Home delivery is shaping up to be the sticky widget in retailers' toolboxes this holiday season - and one that could affect customer loyalty for a long time to come - as half of all consumers won't give merchants a second chance following a disappointing online experience.

Walmart has been privately testing drones inside facilities and is now seeking permission from federal regulators to test them outdoors for various uses, including home delivery.

XPO Logistics Inc., a provider of transportation and logistics services in North America, has acquired Optima Service Solutions, LLC, a non-asset-based specialist in last-mile logistics for retailers and manufacturers in the U.S.

XPO Logistics Inc. has agreed to acquire all of the common stock of 3PD Inc., reportedly North America's largest non-asset, third-party provider of heavy goods, last-mile logistics, in a transaction valued at approximately $365m.

Online shoppers often abandon their carts when they see the cost of shipping, a response that has led many online sellers to offer shipping for free or a low, flat-rate.