Walmart

The nation's largest retailer is working on technology to enable store associates to respond more quickly to potential customer service issues.   The chain is developing facial recognition technology to detect frustrated or unhappy shoppers, according to a report by Business Insider. The technology uses video cameras at checkout lines that monitor customers' facial expressions and movements to identify varying levels of dissatisfaction, according to a patent filing, the report said.   

Gen Z shoppers are gearing up to hit the stores for back-to-school purchases — and their top destination is Walmart.    Thirty-six percent of boys and girls cite Walmart as their first choice for back-to-school shopping, more than double that of any other retailer, according to a survey conducted by strategic retail advisory firm HRC Retail Advisory.    

Walmart is bringing 1,500 jobs to Florida as it continues to expand its e-commerce fulfillment network.  

Walmart’s e-commerce arm is making it easier for New Yorkers — especially those without a doorman — to get their deliveries.   Jet.com is teaming up with Latch, a provider of smart building access technologies, to integrate a reader-style electronic access product in 1,000 buildings in New York City. The installation, which is being paid for by the partners, will give more than 100,000 residents the ability to retrieve orders electronically, according to TechCrunch.  

Walmart has launched a digital platform to share tips and learnings that grew out of its five-year Women's Economic Empowerment Initiative.     As part of the ambitious initiative, which Walmart completed in January, the chain sourced $20 billion from Women Owned Businesses (WOBs) for its U.S. business, increased sourcing from WOBs internationally, and trained more than 1 million women worldwide.  

Walmart’s technology incubator — called Store No. 8 — is on the hunt for cutting edge virtual reality (VR) solutions.   

Walmart is making it easier for parents to stay on their game during this year's back-to-school shopping season.   According to the National Retail Federation, this year's season is expected to be a strong one and start early. Walmart is rolling out new services to help shoppers easily find what they are looking for — in stores and online.  

The queue-free checkout is dominating retail headlines these days. Amazon's recent deal with Whole Foods Market, when combined with the online giant's visionary Amazon Go concept, has everyone imagining a new and improved process across the organic chain’s hundreds of stores.