Explore every episode of the podcast Cyber 5 / Next Commerce News

In this episode:

• OpenAI's first pass at agentic shopping proved the idea is real but the workflow is still brittle.
• Project Kobe points to Amazon's next retail act: blending big-box physicalretail, fulfillment, warehouse automation, and AI. 
• Walmart and Target Want to Be Your AIShopping Buddy​.
• Consumer sentiment fell to a three-month low in March, with the Universityof Michigan index hitting 53.3 as war-driven energy prices and inflation fearshit confidence broadly across incomelevels and age groups.
• Retail sales rose 0.6% month-over-monthin February, the largest monthly gain inseven months, led by motor vehicles,department stores, and apparel. 
• Unilever's food carve-out and merger with McCormick creates a combinedentity valued at roughly $65 billion, anchored by brands like Hellmann'sand French's, and structured as a Reverse Morris Trust for tax efficiency.
• Supermetrics found that only 17% of retail, e-commerce, and CPGmarketers use AI for campaign optimization, the lowest adoption of any AIuse case, despite 70% naming spend optimization as a top priority.
• Circana's latest read shows private label has become structural, notcyclical, reaching $330 billion in U.S. CPG sales with a 24% unit share. 

In this episode:

• For the first time in 13 years, Walmart has lost the #1 revenue crown. Amazon posted $716.9B in FY2025 revenue versus Walmart's $713.2B — a $3.7B gap driven by AWS and relentless e-commerce growth.
• Walmart's Q4 tells the other side of thestory: $190.7B in revenue, operatingincome up 26%, and e-commerce up 27%.
• At CAGNY 2026, a clear divide emerged across the CPG industry. AI-nativeoperators like P&G, Coca-Cola, Conagra, and Colgate-Palmolive areaccelerating
• Tariffs are reaching shelves. Import prices are up 6.8%, domestic up 4.8%,and retailers from Walmart to Levi's to Columbia are confirming priceincreases are coming or already in effect.
• NIQ's latest data shows most Americans have not used AI tools for shopping decisions despite significant retailer and brand investment.
• Target delivered a strong quarter under new CEO Michael Fiddelke: Q4 EPSof $2.44 versus the $2.16 consensus, beating estimates in his first earnings report.
• Forrester projects US e-commerce will reach $1.8 trillion by 2030,composing 29% of all retail sales.

In this episode:

• Amazon shuts down palm-payment system and doubles down on online grocery and Whole Foods expansion
• Retail media shifts into ROI and accountability era with AI-powered measurement and targeting
• Walmart and Google partner to embed Gemini AI directly into Walmart and Sam’s Club shopping
• Kroger scales back Ocado automation deal and closes robotic warehouses
• GLP-1 adoption reshapes food demand toward high-protein, nutrient-dense products
• Private label sales jump 30% in five years and grow nearly 3× faster than national brands

In today’s episode:

• Global online sales reach $1.3T as AI agents drive 20% of retail revenue
• DoorDash brings ChatGPT-powered recipe-to-grocery ordering
• Amazon launches browser-based Alexa+ shopping and planning hub
• TikTok Shop captures one-fifth of social commerce market
• Albertsons turns display ads into instant shoppable carts
• Walmart expands drone delivery to new U.S. cities
• Instacart ends personalized pricing tests after shopper backlash

In this episode:

• Cyber Week 2025 is on track to smash records

• Online grocery sales hit US$11.6B in October, setting a new record

• Target launches an AI holiday gift finder to streamline gift shopping

• Target rolls out a ChatGPT-based shopping app that lets users build full carts

• Target introduces “List Scanner” to turn handwritten notes into digital carts

• ChatGPT launches “Shopping Research,” a new AI-powered way to compare products

• Walmart tests ads in its new AI shopping assistant, Sparky

• Amazon rolls out Amazon Bazaar to 14 new markets

• Google rolls out new AI shopping tools for the holidays

• Young shoppers lean on AI to cut Thanksgiving grocery costs

• Digital shoppers lean on product content and generative AI to guide buying

• DoorDash and Family Dollar partner for same-day delivery

• Uber expands robotic delivery through a new global partnership

• PayPal expands checkout into Perplexity’s AI-powered shopping experience

• Grocers go niche with private-label specialties

• Alibaba beats quarterly revenue estimates on strong instant retail and AI push

In this episode:

• Walmart captures 21% of U.S. grocery spending

• Walmart launches AI tools to enhance in-store shopping

• Walmart and OpenAI partner to enable purchases via ChatGPT

• Amazon’s “Help Me Decide” AI tool simplifies product choice

• Pinterest rolls out AI-driven boards to become a personal shopping assistant

• PayPal reports how AI is reshaping holiday shopping

• Consumers increasingly move beyond search engines for discovery

• Retailers enter a generative AI feedback loop

• Consumers embrace AI for research but hesitate on autonomous purchases

• Amazon unveils agentic AI and smart glasses to supercharge the supply chain

• Kroger deepens its partnership with Uber Eats through app integration

• Kroger and Sprouts pilot Instacart’s AI-powered Cart Assistant

• Target cuts 1,800 corporate jobs as part of a major restructure

• Amazon plans to cut 14,000 jobs to stay “nimble”

• Amazon and OpenAI ink a $38B cloud services partnership

In this episode:

• Shoppers Are Embracing AI but Want Guardrails
• One-Third of Consumers Plan to Use AI for Holiday Shopping
• ChatGPT Lets Shoppers Buy Products Within the Platform
• Google Launches AI-Enabled Conversational Shopping
• Kroger Accelerates AI to Cut Costs, Boost Efficiency
• How Aldi Revamped Its Social Media Strategy
• Instacart Adds SNAP Tracking & Savings Tools to Smart Carts
• Amazon debuts single-tap “Add to Delivery” function
• Kroger to Use DoorDash’s DashMart for Delivery Fulfillment
• DoorDash Launches Proprietary Delivery Robot “Dot”
• Uber refreshes grocery delivery with new features and guarantees
• Aldi Joins Uber Eats for Nationwide Grocery Delivery
• Amazon Unifies Its Private-Label Grocery Lines Under “Amazon Grocery”
• Grocers aim to significantly increase private brand dollar share by 2027
• Amazon to close 14 UK Fresh stores, convert some into Whole Foods

In this episode:

• Online grocery sales top $11 billion in August, led by delivery
• Holiday sales could grow up to 3.4%: Deloitte
• Ulta targets wellness growth and raises full-year sales outlook
• Mass beauty outpaces prestige in the first half of 2025
• Ralph Lauren rolls out AI-powered assistant to dole out fashion advice
• Walmart Realm adds new digital storefronts to woo Gen Z
• How Instacart is upgrading smart carts to drive omnichannel shopping
• Amazon integrates Lens visual search with its AI shopping assistant
• Pinterest has effectively become an AI-enabled shopping assistant
• Holiday shoppers plan to use AI to compare prices
• Almost half of AI search tool users prefer them to Google
• Best Buy, Uber Eats partner on same-day delivery

In this episode we will discuss...

• Grocery e-commerce sales jump nearly 30% in June
• U.S. online grocery sales grew in June, but shoppers demand better digital experiences.
• Ebay is doubling down on its investments in AI-powered customer experience and employee productivity in the second second half of 2025.
• Ulta Beauty is shifting to AI agents following tech modernization, targeting improved customer experiences by 2025.
• Unifying its approach to the technology, Walmart launched a new companywide artificial intelligence framework centered around four “super agents” to support various business touchpoints.
• Seven in 10 luxury shoppers on TikTok have spent more than 1,000 pounds (approximately $1,355 at press time) on a single fashion item, typically after watching peer-led content.
• Google now displays Instagram posts in search results, targeting younger users who increasingly prefer social media over traditional search.
• As retailers face global headwinds going into the holidays, 78% of industry buyers say they have utilized AI-enabled tools to enhance buying activities.
• Over half (56%) of retail organizations have upped their generative AI investments compared to last year.
• OpenAI's rumored ChatGPT checkout system sparks retail startup concerns about pay-to-play bias.
• Kroger’s data arm 84.51° announced Wednesday the unification of its retail media, consumer insights and loyalty marketing services.

In this episode we will discuss

• Online summer sales expected to be the equivalent of ‘two Black Fridays’
• Prime Day order amount, household spend declines
• Prime Day drives $7.9 billion in first-day online spend
• Amazon reportedly shuttering Freevee streaming platform
• TikTok Shop debuts live price match
• Sephora partners to give shoppers rides to its stores
• Wegmans is testing smart carts from two providers at four stores in Upstate New York
• Afresh, a San Francisco-based grocery tech company, helps grocers like Albertsons and Stater Bros
• Mango and L’Oréal Paris are enhancing digital shopping with AI
• A new Altman Solon survey shows 93% of
• Roblox users have spent money on the platform, mostly on boosts and avatar upgrades

In this episode we will discuss...

• Tariffs are likely to drive Prime Day purchases
• Online grocery sales are growing rapidly, with a projected 8.9% annual growth rate through 2029
• Loyalty memberships may be the key for small and mid-sized grocery players to win back Walmart e-grocery shoppers, according to the Brick Meets Click April 2025 report 
• Amazon pilots audio product summaries
• Amazon Ads enhances generative AI capabilities
• Google is turning AI into a personal shopping assistant
• Google rolls out agenticAI checkout
• Walmart has launched “Ask Sparky,” a generative AI feature in its app that helps customers find products, synthesize reviews, and get recommendations using natural language
• Walmart’s new survey shows growing consumer trust in AI, with 27% preferring AI recommendations over influencer endorsements
• Roblox is expanding into physical retail, letting creators sell real items via virtual stores through a Shopify partnership
• Estée Lauder, Coty, and Ulta Beauty are accelerating AI use to cut costs, personalize messaging, and improve forecasting amid global and consumer shifts
• Instacart invites itself to the party with delivery app

In this episode we will discuss

• Walmart’s grocery sales reached $276B in FY2025, comprising nearly 60% of U.S. net sales.
• Instacart beat Wall Street estimates with its first-quarter results, recording a 14% year-over-year increase in orders.
• Walmart is expanding its beauty offerings with “Beauty Bars” in 40 stores, allowing customers to test products and consult experts.
• Amazon announced a July Prime Day with major deals in 35+ categories.
• Amazon’s new “Buy for Me” feature enables customers to purchase items from third-party websites directly within the Amazon Shopping app.
• Pinterest is expanding its visual search tools for women’s fashion in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., with plans to grow globally.
• Walmart opened its first Supercenter in four years in Cypress, Texas, debuting its new U.S. Store of the Future concept.
• Amazon is investing $4 billion by 2026 to expand its rural delivery network, adding over 200 new stations.

In this episode we will discuss...

• Amazon taps AI for automatic product recommendations
• Amazon adds new grocery tools to Alexa
• Walmart + Week is coming back at the end of April
• Amazon provides more details on Google-like 'Buy for Me' feature
• Google Shopping released a suite of AI tools for fashion and beauty products to help shoppers better visualize items
• Lowe’s launched Mylow, an AI-powered adviser developed in partnership with OpenAI
• Target leans on generative AI and social media to capture trends
• Walmart expands interactive media partnership with product videos
• Petco widens on-demand delivery offering with Uber Eats
• Uber brings robotic sidewalk delivery pilot to Miami
• Instacart expands partnership with Uber; delivers for Dierbergs Markets
• Best Buy launches creator platform with shoppable storefronts

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Sales at U.S. grocery stores will increase 3.1% this year to $1.6 trillion — a notable increase from the 1.1% sales growth the sector recorded last year.
• Amazon expected to surpass Walmart in revenue.
• Target aims to drive $15 billion-plus in sales growth.
• Amazon revamped its personal AI assistant to make Alexa more “conversational, smarter and personalized”.
• Amazon is testing a feature that allows its search results to show select products it does not sell with links out to the brand’s website.
• Amazon discontinued Inspire, its TikTok-style shopping feature, to focus on AI.
• Nearly 3 in 5 consumers have replaced traditional search with generative AI .
• 41% of U.S. beauty sales happen online.
• Walmart launched Walmart Unlimited, a gamified shopping experience targeting younger consumers.
• DoorDash is expanding grocery delivery, adding four new partners and major chains like Ahold Delhaize and Wakefern.
• L’Oreal opens $160 million North America innovation facility.

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Consumer spending forecast to grow 3.1% this year.
• More than 90% of consumers purchase groceries both in-store and online.
• Ulta Beauty is looking at how to best tap into its loyalty program data to power personalization, Josh Friedman, vice president of digital products at Ulta Beauty.
• Kroger launches virtual nutrition coaching program.
• Amazon to end Prime Try Before You Buy.
• TikTok is transforming digital commerce, driving sales and product discovery.
• Home Depot expands on demand delivery services.
• Uber Eats’ delivery demand is accelerating, with Q4 2024 gross bookings hitting $20.1 billion, up from $18.7 billion.
• Best Buy to launch third-party marketplace this summer.
• Amazon will shutter its Amazon Go convenience store in Woodland Hills, California.

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• US online holiday spending hit $241B, a new record!
• AI influenced over $229B in global holiday sales
• Ulta Beauty lets customers try out hair colors with AI
• Target debuted its Bullseye Gift Finder
• Albertsons serves up AI-driven personalization for alcohol and food
• Instacart links with Samsung on shoppable fridge tech
• L'Oréal develops skin assessment technology
• Best Buy launches scheduled parcel delivery
• Amazon develops next-gen delivery drone
• TalkShopLive takes on TikTok with short-form videos
• Best Buy will launch a U.S. thirdparty marketplace in mid-2025
• DoorDash is partnering with Ibotta, opening the delivery service’s customer base to Ibotta’s catalogue of coupons and deals

Some of the of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Shoppers planning to shop omni this holiday season
• Online holiday spending reached $77.4 billion from Nov. 1-24, up 9.6% year-over-year
• Social commerce predicted to reach $1 trillion by 2028
• Walmart virtual store with seasonal shopping features
• Ulta Beauty’s 2024 omni holiday marketing includes Roblox
• DoorDash launches shopping & gifting features
• American Eagle, WhatsApp team on Gen Z-focused holiday pilot
• Google Lens can now tailor search results to the store you’re in
• Amazon answers ultra-cheap Chinese marketplaces like Temu with ‘Amazon Haul’
• Instacart launching SNAP eligibility screener
• Amazon launches same-day drone delivery in Arizona
• Starbucks expands DoorDash delivery within its own app
• Walmart adds new online delivery option in Canada
• Wonder buys Grubhub for $650MM
• Amazon expands investment in startup AI developer by $4B
• Amazon Influencer Sues Rival Over 'Basic' Aesthetic: Can the Legal System Protect a Creator's Vibe?
• Target adds Bogg to its differentiated assortment

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Most consumers plan to shop online this holiday season
• Product review videos to influence holiday shopping
• Walmart+ membership fee slashed in half
• Amazon rolls out AI Shopping Guides for holidays and everyday
• Amazon tests personalized homepage features
• Walmart’s tests unique homepage for each shopper
• Amazon expands Rufus AI to Canadian shoppers via beta test
• Instacart adds games and coupons to its smart carts
• Amazon pilots small-format grocery “convenience store”
• Amazon to deploy AI tech in delivery vans
• Amazon closing brick-andmortar same-day delivery
• Tumbler manufacturer Stanley using AI to predict and prevent supply disruptions
• Amazon “unboxes” advertiser capabilities spanning AI, DSP and insights
• Walmart marketplace sellers have new AI assistant
• Ulta announces third accelerator cohort and launches inclusive digital space

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Gopuff launched several new in-app, in-bag and off-platform advertising capabilities to help brands connect with Gen Z and millennial consumers
• Amazon launches suite of visual search features
• Amazon adds PayPal payment option to Buy with Prime
• Albertsons is using artificial intelligence to assist distribution center buyers in placing store orders
• Giant Eagle has expanded its partnership with Flybuy, an AI-enabled omnichannel location platform
• Per Fiverr, ~43% of Gen Z shoppers plan to spend more for the holidays this year vs. 37% of Millennials.
• As Roblox looks to tie its platform to revenue opportunities, it has partnered with Shopify as its first commerce integration partnered to sell physical products in the metaverse
• Instacart built its reputation on being a last mile delivery partner.
• DoorDash launches new suite of digital business tools
• Amazon launches AIpowered video ad generator ahead of the holidays
• Amazon offers new rewards program to Business Prime members

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Amazon and Walmart to capture 25% of U.S. retail sales and 66% of online retail sales by 2029
• Amazon is officially kicking off its holiday promotional season with a sales event called Prime Big Deal Days
• Amazon adds annual plan to Prime grocery subscription
• Thrive Market connects brands to members
• Amazon to bring ads to Rufus AI search chatbot experience
• Google Shopping launches virtual dress try-ons in the US
• Bath & Body Works to launch AI fragrance finder
• Instacart offers personalized ways to save
• Amazon Fresh debuts 4 new grocery stores
• Family Dollar implements AI tech for category management
• Best Buy launches AIpowered delivery tracking
• Uber Eats is launching a pilot of emissions-free Coco sidewalk robots
• Amazon Fresh launches new value private brand
• Albertsons launches private label for treats and gifts
• Shopify and YouTube expand partnership
• Amazon is Terminating Smaller Vendor Agreements During Peak Season and Pushing Vendors to Seller Central

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• 84% of Amazon Prime Day customers shopped exclusively at Amazon, with only 16% shopping at one other promotional event
• Costco's July net sales reached $19.26 billion, a 7.1% year-over-year increase
• Walmart captured 37% of the Q2 U.S. online grocery market, climbing 1.5% marking its highest share to date
• Uber’s Q2 revenues rose 8% in delivery
• DoorDash bolsters membership plan with Max
• Amazon enables direct sales via TikTok, Pinterest

• Sam’s Club brings retail media to Scan & Go tool
• Costco cracks down on card sharing
• Amazon has developed an advanced AI model for its Just Walk Out checkout technology
• Sainsbury’s speeds up in-store shopping with AI
• Albertsons adds delivery and pickup via Instacart
• Aldi adding Instacart’s omnichannel tech to US stores
• Amazon has increased its same- or nextday delivery rate by 30% year-over-year
• Amazon brings seven-hour Prime delivery to Canada
• Instacart partners with Ibotta to deliver digital coupons
• Gopuff takes RMN in-house
• eBay is investing in improving digital experiences for buyers and sellers alike through Gen AI-powered tools
• Pet supplement brand Pet Honesty launches at Target

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• How many households will shop Prime Day?
• Target countered Prime Day with weeklong sales event
• Grocery helps make Walmart+ week in June preemptive success
• Instacart enables shoppable YouTube ads for CPG brands
• Walmart’s off-site customer journey insights for suppliers
• E.l.f. tests real-world commerce on Roblox
• Seasonal membership promotion at DoorDash
• Walmart and Hy-Vee are rolling out Electronic Price Tags in-Store
• Makeup by Mario launches AR mirror at Sephora
• Generative AI chatbot for store employees
• Perfect Corp. and Face Haus partner to bring AI skincare
• Sally Beauty expands sameday delivery with Instacart
• Albertsons enters e-com partnership with Grubhub
• Google pulls ahead of Amazon in robotaxi race
• Apple is an AI player – does it change the game for retailers?

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Walmart hosting summer sales blockbuster in June
• Per Signifyd Ecommerce Pulse data, online grocery sales rose 22% YoY in April 2024
• Per Numerator, Walmart’s hold on the grocery market continues to grow.
• Walmart expands metaverse
• Reebok launches AI sneaker experience on Instagram
• Etsy now lets gift shoppers upload video messages for recipients
• Amazon grows its roster of grocery delivery partners
• DoorDash expanding Ulta Beauty partnership
• Uber expands retail delivery with Costco partnership
• Instacart adds restaurant delivery with Uber Eats
• Amazon announced the launch of Amazon.co.za, providing customers in South Africa with a new online shopping experience
• Walmart announced it will close its physical and telehealth services due to a lack of profitability
• Walmart has partnered with pet virtual care company Pawp to offer free pet telehealth services to Walmart+ members
• Amazon drones can now fly farther and deliver to more customer following FAA approval
• Project Kuiper is actively deorbiting its two prototype satellites ahead of a full-scale deployment of its production satellite system

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Online grocery sales projected to reach almost $120b by 2028
• Amazon introduces Freevee and offers grocery subscription to Prime
• Walmart makes Roblox history with ‘real-world’ sales
• Best Buy debuts Apple Vision Pro app
• Amazon sets new shipping speed records in Q1 2024 and is returning with its Prime Day event for July
• Gopuff debuts 'Powered by Gopuff' platform for CPG brands
• Biden signs potential U.S. TikTok ban into law

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Google introduces new tools using AI for image generation and virtual try-on features

• Amazon rolls out Amazon One palm recognition app
• Ghiradelli optimizes visual e-commerce content with AI
• Amazon completes $4 billion investment in generative AI developer and is integrating Nvidia's new Blackwell GPU platform into AWS
• Uber expands autonomous delivery with Waymo pilot
• Gopuff adds 20-minute delivery
• DoorDash pilots benefit program for contract drivers
• Instacart opens grocery platform to third-party developers

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Target to launch paid membership program to rival Amazon Prime, Walmart+
• Grocers see loyalty programs (even before membership) as make or break.
• E.l.f. Cosmetics launches ‘your best e.l.f’ experience on Apple Vision Pro and expands loyalty program with data and gamification
• Amazon to launch ‘special store’ for value fashion in India

• Amazon Fresh launches Recurring Reservations feature for online shopping

• TikTok Shop listings are surfacing on Google Shopping
• Walmart to acquire VIZIO for $2.3 billion

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Amazon announces Rufus, a new gen AI conversational shopping experience
• Kroger and GE let shoppers load their online grocery cart with shoppable recipe ingredients from an oven
• Sam’s Club to bring AI-based receipt verification technology into clubs
• Instacart plans to gamify omnichannel shopping by letting smart cart users earn rewards the way players do in the popular game Pokémon Go.
• DoorDash is expanding beyond food service and grocery, adding new retail partners in the recreational vehicle, specialty golf, sporting goods, and health and wellness

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• 2023 was a record- breaking holiday season for eCommerce

• Two-thirds of consumers planned to shop Amazon for holiday needs

• Target and Shipt supported holiday shoppers with AI tools by forecasting product demand, AI-powered search function and order tracking tool

• Reebok has launched a partnership with Futureverse, meanwhile Adidas launches digital products on Roblox
• Instacart Unveils Ads on Its AI- Powered Smart Cart and optimize the store to enable quick commerce and delivery

• Amazon reportedly pilots Prime grocery subscription

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Shoppers spent record $76.8B online this autumn
• Cyber Monday hits new online spending record of $12.4 billion
• Walmart is widening the gap with Amazon in grocery eCommerce
• Simon introduces AI-driven holiday shopping tool
• Walmart to debut shoppable holiday 'RomCom' ad series on social media
• Pinterest Opens First Pop-Up Store To Feature Its Shoppable 2024 Trends Predictions

... and many more!

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days helps October online spending break records

• Home Depot launches its own mini-series

• Best Buy launches livestream holiday shopping series

• Amazon pilots collaborative mobile shopping feature

• Klarna adds AI-driven shopping lens to app

• Walmart app to bring virtual makeup try-on to customers

• Amazon offering One Medical benefits for Prime members

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Adobe Analytics predicts this year’s online holiday sales between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 will reach $221.8 billion, a 4.8% bump from last year.
• Results from Amazon’s October Prime Big Deal Days event suggest the promotion is a success for Amazon.
• Amazon’s Prime Video Series Virtual Campus Store Launch.
• Walmart is eyeing generative AI-powered experiences including enhancing search functions for online shopping.
• Costco is advancing its mobile app capabilities for in-store shopping.
• Potentially accelerating the pricing wars, TikTok launches holiday discounts to compete with Amazon and Walmart.
• Amazon launches generative AI to help sellers write product descriptions.

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Walmart’s e-grocery sales share hits record high. The retailer accounted for nearly 36% of all U.S. online grocery sales in Q2, up 5% from the same period in 2022.

• Home Depot creates content hub for new homeowners.

• Luxury skin wellness brand Elemis has partnered with Perfect Corp. on an artificial intelligence-driven skin diagnostic experience.

• DoorDash is using artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure all voice orders are answered quickly and properly.

• Instacart adds AI capabilities for storefronts, smart carts.

• Amazon tests $35 free shipping minimum.

• The drone technology subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet will support deliveries via drone at select Walmart stores.

• ... and many more!

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Amazon is hosting an October 2023 shopping promo called Prime Big Deal Days for Prime members across 19 countries including the U.S. and Canada.
• Walmart leverages Roku for curated celebrity campaign and expands mobile AR shopping capabilities.
• 7-Eleven redesigns its mobile app for easier accessibility and debuts digital NFT collectibles.
• Albertsons adds nutrition guidance tool to digital health system and gamifies summer savings.
• Target going national with curbside Starbucks service.
• Amazon and Walmart will account for $580B, close to 40%, of an expected windfall from radical industry transformation caused by artificial intelligence (AI).
• Amazon is now leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to make customer reviews more accessible

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• 2023 Prime Day looks promising: an early read of Prime Day 2023 shows the average order size was $54.05, up from $52.26 in the same reporting period on Prime Day 2022. Nearly two- thirds (65%) of households shopping Prime Day placed 2+ separate orders, bringing the average household spend to roughly $155.67.
• Who spends the most on Amazon? Alabama emerged as the state with the highest percentage of passionate Amazon users. North Carolina followed closely behind, with 34.7% of respondents sharing a similar level of devotion to the retailer.
• US e-commerce sales to exceed $1.1 trillion in 2023, up 10% year over year.
• DoorDash has added the ability to use SNAP EBT online payments for on-demand delivery of eligible grocery items as part of numerous app updates for consumers.
• Walmart Canada’s Delivery Pass now gives shoppers access to unlimited, free next-day delivery from stores — for a monthly or annual fee.
• Albertsons Media Collective is launching a pilot program in which it’s replacing its traditional digital circular ads with interactive digital circular ads across Facebook and Instagram.
• And many more...!

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Despite eCommerce Push, 87% of Grocery Transactions Occur in Stores.

• DoorDash is kicking off its fourth annual “Summer of DashPass” promotion.

• Instacart will pilot a feature for customers that lets them select their favorite personal shoppers to fulfill online orders.

• A new survey of more than 1,000 Prime members from performance marketing firm Tinuiti reveals that 80% of respondents plan to shop during Prime Day this year.

• Kroger brings digital smart screens to 500 locations.

• Aldi launches 30-minute quick commerce delivery.

• Continuing its pursuit of investing in innovative startups, BOLD, the venture capital arm of L’Oréal, led a $34 million Series B funding round for Debut, a beauty biotechnology startup.

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Amazon has debuted Amazon Anywhere, a new shopping tool that allows users to make purchases within games and apps.
• Firework and The Fresh Market plan to pilot an automated platform that can respond to shopper questions post watching livestreamed videos.
• Coty Inc. plans to launch Coty Campus, an internal virtual environment for its 11,000 employees.
• Klarna’s app now includes a personalized shopping feed powered by AI.
• Instacart is rolling out new ways for its customers to save money.
• Amazon is providing a financial incentive for some Prime shoppers to forgo delivery of their orders.
• Pinterest is teaming up with an e-commerce titan to continue expanding its capabilities as an ad platform.

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• The Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag launched a pilot to test a returnable retail bag deposit model.
• Mercari, the secondhand goods marketplace, debuted Merchat AI, a shopping assistant that uses the artificial intelligence software ChatGPT.
• Walmart winds down Roblox play as metaverse lands in privacy crosshairs.
• Building upon its in-store lab concept, Clinique has launched The Clinique Lab.
• The Uber Eats on-demand delivery subsidiary of Uber is expanding an automated delivery partnership with self-driving robot provider Cartken.
• Uber Eats is introducing a new Certified Virtual Restaurant Program.
• AWS is launching a limited preview of a new generative AI model called Bedrock.

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Online grocery shoppers have declared which retailer provides their most preferred e-commerce experience: Walmart received the top ranking, Amazon Fresh followed at #2.
• The Fresh Market has introduced a digital-only magazine with interactive shopping features.

• Instacart launches updates to digital solutions under its Instacart Platform, noting that the new capabilities are now available to grocers across North America.

• Amazon pulls back from UPS considering logistics empire and expands same-day delivery service by growing its specialized fulfillment center footprint.

• DoorDash has struck an agreement with Aldi to provide delivery service from most of the German discount supermarket chain’s locations across 38 U.S. states.

• Instacart is adding OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot technology to its app.

• Sam’s Club is making real-time, intelligently retargeted display advertising available across tens of thousands of sites on the open web

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Online retail sales surpassed $1 trillion last year “for the first time in history”.
• Online grocery sales projected to grow 11.7% over the next five years.
• A DTC cosmetics brand, Buxom Cosmetics, running a six-month metaverse promotion called “Buxom PlumpVerse,” taking a hybrid approach to metaverse commerce, which involves bringing users into the metaverse platform gradually through channels they are already familiar with, such as Instagram, email, and the DTC website.
• Instacart announced Monday the launch of its Scan & Pay solution at Foodcellar Market, as it looks beyond e-commerce and toward offering more in-store solutions for grocers.
• Carrefour notches up a first as data and innovation teams explore ChatGPT and generative AI use cases.
• Amazon halts Fresh rollout to re-evaluate the economics of its mainstream grocery concept and plans to charge Prime members service fees on Amazon Fresh delivery orders that are under $150.
• And many more...!

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Holiday e-commerce sales broke records in 2022
• The use of digital technologies by both shoppers and grocery store associates are forecast to increase in 2023, but improvements are necessary if retailers are to maximize performance.
• Walmart has launched a free Text to Shop functionality, focusing on providing convenience for any Walmart customer who has an account.
• Instacart targets SNAP shoppers with discounted memberships, as it seeks a solution to help more food-insecure families tap into the many benefits of online grocery.
• Albertsons started selling and delivering tangible items in the metaverse to customers, becoming the first grocer to do so.
• In an effort to gain momentum in the highly competitive U.S. grocery e-commerce market, Uber has struck a deal with Meijer and Cartken to attract grocery shoppers to its platform

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Cyber Monday Drove $11.3 Billion in Online Spending, Breaking E-Commerce Record
• TikTok pilots in-app commerce in the U.S., as TikTok’s parent company, China-based ByteDance, attempts to establish a robust livestream shopping business in the U.S. 
• Putting itself in competition with apps like TikTok and Instagram where influencers promote products, Amazon rolls out TikTok-like shopping feature called Inspire, a content hub for customers to discover and explore products
• In preparation for the holidays, Pinterest and Walmart are tapping into live commerce to drive sales and product discovery.
• Joining other companies in creating visual search tools, Walmart has launched TrendGetter, an image recognition tool, to drive product discovery.
• Google is making AR-powered search a bigger priority during a holiday season, as many people still intensively research products online before they buy.
• With the metaverse forecasted as the future of social media, Adidas, Nike and Starbucks dive deeper into virtual goods.
• To win more customers with ease and convenience, Kroger, Walgreens, Sephora and Grocery Outlet are enhancing their online delivery options 

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Digital commerce extends way beyond online sales. Before the pandemic, 51% of sales were influenced by digital shopping tools, today 60% are, by 2027 it will be 70%. What is the reason for high digital influence and how it varies across the categories?
• Prime Early Access sales results: while Bank of America estimated Amazon's October Prime Early Access sale to have generated 25% less than Prime Day in July, they saw it as highly beneficial, a market share driver and a branding event for Prime.
• Amazon continues to innovate on behalf of its customers, expands its selection of ad-free music and podcasts for Prime members, introduces Venmo payment method, introduces eyewear virtual try-on for customers and brands in collaboration with Snapchat.
• Aldi is developing an online grocery platform that will offer pickup and delivery service in as little as an hour across the supermarket chain’s U.S. footprint.
• Walmart is partnering with Popable, a pop-up shop marketplace platform that connects brands and physical spaces for short-term retail leasing.

And more in today's episode!

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Retailers are offering early holiday deals with Amazon holding its Prime Early Access Sale, while Walmart is hosting its "Rollbacks and More" saving event.
• Walmart is diving into virtual spaces with the launch of two Roblox experiences, a new digital collectible platform, known as AutoT, in collaboration with NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association), and a new Be Your Own Model virtual try-on function.
• Amazon is debuting what it calls the “Amazonmetaworld,” a metaverse of digital gamification experiences, in five Indian cities during September 2022.
• Instacart is continuing to not only expand its services for retailers but to also connect them in ways that reflect evolving shopper demand and new operational realities. It rolls out a suite of connected technologies, including scan-and-go checkout and electronic shelf labels, that extends the e-commerce company’s digital footprint into in-store shopping.
• Grubhub and Gopuff are piloting a collaboration that combines inventory and fulfillment capabilities.

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Prime Exclusive Discounts for Amazon's Fall Prime Day are now available for submission. And even more submissions are now available on VC.
• Amazon has become "Google" of Product Searches, with 61% of consumers beginning their product hunt on the retailer's website. 
  • Walmart has launched new initiatives, including partnership with Paramount Global and Walmart Rewards as a new benefit to its Walmart+ membership.
  • DoorDash is partnering with Meta to pilot Facebook Marketplace deliveries.
    • As it gears up for an anticipated IPO, Instacart has added OrderUp!, eCommerce tech startup Rosie and Carts to its portfolio.

...and much more!

• Prime members purchased more than 300 million items worldwide during Prime Day 2022, the most in Amazon’s history, with total U.S. online spending across retailers reaching $11.9 billion, representing 8.5% growth. 
• Instacart rolls out personal shopper rewards program, as a way to recognize top shoppers with impactful incentives that help them stand out, improve their access to earnings and reach their personal goals.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill is accepting digital currency, including cryptocurrency, and is letting customers know in a playful way.
• Facebook is shutting down its live shopping feature on October 1 to shift its focus to Reels. 

Explore what these trends mean together with us in this episode!

In this episode, we explore 

• How retailers are looking to shake things up and find innovative new ways to inspire customer loyalty;
• The ways retailers are embracing AR technologies to reimagine the digital shopping experience with virtual storefronts;
• How retailers speed up their omnichannel order fulfillment;
• What companies are doing in the metaverse;
• How businesses are experimenting with live commerce

And much more!

Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Soaring merchandise stockpiles and record high transportation and fuel costs prompted Target to cut its outlook for operating profit to about 2% of sales this quarter. It is also looking to right-size its inventory, meaning marking down more merchandise and canceling orders from vendors.
• Meanwhile, Walmart is looking to transform its supply chain network and prepare for growth with new high-density automated centers.
• Instagram, Google and Amazon keep experimenting with physical stores, as they broaden the appeal by offering shoppers the ability to touch and feel items.
• Retailers are embracing the opportunities and experimenting with the technologies to bring the experience for customers to the next level

...and much more!

This month, we delve into how eCommerce fits into retail's post-pandemic future. 

• Which customer retention strategies work? 
• What does it take to win the last-mile sprint? 
• How forward-thinking retailers try to make themselves future-ready and differentiate themselves from competitors? 
• What is fuelling growth in D2C and where is the sector heading in 2022? 

These and much more in this episode!

Some of the headlines in today's episode:

• Subscription Commerce is growing at an exponential rate. In this episode, we explore recent subscription-based shopping trends and what brands and retailers do to harness the potential of subscription commerce.
• The line between eCommerce and social media is fading, giving rise to social commerce. We delve into how brands leverage social commerce to engage with target customers.
• Rising Facebook ad prices, worsening ad measurement, soaring shipping costs, newly-sober public markets, and smaller-than-anticipated customer bases are dealing DTC companies a harsh blow.

In today's podcast, we are going to talk about:

• How Instacart is deploying its resources as it seeks to lift up grocery e-commerce for its retailer partners and customers.
• As expectations for convenience, speed and ease continue to grow, what food ordering and delivery marketplaces do to win in the on-demand food delivery space.
• Shoppable content is now moving from visual images into online video. We are also seeing the growth of live stream retail. How brands and retailers bring more immersive, interactive shopping experiences and much more.