It will still be years before swarms of drones operated by companies such as Amazon.com Inc.’s Prime Air, Alphabet Inc. offshoot Wing and United Parcel Service Inc. buzz over neighborhoods dropping off packages. But the new rules provide an important platform for the industry to move toward those goals.

The company’s new MSC MillMax digital program is designed to engage customers by making it easier for them to set up complicated milling operations and reduce manufacturing costs. The program is helping MSC grow in a multibillion-dollar market.

Without a sound returns strategy, retailers risk eroding customer loyalty, suffering financial losses and contributing to environmental problems as many returns end up in landfills.

"Where is my order" calls decrease 60% after UrbanStems proactively alerts customer of shipment delays thanks to new software.

Tapping into our collective desire to belong is a powerful and sustainable psychological tool—and marketing approach—for retailers.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says the Slack Connect digital communications application will integrate with the Salesforce suite of cloud-based ecommerce, marketing, sales, service and analytics software to help companies better serve their customers. Salesforce has agreed to acquire Slack for $27.7 billion.

While necessity is the mother of invention, virtual appointments are one instance where the service will likely see long-term adoption, writes Lauren Freedman, senior consumer insights analyst at Digital Commerce 360.

The entrepreneur and CEO who made Zappos.com a stand-out retailer known for setting new levels of customer service leaves a legacy as a trend-setting pioneer of ecommerce. He died Nov. 27.

If you use ecommerce returns data to track the profiles of customers who return most frequently, you might be surprised by their profitability.