Artificial Intelligence

New York City -- Amazon is testing robotic delivery lockers that people can use to receive items they order from the website, according to published reports.

Wired magazine reported online that the company was conducting the tests in Seattle and New York at Rite Aid and 7-Eleven stores, as well as other locations. The new service would allow people to select a locker location for delivery and then go to retrieve their items automatically using a six-digit code.

Columbus, Ohio -- Facility Source, a global provider of facility maintenance and management solutions to retailers, has received an investment of $10 million from BMO Capital Markets’ Mezzanine Fund.

This infusion of capital will allow FacilitySource to fund growth and strategic capital expenditures, including expansion of its offices in North America and Europe, continued investment in its software applications to support retail facility management solutions, as well as pursue potential strategic acquisitions.

Armonk, N.Y. -- Jewelry will be one of the brightest categories for U.S. retailers this holiday season, according to a new analytics-based forecast by IBM. Jewelry sales are set to hit $2.6 billion In November, up 7.7% over the year-ago period, IBM reported, and $5.4 billion in December, up 4% over last year.

Portland, Ore. -- Ikea officially plugged-in two Blink Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations at its Portland, Ore., store as part of its partnership with ECOtality, a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies.

The initiative is the first such project for Ikea in the United States. Similar installations aa planned at eight other Ikea stores in the Western United States.

Schaumberg, Ill. -- Motorola Solutions on Monday announced the first tablet computer built from the ground up specifically for enterprise users, the Android-based ET1. With the first solutions focused on retail, the new tablet will be available in fourth quarter 2011.

Similar in appearance to a consumer tablet, the new ET1 is designed to leverage the sleek design and user experience of a tablet with the applications, durability, security, device management and lifecycle-support needs that are specific to the retail environment.

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.