customer experience

Walmart's chief executive says the retailer will not raise prices for individual customers based on their shopping histories, addressing concerns about the electronic shelf labels it has been rolling out in stores. The pledge is meant to reassure shoppers that the digital price tags will not enable personalized or surveillance-style pricing, even as other retailers experiment with dynamic pricing.

Major retailers are reversing course on self-checkout, scaling back or removing the machines from stores. The shift follows widespread shopper frustration with malfunctioning scanners, constant staff interventions, accusations of theft, and research suggesting the kiosks drive up losses without clear cost savings. Social media users have long complained about the checkout experience, and those discussions are now being cited as evidence of why chains like Walmart, Target and Dollar General are rethinking the technology.

Walmart is investing in employee training programmes while introducing artificial intelligence-powered shopping tools for customers. The retailer is pairing workforce upskilling with new AI features aimed at personalising and streamlining the shopping experience, positioning itself as a technology-forward company in the competitive retail sector.

Lowe's has entered the drone delivery market, becoming one of the latest major US retailers to experiment with aerial delivery of home improvement products to customers. Details on partners, launch locations and timelines remain limited, but the move follows a broader retail push toward drone logistics as companies seek faster last-mile delivery options.

Lowe's Companies has started a pilot program offering drone delivery with a roughly 20-minute turnaround for customers. The home improvement retailer is testing the service as part of a broader push by retailers to speed up last-mile delivery using drones. The move puts Lowe's alongside other major chains experimenting with aerial delivery to cut delivery times and costs.

McDonald's is exploring how to build an in-store retail media business, turning its restaurants and digital screens into an advertising channel for brands. Industry analysts note the fast-food chain faces the same questions as other retailers: how to prove in-store ads drive sales, measure their effectiveness, and scale the offering without disrupting the customer experience.

Huntington National Bank has combined its marketing and digital functions as part of a growth push, hiring former USAA executive Ameesh Vakharia to lead the effort. He is tasked with aligning the regional bank's brand experience with its digital product delivery. The move signals the bank's intent to compete more closely with larger institutions on customer experience and digital banking.

Payments company Elavon Europe has released what it calls the ultimate guide to retail, a resource aimed at retailers navigating the sector. The guide has drawn significant attention, generating over 350,000 engagements as businesses look for insight on payments, customer experience and retail trends.

Convenience retail is increasingly framed as a technology business, with stores functioning as platforms for digital payments, loyalty systems, delivery apps and in-store automation. The claim, raised by convenience industry outlet NACS, reflects how retailers now compete on software and data as much as on products, reshaping operations and customer experience across the sector.

Chain Store Age has published its September retail technology news roundup. The update collects the month's key developments in retail tech, covering tools and systems that stores use for operations, customer experience and sales. Retailers and industry watchers use these monthly roundups to track which technologies are gaining traction across the sector.

AT&T has offered customers a workaround for cellular problems affecting iPhones, but reports say the suggested fix does not appear to resolve the issue. Users continue to experience connectivity problems, and the carrier's proposed solution is being met with skepticism as no confirmed resolution has emerged yet.

Meta has released its Muse Gadgets as open source, allowing developers worldwide to independently build custom AI peripherals. The move, reported by Chinese tech outlet 36Kr, positions the tools as a way for the broader developer community to experiment with and create their own AI hardware without waiting for first-party devices. Reaction so far is limited, with little public discussion or engagement recorded yet.

Retailers are being drawn into a rapid and turbulent shift toward humanoid robots, with the technology moving from experiment to storefront operations. Industry commentary points to a bumpy transition as stores weigh automation of stocking, customer service and warehouse work against high costs, immature hardware and uncertain returns.

Bloomingdale's is rolling out a new creative strategy aimed at bringing shoppers back to its stores as foot traffic and sales remain under pressure. The department store chain, owned by Macy's Inc., is experimenting with fresh approaches to win back customers at a time when US retailers are competing hard for in-person spending and struggling to reverse the shift toward online shopping.

Digital-first brands are expanding into physical retail, opening stores after building their businesses online. The shift reflects a broader trend in the retail sector, as e-commerce-native companies seek in-person customer experiences, brand visibility and new revenue channels. Commentators note that physical locations can complement rather than compete with online sales, though costs and real estate risks remain key challenges for these formerly online-only businesses.

Beyond Yoga's chief marketing officer is discussing how the activewear brand uses fitness classes as a retail opportunity, converting in-studio experiences into product sales and brand loyalty. The strategy reflects a broader retail trend of blending wellness events with commerce to reach customers directly and build community around athleisure brands.

Travel industry commentators are highlighting a notable concession from technology executives: that human travel advisors remain central to delivering smooth, hassle-free travel experiences. The discussion, reported by Travel Weekly, suggests that despite advances in booking technology and automation, tech leaders now acknowledge advisors' expertise and personal service as an essential ingredient in seamless journeys, reigniting debate over technology versus human expertise in travel.

Retailers are being surveyed on which generative AI tools they actually put into production in ecommerce during 2026. Discussion centers on practical deployments rather than pilots: product recommendations, automated content creation, and customer service automation are the main areas cited. The conversation is prompting retailers and analysts to assess how far AI has moved from experimentation into core shopping experiences and what results it is delivering.

Retailers are investing in immersive in-store experiences as a way to compete with the growth of online shopping. The strategy aims to give customers reasons to visit physical stores by offering interactive, engaging environments that e-commerce cannot replicate. Coverage highlights how physical retail is repositioning itself around experience rather than convenience as shopping habits continue to shift online.

NRF's Big Show, the retail industry's largest annual convention, is drawing attention with the theme that retail is hitting 'Fast Forward'. The National Retail Federation's event gathers retailers, technology vendors and analysts in the United States to showcase trends such as automation, AI and new customer experiences. Industry writers are framing attendance as essential for keeping up with how quickly retail is changing.

NICE Ltd., the Israel-based software company traded on Nasdaq under the ticker NICE, is appearing on financial watch lists as investors track its stock price, quotes and latest news. The company, known for customer experience and analytics software, is seeing interest from traders checking its recent price movements and company developments.

Event Marketer has published a piece outlining three insights on experience intelligence and how businesses can measure its impact. The article addresses how brands track the value of experiential marketing and translate customer experiences into measurable business results. It is aimed at marketers looking for practical frameworks to justify experience-led investments.

A security practitioner who ran company-wide and customer-facing cyber awareness programmes has described how the work was organised, with the first weeks of each month devoted to specific training sessions and the latter part of the month used for simulated phishing campaigns. The account offers a practical look at how organisations try to prepare staff to recognise phishing attempts before real attacks succeed.

Ukrainian postal and delivery company Nova Poshta says its systems are under a DDoS attack, warning customers that services may experience minor temporary disruptions. The company reported the incident publicly, saying it is working to keep operations running. Cyberattacks on Ukrainian companies and infrastructure have been common since Russia's full-scale invasion.

Athletech News asks whether the fitness industry, which has built its business model around selling experiences such as boutique classes and premium gyms, can now successfully monetize measurable results for customers. The question points to growing interest in outcome-based pricing, where consumers pay for demonstrated health improvements rather than access or amenities, and the challenges of proving and delivering such results.

Artificial intelligence is transforming Mexico's retail sector, with companies increasingly adopting data analytics and automation to improve operations, forecast demand, and personalize customer experiences. Industry coverage highlights how retailers are using AI tools to streamline supply chains and stay competitive in a rapidly digitizing market.