Artificial Intelligence

Franklin, Tenn. -- Tablets and smartphones are redefining the retail shopping experience and will be a $5 billion market per year by 2015, according to a new research report by IHL Group.

The study, Mobility: A Gutenberg Moment for Retail, A Threat to POS, found that the release of the Apple iPad and Amazon Kindle Fire have created price points and form factors for mobile devices that are finally allowing retailers to arm their associates with tools that will transform the in-store experience.

New York City -- Innovation in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning will be driven by cost savings from more efficient energy use and pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent from Pike Research.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores is in search of a new head of its global ecommerce and global sourcing businesses now that Eduardo Castro-Wright announced his retirement effective July 1, 2012. Walmart said it intends to name new leadership for these businesses by the end of January, after which Castro-Wright will assist in the transition.

San Diego -- IBM on Tuesday at its Smarter Commerce Global Summit announced three new cloud and on-premise offerings designed to help organizations respond automatically to shifting consumer business trends.

New York City -- Duane Reade said Monday it has added Smith Electric Vehicles' Newton zero-emission, all-electric commercial trucks to its delivery fleet.

With the addition of these medium-duty trucks, Duane Reade is the first retail pharmacy in the United States to choose fleet electrification through a pilot program with Smith Electric Vehicles, a global supplier of zero-emission, all-electric commercial vehicles.

By Richard Hearn, CEO, Crown Partners

BRISBANE, Calif. — Wal-Mart Stores marked a major investment in social media and marketing with the announcement Wednesday that its technology unit @WalmartLabs has acquired mobile and social advertising firm OneRiot.