Data & Analytics

New York -- So, how did Amazon make out with its 20th anniversary super-sale event on Wednesday?

Not surprisingly, the online giant wasn’t giving out many details, beyond saying that members shopped at record rates during its first ever “Prime Day.” A different story played out on social media, with consumers expressing frustration and disappointments about the quality of the offered deals.

It’s no secret that in order to create great customer experiences and maximize sales, it’s imperative to have a deep understanding of the motivations that drive your customers’ buying behaviors and preferences. This is true across the entire path to purchase — from advertising to point of sale and beyond. So far, this is “motherhood and apple pie” to any marketer.

New York -- Google made two announcements on Wednesday, both of which will impact retail.

In the first, the search engine giant said that the “buy” buttons it announced earlier this year will be deployed on a test basis in the next few weeks. The feature, called Purchases on Google, will allow consumers to purchase products directly from ads in select promoted mobile search ads.

eBay is selling its enterprise business as it continues streamline operations in anticipation of its separation from PayPal Holdings Inc. on Friday.

In announcing its second quarter results, eBay said it was selling its eBay Enterprise division, which helps retailers enhance their online presence and e-commerce capabilities, to a consortium led by private equity firm Permira for $925 million.

While the social buzz regarding Amazon Prime Day on Wednesday, July 15, has been not so prime, early reports indicate the event was a success sales-wise.

Staples Inc. has unveiled several enhancements to its e-commerce operations, including new looks for its websites and streamlined checkout features.

The retailer says the refresh of Staples.com features faster performance, a new interface designed for easier navigation and expanded personalization. A leading edge business to business site, the redesigned StaplesAdvantage.com has an updated look and feel with a new homepage dashboard, streamlined browsing and checkout.

New York - Online beauty and grooming subscription retailer Birchbox is the latest brand to dip into virtual reality.

New York -- A former chief information officer at Walmart is joining retail technology firm Newgistics.

Gene Wojciechowski has been named CIO of Newgistics, where he will be tasked with providing executive leadership and strategic direction for all of Newgistics’ core technology operations.