Walmart reportedly closes in on pilot deal to offer Affirm loans

The big-box retailer is eyeing new ways for customers to finance purchases, and the startup has quickly become a popular retail partner.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 23, 2017

Walmart and Google partner to challenge Amazon's Alexa

The big-box retailer will not only sell through Google Voice, but also offer shoppers in-store pickup to drive traffic across channels.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 23, 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

Walmart and Kroger join with suppliers for blockchain initiative

Companies throughout the industry will implement the technology in an effort to improve food safety and test widespread adoption.

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 23, 2017

Startup ushers in the cashierless checkout era

Cashierless checkout isn't just for Amazon and Walmart anymore, as Standard Recognition looks to enable more retailers with the capability.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 22, 2017

QVC partners with YouCam Makeup for virtual try-on offer

The TV shopping network is breaking new ground with the launch of an augmented reality app that's used in real-time alongside a broadcast TV event.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 22, 2017

Report: Meijer restructures IT amid major grocery shifts

The move could affect up to 10% of IT jobs as competition heats up in the grocery market.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 22, 2017

Study: Retail automation market worth $18.9B by 2023

From checkout-free technology to robots that track inventory, the retail automation market is poised for double-digit growth in the coming years.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 21, 2017

Walmart gives back room inventory top-shelf treatment

The retailer is aiming to connect the dots between smart inventory tracking and better customer service.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 21, 2017

Is Walmart a digital advertising dark horse?

Google and Facebook rule the roost, with Amazon making gains. But a new report suggests marketers aren't counting Walmart out of the running. 

By David Kirkpatrick • Aug. 21, 2017

Amazon’s Echo Show adds video news

Seattle TV station KIRO may show local businesses a way to develop skills for the four-month-old Echo iteration.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 21, 2017

Walmart seeks a patent for a futuristic floating warehouse

The blimp-style ship further escalates the online war with Amazon, and could save the brick-and-mortar retailer time and money on last-mile delivery. 

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 21, 2017

Study: 9 of 10 retailers boost spending on mobile ads this year

More than half of retailers are sharing mobile unique promotion codes.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 18, 2017

Customer acquisition is the top challenge for retailers

A new study shows that acquiring new customers is the most imminent concern of retailers for 2017-2018.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 18, 2017

Survey: Consumers act on each other’s visual content

A new study suggest that photos and videos combined with product reviews from other consumers can help shoppers pull the trigger on buying decisions.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 17, 2017

HBC has opened corporate office in India

Retailers continue to look East for professional talent, as Saks follows the same path that J.C. Penney and others have taken.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 17, 2017

Amazon expands payments for best Alexa developers

The e-commerce giant will provide rewards for top-performing and "engaging" voice apps across a number of categories. 

By Robert Williams • Aug. 17, 2017

Shopping apps rank among most-deleted

A new study shows that shopping apps rank highly on lists of both most-downloaded and most-deleted apps.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 16, 2017

Jo-Ann rebrands as it integrates new tech features

The fabric and craft retailer is focusing on the makers who buy its products as it integrates mobile, analytics and video content. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 16, 2017

Amazon looking for talent to support Alexa-based enterprise service development

The service will fall under its SaaS offerings within AWS, including Amazon Chime, Amazon WorkSpaces and Amazon WorkDocs, according to the company's job posting. 

By Justine Brown • Aug. 16, 2017

47% of mobile users delete apps with no customer support

In a world where retailers are increasingly trying to reach consumers via mobile, customer service is a deal-breaker, a new survey says.

By Cara Salpini • Aug. 15, 2017

Target to acquire same-day delivery company Grand Junction

The San Francisco-based company could help Target compete by connecting inventory to established local and regional delivery operations.  

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 14, 2017

Study: In-app ad spending to hit $201B by 2021

Mobile now accounts for 51% of total digital ad spend. 

By David Kirkpatrick • Aug. 14, 2017

Expert Andrew Ng wants to train millions to use AI

Through Coursera, and soon his new startup Deeplearning.ai, Ng hopes to commoditize AI training and quickly educate more people. 

By Justine Brown • Aug. 14, 2017

Mobile’s ‘next billion’ users to ditch text for voice and video

Chatting via e-mail and text may be on the way out, the Wall Street Journal reports.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 12, 2017

Study: Growth of shopping apps second only to gaming

Downloads of mobile shopping apps grew 76% from 2015 to 2016, but they've still only been downloaded by 26% of smartphone users.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 12, 2017