Artificial Intelligence

Stop & Shop to launch checkout app that puts items in electronic shopping cart
New York City -- Three Stop & Shop stores in the Boston area on Monday will launch a software app from ModivMedia that allow customers with iPhones to scan grocery items and add them to an electronic shopping cart, The Boston Globe reported.
Macy’s increasing its use of LEDs and solar power, will switch to eco-friendly hangers
Cincinnati -- Macy's announced that it is taking new steps to become a more sustainable company.

"Our company has embraced the principles of sustainability, and we continue to take actions that are tangible, measurable and meaningful in reducing our use of scarce resources and improving the efficiency of our business in serving customer needs," said Tom Cole, Macy's chief administrative officer. "We have made significant progress over the past several years, and we continue to move forward with new ideas in 2011 and beyond."

Hot Topic, Santa Monica, Calif.

Hot Topic has always strived to reflect the tastes, interests and attitudes of its customers and the newest evolution of its prototype is no exception. The store, in Santa Monica, Calif., and designed in collaboration with JGA, Southfield, Mich., is sleek and transparent. It mirrors the world of Hot Topic’s tech-savvy customers by seamlessly blending social and technological components into the shopping experience. The end result is a highly interactive environment; from access to online music-listening to stations where shoppers can co-create their own designs for t-shirts.
Walmart social commerce gets "Kosmix" intervention

BRISBANE, Calif. -- Walmart announced that it has acquired the services of Kosmix, a Mountain View, Calif.-based company to grow its multi-channel strategy.
Wal-Mart acquiring social media firm to rev social e-commerce

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores said Monday it is acquiring Mountain View, Calif.-based social media company Kosmix to help strengthen its social and mobile commerce.

Wal-Mart, which has not disclosed the terms of the transaction, said it is interested in a social media technology platform Kosmix has developed that filters and organizes content in social networks to connect people with information that may be of interest to them.
Delhaize implements Trintech solution toward process efficiency

Dallas -- Finance solution-provider Trintech announced that international food retailer Delhaize Group has implemented its AssureNET GL software for financial process compliance.

AssureNET GL is a component of Trintech's Unity platform, a suite of modular software that empowers companies to automate their Last Mile of Finance to increase efficiency, improve visibility, shorten cycle times, lower costs, and reduce risk.
Five ideas about the intersection of retail and mobile

By John Bajorek, [email protected]
Shop.org co-founder takes expertise to Monetate

PHILADELPHIA -- Elaine Rubin, a retail industry vet who co-founded and chaired Shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation, is taking her expertise in Internet retailing to Monetate, a leading independent provider of testing, targeting, and personalization for websites. Rubin joins Monetate as a member of the company's strategic advisory board.
Focus on: Human Resources
Connecting With Customers Across Channels
Amazon offers cheaper Kindle with side of ads

SEATTLE — Amazon announced that it is now offering a new Kindle for $114, compared with $139 for its standard model and $189 for the 3G version. The catch is that the $114 Kindle requires the user to view special offers and sponsored products on screensavers and on the bottom of the home screen.
Walgreens installs electric vehicle charging stations

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens helped launch the nation’s first privately funded and comprehensive electric vehicle charging network with an initial station at its drug store at Belt Line Road and Montfort Drive in Dallas. The retailer is working with NRG Energy to install high-powered rapid charging eVgosm Freedom Stations at 18 locations across the Dallas/Fort Worth area,