Retail Technology News: October update
Alexa for Shopping has new capabilities for users.
Retailers in October 2026 focused technology efforts in areas including voice-activated shopping, hiring, and finding items on store shelves.
Here are some of the most noteworthy and innovative technology stories as reported by Chain Store Age in October, starting with the most recent.
- Amazon adds more than 100 shopping functions to Alexa voice feature Amazon continues expanding the capabilities of its "Alexa for Shopping" voice commerce feature. The online retailer is now adding more than 100 new shopping actions to Alexa for Shopping, including list and registry editing and subscription management.
- Urban Outfitters Inc. boosts product development visibility with AI The parent company of Urban Outfitters and several other Gen Z-focused apparel and accessories banners is expanding its use of artificial intelligence-based product lifecycle management (PLM) technology.
- Gap streamlines hiring with AI tool As the holiday hiring rush begins, Gap Inc. is piloting an artificial intelligence solution to guide job candidates and speed up hiring decisions. Since June, Gap has been piloting an AI tool called “Bridgette” which is designed to enhance the hiring process for both applicants and managers at more than 100 stores and six regional distribution centers.
- Wonder scales mid-Atlantic Grubhub robotic delivery Wonder, the delivery-focused restaurant company founded by former Walmart executive Marc Lore, is expanding its partnership with autonomous delivery robot provider Avride to offer robotic delivery across Jersey City and Hoboken, N.J.; Arlington County, Va.; and Philadelphia via its Grubhub subsidiary.
- Bad Ass Coffee invests in unified technology stack for franchisees Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is deploying a new unified technology suite as it continues its nationwide expansion. The coffee chain has selected PAR Technology Corporation’s unified suite of products to support its next phase of franchise growth to create a fully-connected technology foundation with PAR Intelligence, PAR’s agentic intelligence layer, built in.
- Ahold Delhaize USA sites, apps return after breach Ahold Delhaize USA’s five U.S. regional grocery banners were back to operating their e-commerce sites and apps following a cyberattack earlier in October. Since fall 2025, all five sites have been running on the same proprietary e-commerce platform.
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- Big Y Foods rolls out in-store kiosks with Instacart Big Y Foods is offering a range of new options for ordering food both in its stores and online in partnership with Instacart. The grocer is deploying new in-store kiosks and online ordering supported by the Instacart FoodStorm order management system. Big Y customers can customize made-to-order meals at the kiosks, place made-to-order and catering orders online for pickup and prepay, or order delivery through the Instacart marketplace.
- Best Buy piloting new digital gaming destination Best Buy Co. Inc. is beta testing an online hub for gamers. The online destination, known as Best Buy Gamers, is available in beta on the Best Buy e-commerce site and mobile app. It includes special gaming reviews, articles and videos from gaming content site IGN. Visitors can find and purchase gaming products and gear, with special offers for members of the My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total rewards program tiers.
- Target, Amazon launch interactive holiday toy catalogs — in print and digitally Amazon and Target are both turning the traditional holiday toy catalog on its head with interactive resources that promote products and entertain users. The two retail giants are releasing kids’ catalogs focused on toys to receive as holiday presents, with print, digital and audio features.
- Walmart's new shopping tool connects digital shelf lighting to customer app With Walmart’s new "Shop to Light" tool, shoppers can use the Walmart app to ask for help finding an item. The request tells the store system which product location to light up, and a small LED flashes on the shelf label to help the customer spot it. The feature uses the LED already built into Walmart’s digital shelf labels, which the chain is rolling out across all its U.S. stores.
