Target rolls out new tech for the holidays

Shoppers are using their mobile devices more frequently in stores and now at Target, associates are too.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 5, 2017

Holiday shoppers slow to embrace chatbots, robots

Hype aside, 68% of consumers have never used a retail chatbot and 23% don’t even know what they are, according to an IFTTT study.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 3, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Digital innovation and technology trends in retail

Generative AI and TikTok Shop have replaced the metaverse and NFTs as the hot topics of the day — here’s a look at how brands are using them.

By Retail Dive staff

Amazon takes a step toward cryptocurrency

The retailer has registered several relevant domains. Is the move speculative, defensive or does Amazon have plans to accept new forms of payment?

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 2, 2017

Alibaba kicks off Singles Day on the heels of stellar Q2 growth

In the same week that Amazon launched Black Friday sales 50 days early, the Chinese e-commerce giant launched interactive games and a "see now, buy now" fashion show to entice shoppers during its Singles Day event.

By Corinne Ruff • Nov. 2, 2017

Amazon turns to Apple for AR shopping app

The e-commerce company's AR app pushes the envelope by giving consumers more than just furniture for their virtual viewing pleasure.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 2, 2017

Latch beats Amazon Key to in-home deliveries in NYC

Secure deliveries to customers' houses and apartments are quickly becoming the next big thing in convenient package delivery.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 1, 2017

Only 58% of retailers invest in tech to handle holiday sales spikes

Seasonal hiring and additional inventory may no longer be the best way to handle holiday shopping spikes, a new survey found.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 1, 2017

Inside Nike's plan to cut lead times to 10 days

The company is radically transforming it's supply chain, so it can design and deliver new products within days of any sport championship.

By Edwin Lopez , Jennifer McKevitt • Nov. 1, 2017

Personalization is still lacking and shoppers are getting frustrated

Only 22% of consumers actually find their retail shopping experience to be highly personalized, according to a recent study.  

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 31, 2017

BJ’s unveils new mobile app in latest omnichannel move

As the future ownership of the company remains an open question, the warehouse club continues to integrate its in-store and online experiences.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 31, 2017

Lancôme is the latest beauty brand to dive into AR

Users of new app experiences can watch tutorials, virtually try on makeup and purchase products from the L'Oréal beauty brand.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 31, 2017

Facebook tops Pinterest, Instagram for last-click social commerce

Nearly half of social media users in the U.S. said they made their most recent purchase from the platform, according to a recent study.

By David Kirkpatrick • Oct. 31, 2017

Walmart expands use of in-store inventory robots

Robots will soon be on call at more than 50 of the big-box retailer's stores to conduct inventory checks and give associates more time to spend with customers.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 30, 2017

Mobile commerce to dominate online sales by 2021

Mobile is expected to account for 34.5% of total e-commerce sales this year, and it's only a matter of a few years before it surpasses desktop-driven sales, according to an eMarketer report.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 29, 2017

There’s still time to take a bite out of Halloween sales

It's not all about tricks or treats. Here's a look at what we can expect from Halloween 2017 and what retailers should be doing as the days leading to the hauntingly lucrative holiday wind down.

By Cara Salpini • Oct. 27, 2017

Best Buy, Patagonia lead with mobile app strategies

Sears, Acer and Prada, however, have more work to do on their mobile content and branding strategies.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 27, 2017

EBay goes live with image search capabilities

Users of the online marketplace can now search for 1.1 billion site listings via image, as the visual technology becomes more popular.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 27, 2017

‘Pawn Friday’ looks to break into the gift-giving market

Pawn shops generate $6 billion annually and are an important source of fast cash for some 30 million under-banked Americans, according to mobile platform Pawn Guru.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 27, 2017

How chat and voice tech are changing retail

New chat channels are emerging as a real-time alternative to e-mail, along with other technologies, but a comprehensive view matters most.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 26, 2017

Amazon puts Alexa skills behind subscription paywall

The e-commerce giant is loosening its leash on developers, letting them charge users via a subscription model for additional skill content.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 26, 2017

Facebook could relegate retailer posts to a separate feed

The social network is looking to calm fears over a test which, if implemented, would pull public page posts from the personal news feeds of its users.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 26, 2017

Sears revives the Wish Book holiday catalog

Given its struggles, who could blame Sears for taking a trip back in time with the revival — in print and online — of the holiday-themed book. 

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 26, 2017

Google’s Showcase Shopping ads aim to lure shoppers early on

The format is available to all brands for the first time, enabling them to group related products to boost discoverability when shoppers search with broad terms.

By David Kirkpatrick , Natalie Black (Koltun) • Oct. 25, 2017

Target unveils AR mobile feature for furniture shopping

The "See It In Your Space" capability works with the retailer's Project 62 furniture line, part of its renewed commitment to differentiated merchandising.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 25, 2017

Amazon unlocks in-home delivery with ‘Amazon Key’

Just ahead of the holidays, Prime members in 37 cities will be able to give remote access to their homes for services and package delivery if they buy the company's latest device.

By Corinne Ruff • Oct. 25, 2017