Alibaba.com has launched Alibaba Guaranteed, a service ensuring fixed prices, included shipping fees, and guaranteed delivery dates for cross-border trade. This aims to simplify the global sourcing process for SMBs, offering faster dispatch and robust after-sales services.

Swiggy Instamart launched a mango-scented ad in Times of India to enhance customer engagement. The campaign combines scent and visuals to make ordering mangoes irresistible. 800K copies circulated in Mumbai, drawing widespread acclaim.

Uber UK's advertising launches 'Sponsored Items' on Uber Eats. PepsiCo is among the first brands to use this feature, aiming to boost sales and gain consumer insights. Powered by Criteo, the feature is now in 12 markets, enhancing product visibility.

True Fit's new tool, Fit Hub, uses generative AI to help online shoppers find clothes that fit their body type. By analyzing size charts, descriptions, and reviews, it reduces return rates. Fit Hub is in beta and launches next month.

Douglas partners with Google Cloud to test a new AI Beauty Advisor chatbot. This chatbot provides personalized product recommendations and beauty tips. The current test phase is internal and focuses on improving customer experience.

Zara, owned by Inditex, is expanding its live shopping broadcasts to the US, UK, and Europe between August and October. This follows successful trials in China on Douyin, boosting sales through weekly shows since last November.

eBay launched an AI tool for background enhancement on June 5, 2024. The tool, available for iOS users in the U.S., U.K., and Germany, lets sellers replace image backgrounds with AI-generated ones. This feature helps improve photo quality and follows similar moves by Amazon and Google. Android rollout is planned soon.

Amazon's Project PI combines AI and computer vision to detect damaged items before shipping. This new tech operates in several North American warehouses and aims to expand. Human reviewers decide if flagged items are resold or donated.

Purple Dot raised €9.2M Series A led by OpenOcean, with investors Commerce Ventures and others. The funds will expand their pre-commerce platform. CEO Madeline Parra emphasizes the goal to sell all products, reducing waste and unsold inventory. Founded in 2020, Purple Dot processes millions in transactions monthly.

Zoovu enhances ecommerce by introducing tools for ADA and WCAG 2.1 compliance. These tools help brands create accessible shopping experiences, benefiting the 27% of the US population with accessibility challenges.

Sysco's new Mirakl-powered marketplace, announced on May 22, 2024, offers over 15,000 niche products. This initiative supports the Recipe for Growth strategy, enhancing customer choice and simplifying shopping.

Amazon is making over 1M deliveries using e-cargo bikes and foot in the UK. New micromobility hubs in cities like London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Belfast are part of a $300M investment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040.

Hy, a South Korean retail firm, will launch the Knowk food delivery app in June, offering free delivery services and a low commission rate of 5.8% for restaurants. The initiative aims to collaborate with local businesses and leverage Hy’s logistics network.

Levi Strauss & Co. teams with o9 Solutions to create a real-time data visibility supply chain system, reducing lead times and costs. The system launched with three modules and will expand with five more in 2024-2025.

John Lewis introduces the largest high-street menswear rental range in the UK. Powered by Hurr, it offers brands like Boss Tailoring and Charles Tyrwhitt, with prices starting at £40 for a 4-day rental. The global menswear rental market is set to reach £2.36B by 2027.

Amazon teams up with Lucky Supermarkets for same-day, 2-hour grocery delivery in select San Francisco Bay Area cities. Prime members receive free delivery on their first three orders of $10 or more. Shop at amazon.com/luckysupermarkets.

Hugo Boss XP, a new tech-based loyalty program, launches in the UK next month. It combines traditional loyalty features with blockchain and Web3 elements, allowing members to collect and trade NFTs. The program aims to enhance customer engagement and lifetime value.

LVMH strengthens its partnership with Alibaba to redefine luxury retail in China. Leveraging Alibaba's AI and cloud technologies, LVMH aims to enhance customer experiences and streamline operations. The partnership, starting in 2019, now covers over 30 brands and includes new AI capabilities like Qwen and Bailian.

Pepper, an e-commerce platform for food distributors, raised $30M in a Series B funding round led by ICONIQ Growth. The company aims to support small distributors with advanced tech, increasing sales by 23% and saving 10 hours per week per sales rep. Pepper's client base has doubled to 200 in a market of 25,000.

At Shopware's Community Day in Schöppingen on May 16, 2024, Co-CEO Sebastian Hamann revealed AI and 3D features. 1,500 attendees saw demos of the Scene Editor, AI Copilot, and Immersive Elements. New B2B tools like Sales Agent were also introduced to enhance sales processes.

BigCommerce launched an open-source Buyer Portal on May 7, 2024, allowing B2B brands to create tailored buyer experiences. This move aims to reduce development costs and time, offering streamlined services and faster time-to-market. The portal supports localized experiences and automates administrative processes.

Meta's enhanced generative AI tools now offer full image and text generation for advertisers. These features help businesses create creative variations and automate ad creation, improving performance. New text overlay and image expansion tools are also included.

AI companies in China, like Silicon Intelligence, offer digital avatars to help mourners talk to deceased loved ones. This technology has become more affordable, with prices dropping from $2,000 to a few hundred dollars. Ethical and emotional debates continue.

Just Eat has partnered with Pop Specs to deliver prescription eyewear in under 30 minutes across six UK cities. The partnership will expand to 30 stores by year-end, offering 80+ designs. This move follows Just Eat's ventures into health & beauty and toy deliveries.

BuyBay launches You Grade, a SaaS product for retailers to resell returned items in their own distribution centers. This software increases resale profitability and reduces CO2 emissions, extending product life by up to 80% of original value.

Reebok unveils an AI-driven fashion experience on Instagram called 'Reebok Impact.' Users can create custom digital sneakers by sending a photo via DM. This feature is free for up to four creations, usable in games like Fortnite and Roblox.

Poshmark launched "Promoted Closet," a tool for sellers to promote all listings at once. Using machine learning, it boosts items based on search terms. Sellers set budgets and are charged per click. Beta testers saw a 43% sales increase. Available now in the U.S.

eBay introduces a new "resell on eBay" feature integrated into Certilogo's smart labels, allowing users to list clothing with just a few clicks. Save The Duck is the first brand to pilot this feature starting May. This initiative aims to foster a pre-loved fashion marketplace and reduce landfill waste.

Google's Performance Max now aids sellers on platforms like Amazon by driving sales directly through online marketplaces, eliminating the need for individual websites or Merchant Center accounts. This service has launched in beta and is still evolving.

Frasers Group is rolling out a cutting-edge digital platform across Europe, enhancing their retail operations and online customer experience. Designed with top tech firms, the platform aims to improve shopping with new personalization features and efficient stock management.

TikTok's Pulse suite now includes Max Pulse, Pulse Lineups, and Pulse Premiere. These new offerings guarantee ads are placed next to trending, top 4% content. New partners like NHL and Paramount Global join for 2024.

Manchester-based Made With Intent secures €1.75M led by Mercuri for a new eCommerce platform. Aiming to boost user engagement and sales by understanding customer intent.

Airbnb launched 'Icons', offering exclusive experiences like a tequila tasting with Kevin Hart and a living room performance by Doja Cat. These unique events tap into the intersection of travel and pop culture, promising unforgettable memories.

Amazon discontinues its drone delivery service in Lockeford, CA, shifting focus to a new facility in Tolleson, AZ. The move aligns with its goals to integrate drones into its broader delivery network.

Following Amazon's step back from "Just Walk Out" tech, Aldi and Grabango test the Aldigo system in Aurora, IL. Cameras and AI monitor shopping without changing store layout, marking a significant shift in grocery shopping.

JD.com introduces an AI clone of CEO Liu Qiangdong for livestream shopping, powered by ChatRhino, aiming to share lifestyle insights.

Bolt Food announces open-source 'Unshakeable Bag' innovation, ensuring spill-free deliveries and leveraging gyroscope technology. A game changer for food delivery!

Uber Eats introduces a short-form video feature in select cities, enhancing customer engagement and restaurant visibility. Planned for global expansion, the feature showcases dishes, influencing user choices.

Kea's AI technology allows customers to place food orders over the phone without the hassle of apps. Busy customers, like parents on school runs, benefit from this quick, 30-second service.

eBay introduced a 'shop the look' feature in its iOS app, using AI to offer personalized fashion suggestions based on user shopping patterns.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy commits to further reducing fulfillment costs in 2024, leveraging advanced robotics and optimized delivery networks.

SingleInterface, known for empowering brands with digital marketing and ecommerce, bagged $30M from Asia Partners and PayPal Ventures. Aiming to enhance global presence and AI offerings, it's a game-changer for multi-location businesses.

Flip's innovative funding of $144M sets it against e-commerce giants like Amazon and TikTok, banking on user-generated content for a fresh online shopping experience. The move highlights the shift towards more engaging, community-driven platforms.

Kingfisher plc extends its collaboration with Virtualstock for 3 years to scale B&Q's online offerings, emphasizing innovation and customer-centric solutions in the home improvement sector.

As the Universal Analytics sunset looms in July, Google nudges for a shift to Google Analytics 4. The end of UA could spell disaster for unprepared campaigns, with data deletion and measurement halts.

In a groundbreaking six-month pilot in Pennsylvania, DoorDash collaborates with Stride to offer Dashers savings, health, and vacation benefits. CEO Tony Xu highlights the move towards a more flexible and secure gig economy.

Gopuff’s new Fam20 option promises deliveries in 20 minutes or less for a mere $1.49, marking a significant move in the instant commerce space. With pilot tests showing an average delivery time of 17 minutes, Gopuff is redefining fast service.

Uber Eats, in collaboration with Waymo, introduces driverless food delivery in Phoenix's Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler. This innovative move includes local favorites like Princess Pita and Filiberto’s, enhancing customer and merchant experiences.

Instacart and AWG amplify their alliance, integrating AI smart carts into 2,300+ member stores. These carts revolutionize shopping with instant item recognition and seamless checkouts.

After navigating bankruptcy, Buybuy Baby, previously under Bed Bath & Beyond, is carving out a niche against giants like Amazon with its expertly curated baby products and omnichannel approach, offering a mix of digital and physical shopping experiences.