Mobile tech still a challenge for many retailers

Rapid change stymies stores looking to create a seamless customer experience between channels. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Nov. 10, 2015

How Elle is using beacons to drive retail store visits

Elle prompted 500,000 in-store visits in five weeks with its new program.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 10, 2015

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

Retailers' use of facial recognition tech igniting privacy debates

Wal-Mart, which is among the few retailers willing to admit it’s testing the technology, says it doesn’t have an ROI.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 10, 2015

Facebook's new tool helps retailers measure foot traffic and trends

The move reflects the social network's 360-degree push into retail commerce. 

By Barbara Thau • Nov. 6, 2015

Walgreens is first retailer to incorporate Apple Pay into rewards program

The move advances Apple Pay's lead in the battle for mobile-wallet supremacy.

By Barbara Thau • Nov. 6, 2015

Wal-Mart, Peapod sync up with Amazon Dash-like Hiku

The gadget lets customers scan and voice their shopping lists, similar to Amazon's Dash buttons and Echo speaker. 

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 5, 2015

Levi's taps into massive amounts of store data with Intel tech

The cloud service delivers omnichannel insights from activity at its San Francisco flagship store. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Nov. 4, 2015

Google gears up for drone delivery by 2017

The move comes as retailers from Amazon to Wal-Mart explore these unmanned aircraft systems as the answer to instant package delivery.

By Barbara Thau • Nov. 4, 2015

Report: 76% of holiday sales will be spent on 1% of products

Wearable tech injects new life into electronics, while gift cards maintain their near decade-long spot as top seasonal gift.

By Barbara Thau • Oct. 30, 2015

QVC to launch Apple TV app with on-screen buy button

The app will compete with Amazon’s upcoming Fire TV shopping platform.

By Barbara Thau • Oct. 30, 2015

Why digital dominates the retail sales story this holiday season

Mobile commerce and ‘click-and-mortar’ shopping are among the key themes this season.

By Barbara Thau • Oct. 29, 2015

J.C. Penney betting on tech to restore billions in lost sales

CEO Marvin Ellison is focusing on modernizing operations to stay competitive: "We were heavy on art, not good at science."

By Barbara Thau • Oct. 29, 2015

MasterCard initiative turns clothes into wearable payments

Under the new design, dresses, gloves, and other accessories could function as mobile wallets. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Oct. 28, 2015

Target's new tool scouts the best houses for trick or treating

The retailer taps into user-generated content to generate holiday excitement. 

By Barbara Thau • Oct. 28, 2015

Chase developing mobile wallet to rival Apple Pay

The bank will partner with the MCX consortium to get the system into stores. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Oct. 27, 2015

Survey: Most consumers don't trust retailers with their data

"Intrusive" activities also undermine consumer trust. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Oct. 26, 2015

Westfield creates new data team to help digitize malls

The mall owner aims to create personalized and immersive shopping experiences with a dedicated analytics team.

By Barbara Thau • Oct. 26, 2015

Walgreens using interactive mapping tech to spot local trends

The retailer taps geo-location analytics to enhance its competitive edge. 

By Barbara Thau • Oct. 23, 2015

How Facebook is pushing to dominate mobile shopping

With Canvas and a new Shopping tab, the social network is making sure users never leave its app. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Oct. 22, 2015

Samsung Pay goes live on Verizon

The mobile wallet is now available on all major networks in the U.S.

By Ian P. Murphy • Oct. 22, 2015

Target shifts to DevOps for software engineering

The strategy looks to bring development and collaboration in-house.

By Ian P. Murphy • Oct. 21, 2015

Target partnering with MIT for food-related research

The retailer is looking at innovation as one path to improve its grocery business.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 21, 2015

Tommy Hilfiger brings VR headsets to flagship stores

The designer transports shoppers to runway shows via 3D videos, as it works to boost in-store "retailtainment."

By Barbara Thau • Oct. 21, 2015

Facebook's M hints at a new type of digital shopping

Top uses of the new virtual assistant in testing include asking it for shopping help. 

By Ian P. Murphy • Oct. 20, 2015

Retailers rush to patent tech products

A host of retail "innovation labs" have produced tech inventions — and the need to protect them.

By Barbara Thau • Oct. 20, 2015