Ulta Beauty, Madison Reed team to sell hair color kits, leverage chatbot

"Madi," a color-recognition chatbot created by Madison Reed engineers, gives consultations just as a human colorist would do in a salon.

By Dan O'Shea • April 11, 2017

Do retailers need innovation labs to stay alive?

Nine experts debate whether experimentation with new technologies is crucial to survival in an increasingly challenging retail environment.

By Corinne Ruff • April 11, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

How artificial intelligence is shaping retail

More retailers are leaning on AI as a tool, tapping into the tech to improve customer service and support supply chain functions.

By Retail Dive staff

How the ‘age of ask’ is transforming mobile commerce

Building voice-based interfaces for Amazon's digital assistant requires a keen understanding of customer needs. 

By Ken Magill • April 11, 2017

Finish Line reboots Winner’s Circle loyalty app

The athletic retailer is retooling its mobile experience to offer amped-up personalization options, in-app purchasing and early access to new product launches.

By Daphne Howland • April 11, 2017

Survey: Cross-channel commerce errors costing retailers millions

Product content network 1WorldSync also found that 51% of merchants can’t support mobile commerce, and 80% don’t integrate product information management across web, mobile apps and physical stores.

By Dan O'Shea • April 10, 2017

Mastercard brings 5 new startups into Start Path accelerator program

Three of the startups are focused on using AI to analyze consumer behavior, enhance in-store or in-branch customer engagement and compute bill and payment data.

By Dan O'Shea • April 10, 2017

Report: Amazon Marketplace sellers hacked, robbed of thousands in sales

Hacks of dormant third-party seller accounts also have been on the increase: In these cases, non-existent products are offered at steep discounts in an effort to steal payment information from customers who try to buy them.

By Dan O'Shea • April 10, 2017

Valentino getting omnichannel upgrade through YNAP partnership

Customers will gain access to inventory from Valentino boutiques and logistics centers and YNAP's fulfillment centers, in addition to in-store mobile features.

By Dan O'Shea • April 9, 2017

GameStop e-commerce site 'likely' hacked, card data potentially stolen

Customer card numbers, expiration dates, names, addresses and card verification values are among the information potentially compromised between mid-September 2016 and the first week of February.

By Dan O'Shea • April 9, 2017

Adidas leaps beyond 3D printing, unveils Futurecraft 4D shoe

Partner Carbon's Digital Light Synthesis technology leverages digital light projection, oxygen-permeable optics and programmable liquid resins to generate polymeric products.

By Dan O'Shea • April 9, 2017

Under Armour cuts jobs from Connected Fitness unit

The Connected Fitness unit spearheads the sportswear brand’s array of mobile apps, including UA Record, MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal, Endomondo and others.

By Dan O'Shea • April 6, 2017

Cross-border e-commerce enabler Flow earns $16M in Series A

The startup's cloud-based software platform leverages artificial intelligence and virtualization to support multi-currency pricing, rapid shipping, international payment options, taxes and duties, and simplified returns.

By Dan O'Shea • April 6, 2017

Study: Shoppers more willing to consult mobile phones than associates while in stores

About 77% of shoppers use smartphones to search for product information while shopping in stores, while just 35% are willing to consult an in-store salesperson.

By Dan O'Shea • April 6, 2017

Wal-Mart cutting 300 jobs in information systems unit

The layoffs come after two separate rounds of cuts announced in January and barely a week after a trio of Wal-Mart tech executives were elevated to new jobs.

By Dan O'Shea • April 5, 2017

Amazon to use Plug Power fuel cells to boost fulfillment network efficiencies

The e-commerce goliath plans to power industrial equipment at 11 fulfillment centers with Plug Power’s GenKey technology, corresponding to faster charging times, reduced costs and energy efficiencies.

By Dan O'Shea • April 5, 2017

Reebok planning 'Cotton + Corn' shoe via plant-based products initiative

The effort leverages a petroleum-free, non-toxic bio-based product called Susterra propanediol developed by DuPont Tate & Lyle.

By Dan O'Shea • April 5, 2017

Locus robots gain better navigation to improve fulfillment center performance

The new Locus Robotics Advanced Navigation software promises to boost movement and coordination of multiple robots in warehouse settings.

By Dan O'Shea • April 4, 2017

Petco acquires PetCoach, adding digital pet health resource to offerings

PetCoach co-founder and CEO Brock Weatherup will join Petco to drive growth through innovation and enterprise-wide, consumer-focused tech initiatives.

By Dan O'Shea • April 4, 2017

UPS outlines expansion plans for Saturday pickup and delivery

The shipper is looking to bring weekend services to almost 4,700 U.S. cities and towns ahead of the upcoming holiday shipping season, and wants to expand to about 5,800 markets in 2018.

By Dan O'Shea • April 3, 2017

Target taps Avery Dennison for massive RFID project

The retailer is deploying the technology for a variety of inventory management and customer experience needs, with an emphasis on apparel and home products.

By Dan O'Shea • April 3, 2017

Retailers with pressing questions soon can ask Jicco what to do

The search engine uses crowdsourced data and photos to help retailers obtain real-time answers about store-level promotions, pricing and shopper sentiment.

By Dan O'Shea • April 2, 2017

Sephora opens NYC Beauty TIP Workshop concept stores, debuts Tap and Try

Teach, Inspire, Play locations have digital signage, brighter lighting, a larger cash wrap and additional mobile POS stations, among other features.

By Dan O'Shea • April 2, 2017

Starbucks creates dedicated Mobile Order & Pay store at Seattle HQ

The coffee giant is converting a store in its Seattle headquarters to test new concepts for managing changes in traffic and study the effects on its business.

By Dan O'Shea • April 2, 2017

Study: Only 22% of consumers have engaged with a chatbot

Vibes' 2017 Mobile Consumer Report also found that consumers carefully curate the number of brands that can send them mobile alerts, subscribing to four on average.

By Dan O'Shea • March 30, 2017

Adidas unveils All Day mobile app for fitness and training

The All Day app, which will integrate with the Adidas Chameleon HR fitness tracker, provides a variety of short-term training routines and practices called Discoveries.

By Dan O'Shea • March 30, 2017