ShipBob headquarters feature

ShipBob Raises $200M, Joins Growing Unicorn Club

| Mike O'Brien

ShipBob, a provider of software and services to optimize shipping for ecommerce companies, has raised $200 million in a new funding round, pushing its valuation over the $1 billion mark in a crowded unicorn field as it looks to expand globally and support customers as they add new channels.

smart speaker feature

Voice Commerce: Coming Soon to a Device Near You

| Deepak Gupta

Although voice tech isn’t new, using it for ecommerce is a relatively recent development. The hands-free approach is novel, but consumers remain skeptical. When voice tech was first introduced, there were obvious capacity limits. Now, there have been significant improvements to enable voice commerce thanks to machine learning and AI.

Ecommerce Returns, the New Sales Tool

| Mo Cheema

How can retailers leverage costly ecommerce returns into a sales tool? It’s an interesting question, given how retailers wrestle with the avalanche of costly returns. Some have remade returns into a customer loyalty campaign, while tech-savvy companies are taking the returns experience to the next level with AI and computer vision.

Here is a look at the building blocks that have enabled retailers to turn a negative experience into a positive opportunity for additional sales.

Prime Now App Being Retired, Service Continuing

| Mike O'Brien

Seven years after its launch, Amazon plans to discontinue the Prime Now app for fast delivery of grocery and other goods, folding it into its main Amazon app and website by the end of 2021, the company said. Amazon said the same level of same-day delivery service, in many cases two hours, will continue for Prime members.

Walmart Zeekit screenshot feature

Walmart Acquires Virtual Dressing Room Firm Zeekit

| Mike O'Brien

Making a bigger push into selling fashion online, Walmart said it is acquiring Israeli virtual dressing room provider Zeekit for an undisclosed sum. The owner of acquired fashion brands Eloquii, Moosejaw and Bonobos is looking to make the online clothing shopping experience more fun, while also cutting down on returns.

Walmart grocery interior feature

Walmart Concerned About Slipping Grocery Position

| Mike O'Brien

When it comes to the grocery wars, Walmart execs are concerned about the company’s tenuous number one position as well as losing share to fierce competitors, according to brutal self-assessments in a leaked memo and presentation from February obtained by Recode. There are also worries that Instacart is pulling even on e-grocery.

warehouse generic feature

MCM Outlook 2021: Past the Pivots to Ecommerce Operations Efficiency

| Mike O'Brien

Now that the challenges of the lockdown era are behind, and disruptions have solidified into new consumer behaviors and business practices, what’s next for ecommerce operations? In our annual MCM Outlook report, we talk to retail leaders and industry experts to drill down into how companies are faring and what’s working.

Walmart-Target facades feature

Walmart, Target Stepping Up Last-Mile Fulfillment

| Mike O'Brien

Walmart and Target both announced plans Thursday to improve last-mile fulfillment and delivery from their stores, taking alternate routes via an investment in self-driving car project Cruise, and a new sortation facility powered by acquired technologies from Grand Junction and Deliv, respectively.

Best Buy Pilots Subscription Program

| Mike O'Brien

Best Buy Beta is being piloted at select stores in Iowa, Oklahoma and eastern Pennsylvania, expanding to Minnesota, North Carolina and Tennessee. Members will get discounts, unlimited Geek Squad tech support, up to two years of protection, free standard shipping and delivery and free installation on most products.