Verizon will preload Snapchat on 5G phones to widen reach

The companies will develop AR technology and exclusive rewards offers for Snapchat users to draw buzz around the high-speed mobile service.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 22, 2019

PayPal buys rewards app Honey for $4B in e-commerce push

As the payment company's largest acquisition to date, the deal adds product discovery to its platforms and expands merchant services.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 21, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Multichannel Optimization

There’s greater urgency around the need to optimize multichannel marketing efforts and unite channels including retail media, social media and others.

By Marketing Dive staff

Sonos snaps up privacy-focused voice startup Snips for $37.5M

By localizing the processing to individual devices instead of the cloud, Snips may limit user data collection while still providing personalized experiences.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 21, 2019

Chipotle rolls out Alexa voice ordering

Customers can reorder meals within seconds using the new feature that's part of Chipotle's larger digital sales platform, which is approaching $1 billion.

By Julie Littman • Nov. 21, 2019

Jostens debuts NFC-enabled class rings for school champions

The Champ DX Championship Ring preserves videos and photos that can be accessed via a free mobile app developed with Galatea.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 20, 2019

Adidas' AR activation drops shoppers into a trash-filled virtual ocean

Immersing app users in a littered ocean around the holidays highlights environmental issues and shows how the brand turns plastic waste into shoes.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 20, 2019

Behind the scenes: Data and technology bring food product R&D into the 21st century

With CPG companies under pressure to develop products faster and stretch their spending, Conagra, Mars Wrigley and Ferrara are rethinking the decades-old way of creating new items for consumers.

By Christopher Doering • Nov. 20, 2019

Snapchat's Discover tab extends ads up to 3 minutes

Xfinity and Nissan tested the new longer format that is unskippable ​in the first six seconds and then switches to being skippable for the rest.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 19, 2019

7-Eleven's delivery app now handles Alexa, Google Assistant orders

New convenience-minded features arrive months after the chain debuted delivery hot spots, mobile checkout and AR loyalty tie-ins.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 19, 2019

Microsoft will shutter Cortana voice app in several countries

At the end of January, the software giant will focus on integrating the virtual assistant with its suite of productivity apps.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 19, 2019

KFC's CTO started as an intern. Now he leads its tech strategy

Chris Caldwell has had a front-row seat to Yum Brands' modernization, from rolling out Microsoft Exchange Servers to AI-enabled drive-thrus.  

By Samantha Schwartz • Nov. 19, 2019

YouTube readies beauty influencer contest series with James Charles

Reality show competitions are another sign of YouTube's strategy shift to original, personality-driven content.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 18, 2019

Aveda taps AI for virtual hair color sampling

The Estée Lauder brand's mobile experience features 64 hair colors and a "color melt" effect for another 30 shades.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 18, 2019

Walmart links mobile Scan & Shop with printed holiday toy catalog

Browsers can scan pages with their smartphone and add items to their online cart or wish list.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 18, 2019

Google will restrict contextual data in real-time ad bids

Changes will reduce the possibility that advertisers can associate ad identifiers that track individuals with Google's context categories.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 18, 2019

Dunkin' launches 1st online pop-up shop for holidays

The Dunkin' Shop, which sells limited-edition products like an electric guitar and one-piece pajamas, quickly sold out of a few items. 

By Barry Levine • Nov. 15, 2019

TikTok opens door to social commerce with test of shoppable video links

Footage shows how links embedded in posts can go directly to an influencer's curated Amazon page.

By Peter Adams • Nov. 15, 2019

Amazon tops list of most valuable US brands at record $335B, new ranking says

The e-commerce giant overtook Apple and Google to gain the top spot while Instagram saw the biggest jump, WPP and Kantar found.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 15, 2019

Will DTC Friday be the 'front page of cool retail' for independent brands?

Agency partner Ben Hordell breaks down how the Nov. 15 shopping event could create a hub for digital brands and serve as a marketing runway into Cyber Monday.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • Nov. 15, 2019

Walmart's self-serve ad platform arriving early next year, Business Insider reports

The launch, a shot across the bow of Amazon's growing ad business, could appeal to advertisers looking for digital advertising alternatives.

By Barry Levine • Nov. 15, 2019

Wayfair introduces mobile app with visual tech tools

New camera-based features can help shoppers visualize furniture in their homes prior to purchase.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 14, 2019

App users embrace subscriptions, cutting acquisition costs 58%, study says

In contrast, the cost of driving one-time app purchases jumped 60%.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 14, 2019

Nestlé's new ad-tech team aims for 'third way' as agency vs. in-house debate continues

The Global Digital Media Center of Competencies brings together digital talent from four ad holding companies, but is led by Nestlé marketers.

By Peter Adams • Nov. 14, 2019

Amazon shipped 3x more smart speakers than Google in Q3

Prime Day and back-to-school campaigns powered the e-commerce giant's 66% year-over-year growth, Canalys found.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 14, 2019

Nike to stop selling on Amazon

A company spokesperson said the brand was focused on "elevating consumer experiences through more direct, personal relationships."

By Cara Salpini • Nov. 13, 2019