India clears way for first Apple store after delays

An exemption on local-sourcing requirements will enable foreign single-brand retail companies with “cutting-edge technology" to open Indian storefronts.

By Corinne Ruff • July 21, 2016

Report: Square expands into UK market

The payment company may be trialing its Square Register app with U.K. merchants. 

By Dan O'Shea • July 20, 2016

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

Macy's puts Watson-powered virtual assistant on call for shoppers

Customers will be able to ask natural language questions about stores and products with their smartphones.

By Dan O'Shea • July 20, 2016

P&G challenges retailers with Tide detergent subscription service

Procter & Gamble is also rolling out Tide Spin, a smartphone app supporting on-demand laundry pickup-and-delivery services.

By Daphne Howland • July 20, 2016

McDonald's goes for Pokemon Go sponsorship in Japan

The fast food giant's Japanese business unit reportedly is set to become Pokemon Go's first corporate retail sponsor as the hit mobile game launches there this week.

By Dan O'Shea • July 19, 2016

Apple Pay arrives in France, as European expansion continues

Carrefour, Fnac and Total are among the French retailers supporting contactless payments from Apple devices.

By Dan O'Shea • July 19, 2016

GameStop sales double, courtesy of Pokemon Go craze

The retailer is a longtime licensee of Pokemon products and is the world's single largest distributor of Pokemon games and collectibles.

By Dan O'Shea • July 18, 2016

Facebook adds tools to help mobile apps attract active users

Retail marketers use the social media empire's tools to find new users most likely to buy on their apps.

By Dan O'Shea • July 18, 2016

Wal-Mart loses key analytics exec to Neustar

Venkat Achanta played a major role in evolving how Wal-Mart leveraged analytics to better address changing e-commerce customer behaviors. 

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 2016

UPS testing Saturday residential deliveries

The shipping giant is exploring options to adapt its business to an environment reshaped by e-commerce trends.

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 2016

Amazon Prime Day plagued by shopping cart snafus

Many Amazon Prime subscribers hoping to score deals and discounts took to Twitter to complain about “add to cart fail” messages.

By Jason Ankeny • July 12, 2016

EBay adopts new Google tech to improve mobile shopping experience

The online marketplace is also acquiring Israeli predictive analytics startup SalesPredict to boost its machine-learning capabilities.

By Daphne Howland • July 12, 2016

Why retail has a growing reverse supply chain problem—and how to fix it

As consumers move online to order goods, retailers are grappling with the growing problem, and cost, of return waste. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • July 12, 2016

Retailers cash in on Pokemon Go phenomenon

While some retailers are kicking players out of their stores, others are taking advantage of the flow of people trying to catch 'em all.

By Daphne Howland • July 12, 2016

Eyeing e-commerce efficiencies, Nordstrom buys stake in software platform

The department store has promised cost-cutting and investments to improve its e-commerce margins.

By Daphne Howland • July 11, 2016

Nike releases open source code on GitHub

The athletic apparel and products giant may be looking to boost its technology image to lure new tech talent.

By Dan O'Shea • July 7, 2016

NRF survey: Many retailers EMV-ready, but waiting on card companies

Among retailers that have yet to support EMV chip-enabled card payments, 57% said they already installed the necessary equipment, but were still waiting for certification by the card networks.

By Dan O'Shea • July 7, 2016

How the future of fit could spell the end of retail returns

Merchandise returns accounted for more than $260 billion in lost sales last year. But new apparel and footwear fit technology, size-shifting robots and data analysis tools are changing the equation.

By Lara Ewen • July 7, 2016

J.C. Penney offshores some IT jobs, but plans to beef up tech effort

Some IT jobs at the retailer's Plano, TX headquarters that have been filled by contract employees likely will be cut and offshored to its new Bangalore, India office.

By Dan O'Shea • July 6, 2016

Sephora adds features, tutorials to Virtual Artist app

The beauty retailer continues to aggressively leverage new technologies to deliver an e-commerce impact.

By Dan O'Shea • July 6, 2016

Wal-Mart ramping up e-commerce strategy via marketplace

Walmart.com is planning to add a million products per month, primarily by expanding its third-party marketplace effort.

By Dan O'Shea • July 5, 2016

Facebook: 11,000 chatbots developed for Messenger app

Retailers and other businesses are turning to Facebook Messenger chatbots to improve customer service and drive sales.

By Dan O'Shea • July 5, 2016

Alibaba launches new system to combat counterfeits

The company has been under increasing pressure from brands as well as U.S. and Chinese regulators to curtail the volume of fake goods sold on its marketplaces.

By Daphne Howland • July 5, 2016

Honeywell buys into warehouse automation with $1.5b Intelligrated deal

Intelligrated serves customers including Amazon, United Parcel Service and Nordstrom.

By Dan O'Shea • July 4, 2016

UPDATE: Wal-Mart Pay now available nationwide

More than 20 million shoppers use the QR code-based Walmart Pay application each month.

By Dan O'Shea • July 4, 2016