Home Depot debuts virtual field trips for kids

Suppliers will show viewers how their products are made in the series, which aims to entertain children stuck at home during the pandemic.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 26, 2020

New rival shelf-scanning robots roll out for retailers

Simbe Robotics has unveiled a new version of its Tally robot, while Brain Corp is expanding a pilot at Sam's Club with shelf-scanning tech atop autonomous floor cleaners.

By Sam Silverstein • Oct. 23, 2020

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 solicits customer receipts in data collection program

With the Amazon Shopper Panel, the company wants to know more about how consumers spend their money outside its ecosystem. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris and Cara Salpini • Oct. 22, 2020

Target adds more safety features ahead of the holidays

The retailer is ramping up contactless checkout options and letting customers digitally reserve a place in store lines. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 22, 2020

EBay creates 'Certified Refurbished' program for reselling used goods

The initiative is part of the platform's effort to continue to gain trust with digital consumers through authentication processes. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 22, 2020

David's Bridal acquires wedding site

The retailer's investment in Rustic Wedding Chic allows the brand to captivate brides early in the wedding planning process. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 22, 2020

Tech startup AiFi raises more capital to advance cashierless retail

The latest funding round pushes the company's total raised to $30 million at a time when contactless shopping is in higher demand from COVID-19.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 20, 2020

Google expands visual search in latest shopping push

The features are another sign of how the search giant wants to become a destination for consumers amid growing competition from Amazon.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 20, 2020

Fisher-Price opens virtual toy museum on Instagram to seize consumer nostalgia trend

Timed around the holidays, the activation celebrates the brand's nine decades in operation and features an e-gift shop selling goods from parent Mattel.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 19, 2020

Afterpay partners with retailers for in-store payments

Shoppers nationwide can use a virtual, contactless card stored in their digital wallet to pay for in-store purchases in installments. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 19, 2020

Belk to offer same-day delivery

Following layoffs earlier this summer, the 133-year-old retailer is introducing a delivery option to meet the needs of its customer base.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 16, 2020

EBay to verify sneakers sold for more than $100

The retailer has introduced other authentication initiatives to build trust with online shoppers.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 15, 2020

Allure designs holiday shopping issue around virtual try-on experiences

Working with Perfect Corp., the publisher integrated QR codes and AR into its November issue to align with a season set to skew toward mobile.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 14, 2020

Amazon brings delivery boxes to life with AR Halloween activities

First appearing around Prime Day, scannable packages may compel shoppers to engage with festive experiences beyond purchasing products.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 13, 2020

Study: 62% of shoppers that struggle to complete purchases abandon their carts

Gen Z has the highest percentage of consumers who have had difficulty completing online transactions, a goMoxie survey found.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 13, 2020

GoPuff raises $380M for expansion, fills out C-suite

Former Lowe's exec Jocelyn Wong joins as chief customer officer, suggesting the startup has big goals as a distribution channel for impulse items.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 13, 2020

GameStop partners with Microsoft on operations tech

The agreement, which comes just before the holidays, also gives customers the chance to buy Xbox All Access through the gaming retailer.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 12, 2020

Amazon tests electric last-mile vans for consumer deliveries

Electrification is key to Amazon's Climate Pledge to reach net-zero carbon in its operations by 2040.

By Emma Cosgrove • Updated Feb. 3, 2021

Checkout-free convenience store opens on Texas college campus

The outlet at the University of Houston uses tech from Standard, which is among a group of companies bringing cashierless systems to other retailers.

By Sam Silverstein • Oct. 12, 2020

With Guest mode, Google lets Assistant users interact without saving data

The new privacy-focused feature aims to give consumers more control of their user experience. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 8, 2020

H&M integrates virtual assistant, live chat with Google services

Consumers looking for information about the apparel retailer can now communicate with the company directly from services like Google Maps.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 7, 2020

Party City tapped by Nextdoor for Halloween AR ‘treat map’

The collaboration could inspire families to celebrate the holiday in a way that follows social distancing guidelines during the pandemic.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 7, 2020

Venmo launches its first credit card

After teasing it last October, the payment platform this week unveiled the card, which is integrated with the existing Venmo app.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 6, 2020

David’s Bridal debuts AR, 3D dress shopping

The bridal retailer has continued to debut new technology as COVID-19 disrupts in-store shopping.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Oct. 6, 2020

Instagram brings shopping to Reels, IGTV as commerce commands social spotlight

Tests will hit Reels later this year, which may help Facebook to capitalize on a virtual-skewing holiday season while gaining an edge on TikTok.

By Peter Adams • Oct. 5, 2020