Facebook adds tools to help mobile apps attract active users

Retail marketers use the social media empire's tools to find new users most likely to buy on their apps.

By Dan O'Shea • July 18, 2016

Wal-Mart loses key analytics exec to Neustar

Venkat Achanta played a major role in evolving how Wal-Mart leveraged analytics to better address changing e-commerce customer behaviors. 

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 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

UPS testing Saturday residential deliveries

The shipping giant is exploring options to adapt its business to an environment reshaped by e-commerce trends.

By Dan O'Shea • July 17, 2016

Amazon Prime Day plagued by shopping cart snafus

Many Amazon Prime subscribers hoping to score deals and discounts took to Twitter to complain about “add to cart fail” messages.

By Jason Ankeny • July 12, 2016

EBay adopts new Google tech to improve mobile shopping experience

The online marketplace is also acquiring Israeli predictive analytics startup SalesPredict to boost its machine-learning capabilities.

By Daphne Howland • July 12, 2016

Why retail has a growing reverse supply chain problem—and how to fix it

As consumers move online to order goods, retailers are grappling with the growing problem, and cost, of return waste. 

By Kelsey Lindsey • July 12, 2016

Retailers cash in on Pokemon Go phenomenon

While some retailers are kicking players out of their stores, others are taking advantage of the flow of people trying to catch 'em all.

By Daphne Howland • July 12, 2016

Eyeing e-commerce efficiencies, Nordstrom buys stake in software platform

The department store has promised cost-cutting and investments to improve its e-commerce margins.

By Daphne Howland • July 11, 2016

Nike releases open source code on GitHub

The athletic apparel and products giant may be looking to boost its technology image to lure new tech talent.

By Dan O'Shea • July 7, 2016

NRF survey: Many retailers EMV-ready, but waiting on card companies

Among retailers that have yet to support EMV chip-enabled card payments, 57% said they already installed the necessary equipment, but were still waiting for certification by the card networks.

By Dan O'Shea • July 7, 2016

How the future of fit could spell the end of retail returns

Merchandise returns accounted for more than $260 billion in lost sales last year. But new apparel and footwear fit technology, size-shifting robots and data analysis tools are changing the equation.

By Lara Ewen • July 7, 2016

J.C. Penney offshores some IT jobs, but plans to beef up tech effort

Some IT jobs at the retailer's Plano, TX headquarters that have been filled by contract employees likely will be cut and offshored to its new Bangalore, India office.

By Dan O'Shea • July 6, 2016

Sephora adds features, tutorials to Virtual Artist app

The beauty retailer continues to aggressively leverage new technologies to deliver an e-commerce impact.

By Dan O'Shea • July 6, 2016

Wal-Mart ramping up e-commerce strategy via marketplace

Walmart.com is planning to add a million products per month, primarily by expanding its third-party marketplace effort.

By Dan O'Shea • July 5, 2016

Facebook: 11,000 chatbots developed for Messenger app

Retailers and other businesses are turning to Facebook Messenger chatbots to improve customer service and drive sales.

By Dan O'Shea • July 5, 2016

Alibaba launches new system to combat counterfeits

The company has been under increasing pressure from brands as well as U.S. and Chinese regulators to curtail the volume of fake goods sold on its marketplaces.

By Daphne Howland • July 5, 2016

Honeywell buys into warehouse automation with $1.5b Intelligrated deal

Intelligrated serves customers including Amazon, United Parcel Service and Nordstrom.

By Dan O'Shea • July 4, 2016

UPDATE: Wal-Mart Pay now available nationwide

More than 20 million shoppers use the QR code-based Walmart Pay application each month.

By Dan O'Shea • July 4, 2016

Court rejects Visa, MasterCard swipe-fee settlement with retailers

The NRF applauded the move, saying the deal "failed to represent the interests of retailers."

By Dan O'Shea • June 30, 2016

UPS expanding locker pickup to 300 new locations

UPS's Smart Locker program offers an alternative package pickup location to e-commerce shoppers who live in residences where front-door delivery is not possible.

By Dan O'Shea • June 30, 2016

Why Apple Pay's move online means more drama in the payments space

Apple Pay's push into online transactions means facing a crowded payments segment at a key point in its evolution.

By Dan O'Shea • June 30, 2016

Visa accuses Wal-Mart of reconfiguring payment terminals

In a counterclaim to Wal-Mart's lawsuit over debit card security, Visa alleges that the retailer surreptitiously altered point-of-sale terminals to accept only PIN-based transactions.

By Dan O'Shea • June 29, 2016

Wal-Mart expands two-day shipping nationwide, offers free trial

Following a limited rollout, Wal-Mart's ShippingPass is launching across the U.S. just weeks before rival Amazon holds its next Prime Day sale event.

By Dan O'Shea • June 29, 2016

Report: Amazon Prime Day deals pale compared to Black Friday offers

Amazon Prime Day prices last summer were higher on average than during the company's Black Friday sales event.

By Dan O'Shea • June 28, 2016

Pinterest adds shopping cart, visual search in e-commerce push

About 30% of people who shop on Pinterest use search capabilities to find products of interest, while another 50% discover items through related pins or the site's homepage.

By Dan O'Shea • June 28, 2016