Alexa Fund Fellowship now includes 18 universities

Amazon is helping conversational AI research efforts at the university level, adding more schools to its Alexa Fund Fellowship.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 23, 2018

Forever 21 visual search tool boosted purchase value by 20%

The fast-fashion retailer has debuted, and quickly expanded, an AI-based visual search and navigation tool for its mobile and e-commerce business.

By Dan Alaimo • Aug. 23, 2018

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

Shaping the future of retail through edge IT

Retail CIOs' dilemma boils down to the age-old 'cost versus innovation' debate. Nick East, CEO of Zynstra asks: how can they optimize their efficiencies while simultaneously delivering innovation? 

By Nick East • Aug. 23, 2018

How will Google bust into brick and mortar?

It's reportedly only a matter of time before the tech giant signs the lease on its first permanent store — and just what its physical strategy will look like remains to be seen. 

By Corinne Ruff • Aug. 23, 2018

Nike’s mobile strategy dominates other athletics retailers

According to a report by Gartner L2, three of Nike's apps have over 300,000 downloads each, and the company has outperformed others in the activewear space.

By Dan Alaimo • Aug. 22, 2018

The rise, fall and return of RFID

Fifteen years after Walmart launched a costly pilot project, the sensors are coming back in style thanks to proven benefits for retailers and their suppliers.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Aug. 22, 2018

Costco adopts Apple Pay as it embraces contactless payments

Costco reportedly has started accepting Apple Pay just days after completing its deployment of contactless payment technology, according to MacRumors.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 22, 2018

What's behind Best Buy's $800M foray into healthcare services?

Best Buy helped define big-box specialty retail decades ago. With its latest acquisition, the electronics seller shows it's once again at the forefront of retail's evolution.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 22, 2018

Store with tech to rival Amazon Go opens next month

San Francisco-based Zippin has launched a small public demo that is expected to grow into a full-sized, AI-enabled convenience store.

By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 21, 2018

C-store chain Ricker’s partners with Skip for mobile checkout

An Indiana convenience store chain is the latest company to adopt a mobile "just walk out" checkout option.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 21, 2018

REI names first VP of commerce and experiences

Outdoor recreation is a segment where retail experience matters almost as much as marketing. 

By Dan Alaimo • Aug. 21, 2018

Luxury marketplace Farfetch files IPO

The move is no big surprise and perhaps an absolute necessity for the marketplace as it aims to reach the next level.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 20, 2018

DKNY partners with Meitu on AR fragrance campaign

The promotion, which runs for two weeks in each target country throughout the Asia-Pacific region, includes a branded filter for the BeautyPlus app. 

By Robert Williams • Aug. 20, 2018

Walmart patent filings hint at VR shopping experience

Two patent filings suggest the potential for a system that could use virtual reality to let customers shop a Walmart storefront from home.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 20, 2018

Marks & Spencer moves AI-displaced call workers to stores

By September, the retailer will have chatbots fully deployed to take over customer service inquires.

By Dan Alaimo • Aug. 17, 2018

Chicago Tribune: Google readying first retail store

The tech giant has experimented with pop-ups, but its widening array of devices makes brick-and-mortar retail an imperative if it's to take on Amazon.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 17, 2018

Neutrogena, Sonos beta test use of video in Amazon search campaigns

Currently only available on iOS devices, the ads are shown below the fold in search results. 

By Robert Williams • Aug. 16, 2018

Reebok rolls out first Cotton + Corn shoe

The athletics retailer has yielded the first shoe, made largely of "bio-based" materials, from its sustainable products program announced last year.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 16, 2018

Alexa-Cortana voice integration speaks its first words

In an increasingly competitive space, the two tech giants just took a big step toward bolstering their competitive positions with an Alexa-Cortana collaboration.

By Dan Alaimo • Aug. 16, 2018

EBay releases Image Search API to developers

The online marketplace committed to focus on technology in 2018, and its latest news shows progress on creating and releasing more APIs for the developer community.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 15, 2018

Study: Amazon’s share of smart speaker shipments fell to 41% from 76% last year

During Q2, Google boosted its share of smart speaker shipments to 28% from 16% during the same period a year ago, Strategy Analytics found.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 15, 2018

87% of shoppers now begin product searches online

Brick-and-mortar can survive and thrive as marketplaces grow, but retailers must respond to the imperatives of the new shopper-first digital world, according to a new report.

By Dan Alaimo • Aug. 15, 2018

H&M powers up new website, mobile app

The apparel company made good on its pledge to intensify e-commerce efforts, unveiling a new website and mobile app.

By Dan O'Shea • Aug. 14, 2018

L’Oréal brings AR makeup sampling to Facebook

The social platform's camera will let users virtually try on products from Maybelline, Lancome, NYX and Urban Decay.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 10, 2018

Samsung debuts smart home device

In a possible case of better late than never, the new Galaxy Home is playing catch-up in a connected home market already dominated by the Amazon Echo and the Google Home.

By Jacqueline Renfrow • Aug. 10, 2018