Amazon Expands Hub Pickup Lockers in Apartment Buildings

| Mike O'Brien

A year after a quiet introduction, Amazon is expanding Hub by Amazon, secure keypad-access lockers in high-rise and garden apartments that allow shoppers to grab packages at their convenience. Interestingly, the service is available to other shippers as well as Amazon itself.

Walmart’s Jetblack Marries Personalized Shopping, Same-Day Speed

| Mike O'Brien

Jetblack, Walmart’s new invite-only, personalized shopping service aimed at busy moms in Manhattan and Brooklyn, allows members to get same-day orders fulfilled by texting them in, at $50 a month. It’s the latest example of the beast of Bentonville seeking to go upmarket and out-innovate main rival Amazon.

Walmart Pays $16 Billion for 77% Stake in Flipkart

| Mike O'Brien

Ending weeks of back and forth, Walmart confirmed it is making a $16 billion investment in Indian ecommerce marketplace Flipkart, giving it a 77% stake, increasing its presence in the rapidly growing market and edging out a bid from rival Amazon.

Google Shopping

Amazon Suddenly Drops Out of Google Shopping PLAs

| Mike O'Brien

After testing the waters, Amazon has stopped bidding on product listing ads on Google Shopping, according to data from marketing agency Merkle, opening the door for home goods sellers in their absence. See what this decision means for sellers, and what might be behind it.

Blockchain: Coming to a Supply Chain Near You

| Mike O'Brien

The advent of blockchain technology as a tool to enable secure, accurate sharing and verification across entire supply chains is fast approaching, moving it beyond the realm of Bitcoin transactions, attendees were told at Home Delivery World in Atlanta.

Walmart Launches More Pickup Towers

| Daniela Forte

Walmart announced the expansion of its pickup program by adding 500 more pickup towers to stores across the country. See what new add-on Walmart is implementing with this expansion.

FedEx Office Opening Branches in 500 Walmart Stores

| Mike O'Brien

Walmart will open FedEx Office branches in 500 U.S. stores that let customers pick up and drop off packages for shipment and access printing services, while boosting foot traffic for the retailer. This follows the opening of 7,500 FedEx branches at Walgreens stores last year and is another Walmart weapon against Amazon.