Chatbots

With a mountain of challenges comes a single simple question: How to get consumers into the store and keep them coming back? Here are some innovative technologies that show promise for even greater disruption in the store.

The partners have launched a gift-giving service on Google Assistant and Google Home that allows shoppers to find the perfect last minute gift and seamlessly pay for it with nothing more than their voice.

Omnichannel marketing aims to give people universally pleasant and fulfilling experiences — whether people engage with a company on their tablets, through social media, in a store, or within an app. Look at five retailers who accomplished this in 2018.

Welcome to Customer Psych 101. Review three areas in which retailers can benefit from implementing conversational commerce and where retailers should focus their research in each.

Shoppers can now speak the words “Alexa, order from Dunkin’ Donuts.” 

The move comes almost a year after the companies announced the plan for Alexa to talk to Cortana, and Cortana to talk to Alexa.

Today, conversational commerce is so easy that customers don't even have to press a button. Is this a good thing for shoppers and retailers? What are the downsides? Is voice-command commerce over hyped? At the 2018 Retail Experience Summit, chairman & CEO of Xcel Brands Robert D'Loren will present a closed-door session to explore these questions and more.

The voice-activated virtual assistant is evolving and available now through new devices and experiences. Here is everything you need to know about Alexa.

In our July feature story RIS looks at how Amazon and Walmart stack up when it comes to Loyalty Programs, Acquisitions, Click and Collect, Grocery Shopping, and Voice Shopping. Then we give readers the chance to weigh in to determine who wins in the "Battle of the Behemoths."

An executive’s guide to new trends, consumer behavior, retail disruption, innovation, technology and the rapidly changing landscape of the industry.