Some of the headlines in today’s podcast:

• Retailers are offering early holiday deals with Amazon holding its Prime Early Access Sale, while Walmart is hosting its "Rollbacks and More" saving event.
• Walmart is diving into virtual spaces with the launch of two Roblox experiences, a new digital collectible platform, known as AutoT, in collaboration with NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association), and a new Be Your Own Model virtual try-on function.
• Amazon is debuting what it calls the “Amazonmetaworld,” a metaverse of digital gamification experiences, in five Indian cities during September 2022.
• Instacart is continuing to not only expand its services for retailers but to also connect them in ways that reflect evolving shopper demand and new operational realities. It rolls out a suite of connected technologies, including scan-and-go checkout and electronic shelf labels, that extends the e-commerce company’s digital footprint into in-store shopping.
• Grubhub and Gopuff are piloting a collaboration that combines inventory and fulfillment capabilities.