Amazon acquires comparison search firm Graphiq with Alexa in mind

As Amazon continues to expand Alexa's value, the e-commerce giant buys a company that enhances its search functionality.

By Dan O'Shea • July 20, 2017

The real cost of convenience

The $5 billion meal delivery market is exploding with options but profits can be elusive. Deliv CEO Daphne Carmeli breaks down costs and solutions to this problem.

By Daphne Carmeli • July 20, 2017

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

Target kills Cartwheel Perks

The savings application, which is being rolled into Target's main app, will retain discounts and third-party coupons.

By Daphne Howland • July 20, 2017

Report: Walmart developing facial-recognition tech

The retailer is looking to the technology to monitor shopper dissatisfaction and improve the store experience. 

By Dan O'Shea • July 19, 2017

Amazon app users can reportedly pay using TGI Friday account info

The company is getting closer to expanding Amazon Payments across retail with a new feature that allows users to order and pay for items at third-party merchants on its app.

By Dan O'Shea • July 19, 2017

Survey: 25% of households use chatbots daily

A study from 3C Interactive paints a different picture of the chatbot trend from other recent studies, but that doesn’t necessarily mean chatbot usage is suddenly booming.

By Dan O'Shea • July 19, 2017

Amazon launches Spark, a shoppable social content feed

The company is dipping its toe into the social media pool with Spark, a feed in which users can "smile" at other users' posts and run product searches on items in photos.

By Dan O'Shea • July 18, 2017

NewStore lands $50M to fuel mobile expansion

Demandware founder Stephan Schambach's latest startup will use the funding to support its "Streaming Retail" mobile commerce vision.

By Dan O'Shea • July 18, 2017

Walmart opens massive e-commerce fulfillment center

The new center is part of the retailer's broader effort to ramp up digital operations and challenge Amazon.

By Dan O'Shea • July 18, 2017

Target +Techstars welcomes second wave of startups

Startups ranging from a meal delivery kit company to an online tailor service head to Minneapolis for a three-month program. 

By Corinne Ruff • July 18, 2017

Amazon Prime Day’s top tech successes: Echo and mobile

Technology devices registered big wins on Amazon Prime Day as mobile use skyrocketed.

By Cara Salpini • July 18, 2017

Nordstrom hones Snapchat strategy for annual anniversary sale

Snapcodes printed on coffee cups, catalogs, ad materials and at in-store locations unlock a custom branded lens. 

By David Kirkpatrick , Natalie Black (Koltun) • July 18, 2017

Retailers may need to incentivize mobile payment technology

More grocers are implementing these platforms, but research shows security concerns, among other issues, are slowing down adoption rates.

By Jeff Wells • July 18, 2017

Forrester: 5.5B mobile users globally by 2022

Mobile is becoming impossible for retailers and brands to ignore, as mobile users are expected to number more than 5.5 billion worldwide in five years.

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 2017

Amazon picks nine startups for first Alexa Accelerator session

Nine startups are in line to get a six-figure check as well as development and management help in pursuing conversational commerce efforts.

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 2017

Virtual fitting room startup Metail raises $12.9M

The concept of a virtual fitting room is not new, but Metail just raised close to $12.9 million in funding for its ability to personalize the concept for each customer trying on clothes.

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 2017

Study: 80% of Gen Z purchases influenced by social media

Over 80% of the younger generation says social media influences their shopping behavior, particularly on mobile.

By Cara Salpini • July 17, 2017

Lowe’s develops ultra-realistic 3D

Lowe's Innovation Labs is among the most productive of retail innovation units, and its latest is a 3D scanning technology that delivers a more realistic shopping experience.

By Dan O'Shea • July 16, 2017

Bon-Ton Stores chases curated outfit craze

The retailer is launching weekly online events to showcase outfits curated by store stylists available for one-click purchasing.

By Dan O'Shea • July 16, 2017

Amazon Echo/Alexa chief departs after nearly 2 decades at the company

Mike George, who has been with the company since 1998, is stepping down just as the smart assistant and its devices begin to see explosive growth.

By Dan O'Shea • July 16, 2017

Amazon reportedly upgrading Echo device with new look, tech specs

Amazon's Echo could be getting a new look and audio updates just in time for Apple's HomePod to arrive.

By Dan O'Shea • July 14, 2017

Apple devices to support PayPal payments

In an uncharacteristic move, Apple is about to start letting users of iPhones and other Apple devices to use PayPal to pay for Apple services.

By Dan O'Shea • July 13, 2017

First-ever Neiman Marcus CISO departs

In 2014, the company became one of the first retailers to hire a chief information security officer, just months after a high-profile data breach.

By Dan O'Shea • July 13, 2017

Google updates Shopping features to compete with Amazon

Google is aiming to improve shopping search results by giving manufacturers more control over the product details that come up.

By Dan O'Shea • July 12, 2017

Apple brings smart home experiences to stores

The company is priming customers with interactive demonstrations for the release later this year of its HomePod smart home hub.

By Dan O'Shea • July 12, 2017