Amazon Expected to Surpass Walmart as America's Largest Retailer

Recent reports and statistical analysis have reported that Amazon will surpass Walmart in total merchandise sales in the US. Besides, Walmart is growing its sales volume by more than 20 percent every year. An April report from e-commerce data company Edge reported that Amazon wouldn't pass Walmart until 2025. But J.P. Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth thinks Amazon will pass Walmart in US sales by the end of next year.

Amazon currently holds a market share of approximately 40 percent of all online sales in the US, which puts its gross merchandise volume to around $327 billion. Also, Amazon has a "small" physical retail operation that's brought in over $15 billion in revenue over the last four quarters. This makes the total retail volume around $340 billion. In contrast, Walmart US and Sam's Club generated a combined income of $439 billion over the last four quarters. Walmart also operates a third-party merchant marketplace.

So, as of now, Amazon is still about $100 billion behind Walmart. That's a big gap to make up in just seven quarters. But there are slight chances that Amazon's gross merchandise volume, excluding its physical stores, will climb to $377 billion this year and reach $457 billion in 2022. Henceforth, there is still a lot of room for e-commerce to take a share of total retail sales, which will lead to sustainable double-digit growth.

 

 

Microsoft Reveals New Xbox Wireless Controllers, Space Jam 2

Microsoft has unleashed its most anticipated Xbox wireless controller—'Space Jam 2: A New Legacy', and it will be available by July. Space Jam 2 is a limited-edition set of Xbox Wireless Controllers primarily based on the Looney Tunes film, which will be available before the film's premiere. According to Xbox, the all-new wireless controller will support iOS devices that will be introduced in the future.

The controller is powered by four AA batteries which last for up to 40 hours. Space Jam: A New Legacy will also be available for early access for players who have a Game Pass, according to Xbox. A New Legacy of Space Jam will be available in three types of Xbox Wireless Controllers: Tune Squad, Server-verse, and Goon Squad. The company has stated that by July 8, all three versions will be available for $69.99 each.

Customized controllers also cost $69.99, which is $10 more than the standard controllers.  The orders will be sent 28 days after they are placed. And the service for the new Space Jam 2 is currently available in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The controller also works with Windows 10 PCs and iOS and Android devices.

 

 

Rockwell Automation Successfully Acquires Plex Systems to Expand Cloud Offering

Rockwell Automation has completed the acquisition of Plex Systems, which is a leading cloud-native manufacturing platform. Rockwell Automation has agreed to acquire Plex for $2.22 billion in cash. In addition, both the companies have agreed to provide a modern and robust infrastructure for cloud-native platforms. With this deal, both the firms will expand their cloud-based market worldwide.

Plex will offer a single-instance, multi-tenant SaaS manufacturing platform, including advanced manufacturing execution systems, quality, and supply chain management capabilities. The company has around 700 customers and manages more than 8 billion transactions per day. Its software capabilities will be further differentiated by Rockwell Automation's global market access, turning real-time data into actionable insights.

Also, Plex's platform will help its customers to connect, automate, track, and analyze their operations and connected supply chains. The acquisition will be a combination of cash and short-term and long-term debt. It is reported that the acquisition is expected to close in Rockwell Automation's fiscal fourth quarter. As a part of this acquisition, Rockwell Automation will add more than 500 new employees to design, operate, and maintain production automation and management systems.

 

 

Microsoft Updates Windows to Version 11

Microsoft is all set to launch its most anticipated and much-awaited updated version of the operating system for PCs - Windows 11 in an online event. During the event, the Redmond-based company will launch the successor to Windows 10, which was launched back in 2015. Windows 11 is set to bring an upgraded Start Menu, a new look for the taskbar, and many other changes.

Windows 11 is also expected to come as a free upgrade to Windows 10. The company has stated that it will also be available as a free upgrade to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. Windows 11 is expected to be available to Windows 10 users soon after its launch and announcement. The Windows 11 event from Microsoft will commence today at 11 am ET (8:30 pm IST) and will be live-streamed.

Interested people can watch the live stream from the Windows event page on the official Microsoft website. Microsoft has already teased a "new version of Windows" without confirming the name. The company recently has released a video teaser with the new startup sound, a part of the next-generation Windows. It is also said that the new PC operating system will come with a unique design.

 

Microsoft Joins Apple and Other Tech Giants in Exclusive $2 Trillion Club

Microsoft Corporation has scripted its name in the history books as the second US public company to reach a $2 trillion market value, in cloud computing and enterprise software will expand further in a post-coronavirus world. Its shares rose as much as 1.2 per cent in New York which was enough for the software company to join Apple Inc. as one of only two companies that is trading at a lofty value before closing pennies short of the mark at $265.51.

Microsoft has gained 19 percent so far this year, outperforming Apple and Amazon.com Inc. The company is expecting for a long-term growth for both earnings and revenue, and expansion in areas like machine learning and cloud computing. Its third-quarter results, released in late April, topped expectations that demonstrated strong growth across its business segments.

Microsoft is now focusing to become the largest seller of cloud-computing software, counting both its infrastructure and Office application cloud units. It is also the only one of the biggest U.S. technology companies that has so far evaded the recent wave of scrutiny from increasingly active American antitrust regulators by giving it a freer hand in both acquisitions and product expansion.