Google's Project Wing drone bet hits stiff headwinds

The drone delivery effort's future is in doubt following the departure of two of its leaders, financial and staffing cuts and the end of a potential delivery partnership with Starbucks.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 8, 2016

Stripe looks to pump up payment ecosystem with new apps directory

The online payments platform is spotlighting about 300 different applications supporting a variety of merchant services and functions.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 7, 2016

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

Amazon unveils Alexa skills marketplace to enrich customer experience

The marketplace offers Alexa developers a detail page for each offering, enabling better optimization and search engine discovery rates.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 7, 2016

Hudson's Bay unveils robotic fulfillment system

The new system can fill e-commerce orders three times faster than other distribution center robotic systems, HBC said.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 6, 2016

Adidas rolls out 3D-printed shoe made from recycled ocean waste

About 7,000 pairs of the UltraBoost Uncaged Parley will available at a price of $220 each in mid-November from Adidas stores and the company’s website.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 6, 2016

Fanatics, Uber deliver Cubs gear on demand after team delivers World Series title

Almost 30 vehicles hit Chicago streets stocked with official Cubs championship-themed merchandise available for sale through the Uber app.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 3, 2016

Hollar's dollar store-like app draws $30M in new funding

Available online and as an iOS or Android app, Hollar features 10,000 live SKUs for a variety of items, most priced between $2 and $5.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 3, 2016

Sephora brings more beauty bot tools to Facebook Messenger

The new Sephora Reservation Assistant allows customers to book appointments for makeovers at stores nationwide, while Color Match augments the existing Virtual Artist lipstick finder tool.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 3, 2016

Study: Fake retailer apps bedevil mobile shoppers

Two out of three retailers still don’t have an official Apple iOS or Google Android mobile application, leaving open an opportunity for fake retail apps to emerge.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 3, 2016

Postmates raises $141M to fuel overseas expansion, booze delivery plans

The new round leaves the on-demand delivery startup at a valuation of about $600 million, the same as it was after a previous financing round.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 1, 2016

IBM acquires Fluid's personal shopper unit to beef up Watson

Fluid's bot-based conversational product recommendation platform uses Watson-enabled natural language interaction to assist shoppers across digital channels.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 1, 2016

Primark finds payment card skimmers at US stores

Devices for stealing payment card data were illegally placed on "a limited number of card payment machines" in two of the retailer's Pennsylvania locations.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 31, 2016

Restoration Hardware opens interactive retail experience, gallery in Las Vegas

The four-level store features artistic installations of home furnishings and a professional workspace that allows customers, designers and architects to conceptualize and customize a home.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 31, 2016

Nintendo apologizes for Pokemon Go Plus retail shortage

"Demand far exceeded our expectations and production has not caught up, leading to product shortages," a Nintendo official said.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 30, 2016

Amazon delivers cheaper, limited version of Prime to China

The new service doesn't include digital content streaming and offers free shipping only on foreign products that meet a certain price threshold.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 30, 2016

Wal-Mart tests dispensing machine for in-store pickup

The machine contains many items of different sizes that have been ordered online by customers, and upon arriving at the store, customers input a numeric code to retrieve their package.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 27, 2016

The home advantage: Can Google catch up to Amazon in digital assistants?

Digital home assistants are shaping up to be next year’s breakthrough technology product — and whoever wins the category will be well-positioned to mediate relationships between consumers and brands. 

By Chantal Tode • Oct. 27, 2016

Fanatics scores major expansion of NHL apparel deal

The athletic apparel retailer is becoming the official manufacturer of a broad range of National Hockey League apparel and headwear, and also wil operate on-site retail stores at marquee NHL events.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 26, 2016

Samsung Pay gains in-app payments, instant coupons

Samsung Pay users can now complete transactions through MasterCard's Masterpass digital wallet.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 26, 2016

IBM Watson to power Staples' 'Easy Button'

Thanks to virtual assistant technology, Staples’ silly toy is now a real boy.

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 26, 2016

How the Techstars + Target accelerator transformed retail startup Blueprint Registry

This summer, the Techstars startup accelerator turned its focus to retail innovation. The 10 firms accepted into the program learned a range of lessons — and host Target learned a few new tricks, too.  

By Daphne Howland • Oct. 26, 2016

MasterCard getting into AI game with chatbots for merchants, banks

Consumers will be able to shop and process transactions on messaging platforms, and check out with the Masterpass digital wallet, all through a merchant's bot.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 26, 2016

Amazon adds Dash Buttons for 60 more brands

There are now more than 200 different Dash Buttons available, and Amazon claims sales through the one-touch automated ordering program have increased by five times over the last year.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 25, 2016

PayPal adds new payment features through Facebook Messenger

The payments company will make it easier for consumers to link their PayPal accounts to the social networking giant's services.  

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 24, 2016

Google teams with Visa, MasterCard to expand Android Pay checkout

Starting next year, Android Pay will be available at online merchants that already accept Visa Checkout and Masterpass digital wallet platforms.

By Dan O'Shea • Oct. 24, 2016