Wal-Mart Seeks To Challenge Amazon With Improved Online Store

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT), one of the most valuable names in worldwide retail, is seeking to increase its reach in the online retail sphere, with an enhanced search experience developed inside the company. The new software, called Polaris, after the North Star, was developed by @WalmartLabs, and signals a new effort by the company to improve the service it offers to online customers.

The engine replaces an older model developed by Endeca Technologies Inc., a company which was acquired by Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ:ORCL) in November of last year. The new engine...