Instagram is reportedly working on a new feature that would let users create a customized artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot. The feature from the social media platform aims to provide users with a personalized AI chatbot that can engage in conversations, answer questions and offer support,...
The CEO of Starbucks could reportedly face tough questions from investors at the coffee chain’s upcoming meeting. This week marks Starbucks’ investor day, the first such event since Laxman Narasimhan became chief executive, as Bloomberg News reported Wednesday (Nov. 1). “Laxman has talked about ‘re-founding’ the business,” Sharon...
Buying auto parts, historically speaking, has been about as brick and mortar a process as one might find anywhere. Buying the parts themselves tends to be an urgent consideration: Something’s wrong with the car or the truck, a repair’s necessary to keep things moving, literally....
Arts and crafts retailer Michaels has officially launched its online marketplace. MakerPlace is billed as the only online marketplace that offers handmade goods, classes led by artists, how-to guides and access to Michaels’ products in a single platform, according to a Wednesday (Nov. 1) press...
Google has begun the rollout of Product Studio, a set of artificial intelligence (AI) tools that help merchants create and manage product imagery. The tools, whose upcoming launch was initially announced in May, began rolling out Wednesday (Nov. 1) and will be available in Merchant...
PublicSquare, a self-described marketplace for “patriotic businesses and consumers,” has launched an eCommerce site. The site, which rolled out Wednesday (Nov. 1), is aimed at offering small businesses a way to boost sales while giving consumers “a seamless transaction experience that aligns with their values,”...
A generational change is coming for the B2B landscape. But from employees to ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems, it doesn’t have to be out with the old and in with the new in one fell swoop. Rather, a winning combination of both innovative and existing...
The debate over interchange is now fully underway (again) on Capitol Hill. The question remains as to what happens with rewards programs — the sweeteners, you might call them — that are among the favored reasons for consumers, especially older consumers, to keep using their...
People want to make conscious choices and contribute to the success of local and independent enterprises. This inclination to “shop small” is driven by various factors, including a desire to nurture the local economy, promote unique and artisanal products, and build a stronger sense of...
