Report: Google snaps up shopping search startup Undecidable Labs

The firm's online purchasing tool involves “a filtering system that takes 'nice to have' and 'ideal' into consideration” to make product searches more meaningful.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 16, 2016

Target enhances in-store order pickup program for holiday season

More than 90% of pick-up orders will be ready in an hour, up from last year thanks to program enhancements, team efforts and deployment of new technology. 

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 16, 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

Wal-Mart denies urging workers not to download labor group app

The retail giant said that employees can decide for themselves whether to use WorkIt, but warned the advocacy app could pose privacy issues.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 16, 2016

Facebook testing multi-product retail ads in news feeds

The new ads use a primary image or video along with related product images underneath. Clicking brings up a second page with additional products, and another click leads to the retailer's website.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 15, 2016

EBay overhauls mobile shopping apps in sync with holidays

The digital marketplace has updated both its iOS and Android applications with new browsing capabilities, product viewing options and other features.  

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 15, 2016

How UPS stays steady in center of e-commerce shipping storm

Despite Amazon's shipping ambitions and myriad other forces driving market upheaval, UPS continues to invest in a future defined by e-commerce opportunities and obstacles.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 15, 2016

Samsung rolls out rewards program to Samsung Pay users

Enrollees earn points that may be redeemed for retailer gift cards, prepaid Samsung Rewards Visa gift cards, Samsung products and more.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 14, 2016

Sears, Activehours team to give Shop Your Way members, store associates paycheck advances

The mobile paycheck advance application allows rewards members and Sears and Kmart staffers to purchase products and services right when they need them.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 14, 2016

Wayfair expands virtual reality universe with IdeaSpace

The application, developed for Google’s new Daydream mobile VR platform, allows customers to shop a variety of virtual, custom-designed rooms.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 13, 2016

Citibank latest to unveil digital wallet with Citi Pay

Citi will launch online, in-app and in-store tap-and-pay capabilities in the U.S. in early 2017, with other markets to follow.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 13, 2016

Ikea calls Uber and influencers for hearty 'Friendsgiving' promotion

The retailer’s partnership with Uber suggests it's looking to reach the ride-sharing app’s urban customers where they are spending time — on their phones. 

By Chantal Tode • Nov. 11, 2016

Kohl's takes aim at urban millennials, fast fashion with k/lab

The "trend" team behind the new line will scour social media to determine what designs are hot and what kind of clothes it should be selling, then move quickly to get them into the production pipeline.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 10, 2016

Alibaba's Singles Day nears record sales, boosted by virtual reality

Shoppers wearing Buy+ virtual reality headsets experienced Singles Day from a 360-degree perspective, exploring merchandise from Alibaba partners across the globe, including Macy's in New York.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 10, 2016

Reports: With Trump in White House, Amazon could face antitrust probe

President-elect Donald Trump earlier this year blamed Amazon's "monopolistic tendencies" for "the destruction of department stores and the retail industry.”  

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 9, 2016

Survey: Retailers progressing on omnichannel, but not fast enough

While omnichannel adoption is growing, almost half of merchants believe they are making little headway in their omnichannel efforts.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 9, 2016

Facebook enables retailers to link newsfeed ads to chatbots

Brands that operate chatbots on Messenger can now buy targeted newsfeed ads that link directly to their bots, allowing them to immediately initiate conversations.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 8, 2016

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

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