Shopify acquires mobile app design house Tiny Hearts

The two companies previously worked together to create a pop-up shop called Popify, as well as Shopify apps Frenzy and Skopkey.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 5, 2016

Amazon unveils futuristic checkout-free grocery store

The Seattle store, currently in a beta test open only to Amazon employees, upends the definition of the word “convenient.”

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 5, 2016

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

Mall of America gets new interactive info kiosks from Express Image

The kiosks feature a search function, step-by-step directions, dynamic pop-ups and text-to-phone features.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 4, 2016

Amazon, Intel partner to enable more Alexa-driven devices, smart homes

The companies have teamed up on a form factor reference design to make it easier to create products leveraging the e-commerce giant's Alexa virtual assistant technology platform.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 4, 2016

Visa to acquire payment authenticator CardinalCommerce

The deal will enable Visa to expand Cardinal’s products and services globally and to boost fraud protection as digital payments expand to additional channels.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 2, 2016

Amazon announces Alexa Accelerator to boost conversational commerce startups

The program, supported by startup accelerator Techstars, will help developers targeting speech technology advances and voice application innovation.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 1, 2016

MasterCard, Verifone team to offer instant financing at point of sale

Mastercard Installments, built on the open, cloud-based Verifone Commerce Platform, allows shoppers to activate an installment payment plan while at checkout.

By Dan O'Shea • Dec. 1, 2016

Amazon releases core AI technology to developers via new platform

The move gives developers access to some of Amazon's most significant artificial intelligence technology tools as the company looks to become a key driver of the global, multi-industry AI movement.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 30, 2016

MasterCard rolls out AI-based fraud detection and decision service

The value of false credit card declines is more than 13 times the total amount lost to actual card fraud, researchers estimate.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 30, 2016

Digital's role on Black Friday ramps up across mobile search, prospecting and retargeting

Two sets of data reinforce shopping’s omnichannel evolution. 

By Chantal Tode • Nov. 30, 2016

How retailers can protect themselves against cyber threats this holiday season

Retailers face a range of security threats, including point-of-sale issues, distributed denial-of-service attacks, inferior IT infrastructure and lax information security procedures. Here's how they can mitigate losses.

By Brian Dunphy • Nov. 30, 2016

EBay pop-up uses biometrics to ease gift-buying stress

A study from eBay and analytics firm Lightwave suggests the pressure of holiday shopping stress is akin to running a marathon, and that 60% of shoppers hit a "wall of disenchantment" after only about 32 minutes, feeling too fatigued to go on.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 29, 2016

Shopping via mobile popular on Black Friday, paying by mobile definitely wasn't

Mobile payments were used for only 0.6% of in-store purchases nationwide, according to data from payments firm Cayan.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 29, 2016

Under Armour app tracks how much people ate — and exercised — on Thanksgiving Day

MyFitnessPal app users across the country burned more calories on Turkey Day than on an average non-holiday Thursday, the athletic gear retailer found.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 28, 2016

Dick's Sporting Goods' latest software acquisition is a GameChanger

The mobile scoring app gives users live updates on player performance and instant game recaps for 165,000 amateur baseball and softball teams.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 28, 2016

Forecast: Mobile payments to reach $314B by 2020, boosted by broad retail acceptance

Average annual spending per user employing proximity mobile payments is expected to increase from $721 this year to more than $1,230 next year, exceeding $4,133 by 2020, a new report suggests.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 27, 2016

Stripe raises more funding to pursue acquisitions, expansion

The startup surpasses a $9 billion valuation as it continues to chase PayPal, Square and other merchant payment platforms.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 27, 2016

Google Maps update steers shoppers during Black Friday traffic frenzy

The new Maps update is designed to help consumers more efficiently manage their time as they plan to visit stores, bars and other businesses likely to be crowded during the holiday season.  

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 23, 2016

Amazon reveals new partners, products in latest Dash Replenishment update

In addition to four new device manufacturer partners, Amazon announced new Dash-enabled products from Whirlpool and PUR.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 22, 2016

Lowe's, b8ta partner for smart home store-in-store program

The home improvement retailer is spotlighting its Iris home energy management line alongside more than 40 other products from companies like Amazon, Lutron, Nest and Ring.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 21, 2016

Chase Pay ready for download, comes to Best Buy, Starbucks

Support for the mobile payment application is slated to expand to retailers including ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer, Shell, Phillips 66 and Conoco.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 21, 2016

Google Shops set to roll out in Best Buy Canada locations

The stores-within-stores are designed to showcase consumer electronics like the Google Pixel smartphone and also intended to foster a community feeling.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 20, 2016

Lowe's promotes Black Friday deals via Facebook Live

The event, hosted by Drew and Jonathan Scott of the HGTV show "Property Brothers," revealed deals between comedy bits and interactions with viewers.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 20, 2016

EBay offers #GiftGoals guide to help with holiday shopping

The e-commerce marketplace is combining social media capabilities with practical advice for engaging friends and family in conversation to come up with holiday gift ideas mapped to 12 different personality types.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 17, 2016

Staples, Managed by Q partner to deliver more office services

The office supplies retailer will now connect customers in major U.S. cities to Managed by Q’s network of office services firms, including IT support staffers, cleaners, handymen and even workplace yoga instructors.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 17, 2016