Bringoz Industry Weekly 12/10

est Buy is increasingly relying on its distribution centers to deliver orders to customers. Amazon is piloting a new grocery subscription service for Prime members. Aurora plans to launch driverless delivery. Read about these stories and more in our weekly industry news roundup.

Best Buy leaned less on its store fleet and more on its distribution centers in the third quarter to ship orders directly to customers. By reducing the shipping volume load at the majority of its stores, Best Buy employees can focus on customer-facing services like in-store sales and order pickups. The company’s distribution centers are also evolving to attract more sales by housing virtual stores, which are staffed with employees to provide guidance to customers on their online shopping journey. Read more.

Amazon is piloting a new grocery subscription for members of its Prime program. Prime members will have the option to pay $9.99 per month to get unlimited grocery delivery from Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh on orders more than $35. They’ll also have access to 30-minute pickup on orders of any size. The company has tweaked its fee-free grocery delivery threshold in recent years amid mounting costs. Read more.

Aurora Innovation is moving toward delivering commercial freight on tractor-trailers using autonomous technology, targeting a launch by the end of next year. As many as 20 Aurora autonomous trucks could begin regularly delivering freight without a human operator aboard by the end of 2024. Aurora already delivers over 75 commercial loads per week for pilot customers, using human operators onboard. Read more.

The holiday season is a challenging time for retailers as they navigate increased demand, strive to meet customer expectations, and adapt to the pressure to ensure timely deliveries. Speedy delivery has become a must-have for retailers and there are several ways they can optimize their logistics operations. Here’s a look at some essential strategies for retailers to optimize logistics during the holiday season. Read more.

The holiday shopping landscape has evolved significantly in recent years, and one of the driving forces behind this transformation is mobile commerce. Shoppers are increasingly turning to their smartphones and tablets to shop for gifts, decorations, and more during the holiday season. Here’s a look at how mobile commerce is changing the holiday shopping landscape, why it’s becoming the go-to choice for consumers, and how retailers are adapting. Read more.

Shopping during the holiday season has become more convenient, enjoyable, and efficient than ever before. New technologies enable retailers to streamline the shopping process, increase customer engagement, and personalize the customer experience. These tools can improve customer satisfaction and build customer loyalty during the holiday season. Here’s a look at some new technologies that are transforming the holiday shopping experience. Read more.

Retailers are increasingly turning to technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to meet consumers’ needs efficiently and effectively. From personalizing shopping experiences to increasing fulfillment speed, retailers are leveraging AI’s power to understand and serve their consumers in innovative ways. Here’s a look at how companies are harnessing AI to understand and respond to consumer preferences, boost sales, and build lasting customer relationships. Read more.