Canadian grocer Sobeys has reached a deal with Britain's Ocado to use its technology to boost the store's online shopping capabilities. As part of the deal, Ocado will help Sobeys develop a customer fulfillment center in the Toronto area and build out a better website and mobile service.

To replicate the process of pointing and clicking online, mobile retail technology company NewStore wants to place QR codes in brick-and-mortar stores to use for both in-store and online purchases. The consumer points their camera at a code in the store, and the corresponding item is added to an online shopping cart and paid for through Apple Pay or PayPal.

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Central

It's time for brands and retailers to put social photos and videos to work in the online shopping journey. Social media's role in the way that consumers interact with each other, as well as the brands they love, is more important than ever before.

Nothing demonstrates the increased importance of social media in our everyday lives more than the pure volume of photo and video content consumers are posting on it. In fact, the average consumer devotes roughly two hours per day to social media and that time is increasingly spent viewing visual media (photos and videos). For more information and to register click here.

Retail is in the midst of a transformation that has brought both big challenges and a bright future, NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay writes. While many stores closed last year, many others opened, and retailers are figuring out the best ways to combine in-store and online shopping, he writes.