growth.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 15, 2018

Has e-commerce changed back-to-school shopping?

The second-largest shopping season of the year requires retailers to adapt their logistics and fulfillment strategies.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Aug. 15, 2018

Retailers bring in record imports to beat tariffs

With good sales so far in 2018, retailers would rather order early than miss out on end of year sales opportunities, according to the NRF.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 13, 2018

Walmart to pilot Alphabot robotics for grocery pickup

The robots will operate in a 20,000-square-foot supercenter addition that will serve as a mini-warehouse of grocery products and an order pickup point.

By Dan Alaimo • Aug. 6, 2018

Starbucks, Alibaba scheme to expand coffee delivery in China

The coffee giant is working with one of the world's biggest e-commerce companies again, this time on a broad strategy to enhance its market position in China.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 3, 2018

Amazon, NRF forge new group to lobby around USPS

The e-commerce giant's participation in the coalition suggests it is appreciative of USPS, despite speculation that it's trying to gain control of the whole delivery network.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 3, 2018

Blockchain to drive $164B in efficiencies for retail by 2030

Cost savings and efficiencies from blockchain will accelerate dramatically in the coming decade for retail and e-commerce, according to a new report.

By Dan Alaimo • Aug. 2, 2018

Zara taps into stores for e-commerce fulfillment

The fast-fashion retailer sped up fashion production and supply chain logistics years ago, and now says that all its stores in areas with e-commerce will be filling local online orders.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 1, 2018

Returns software firm Optoro raises $75 million for expansion

Dealing with returned merchandise is one of the biggest challenges facing retailers today, evidenced by the funding raised by the logistics tech specialist.

By Dan Alaimo • July 31, 2018

Walmart nixes first employee-based delivery pilot, tries another

One pilot, focused on having store associates deliver packages on their way home from work, was killed "early this year," but the retail giant has already started a new one.

By Daphne Howland • July 30, 2018

Oracle launches new store-driven inventory service

The new cloud-based platform aims to give retailers and their associates greater visibility into warehouse and store network inventory.

By Dan O'Shea • July 30, 2018

Alphabet backs mobile scanning developer Scandit

A venture capital arm of Google's parent is now behind a Swiss company that promises big advances in the use of mobile cameras for retail scanning.

By Dan Alaimo • July 27, 2018

Walmart, Waymo test driverless BOPIS service

The retailer is the latest to flirt with autonomous tech in a limited test that allows grocery shoppers to hitch a ride in a driverless vehicle to pick up orders.

By Dan O'Shea • July 26, 2018

Amazon expands Whole Foods delivery to New York, Florida

The retail giant now delivers Whole Foods groceries to Prime members in two dozen cities across the U.S. 

By Alicia Kelso • July 25, 2018

Amazon plans fulfillment center for Spokane, Washington

The 600,000-square-foot facility will have four floors and make heavy use of robotics.

By Dan Alaimo • July 23, 2018

FreshDirect takes aim at Amazon and Walmart with new fulfillment center

The e-grocer’s facility aims to help it roll out new products and fill orders more efficiently.

By Jeff Wells • July 23, 2018

Amazon's latest patent dreams up product-chucking robots

The e-tailer continues to pile up technology patents, with its latest two covering robotic concepts for fulfillment centers.

By Dan O'Shea • July 20, 2018

Apparel retailers rank trade policy, tariffs as top business challenge

As a trade war brews with China, the fashion industry is looking for alternate sourcing destinations, resulting in major supply chain shifts. 

By Shefali Kapadia • July 19, 2018

Toys R Us strikes deal with vendors to settle bankruptcy claims

After supporting the toy retailer in bankruptcy, many vendors were left with millions in unpaid orders as Toys R Us moved to liquidate. 

By Ben Unglesbee • July 19, 2018

UPS launches pilot to deliver packages in apartment buildings

Using smart lock system Latch, UPS workers can drop off parcels inside residential complexes, mitigating the risk of theft.

By Shefali Kapadia • July 17, 2018

CommerceHub taps former J.C. Penney exec as COO

The supply chain network is looking to expand its relationships with retailers and add new products and capabilities. 

By Ben Unglesbee • July 12, 2018