Retail stories

Akeneo launches an AI‑driven Winter Release to power “agentic commerce”, speeding product data from enrichment to activation for AI buyers.

Summa Equity has bought workforce safety provider Peoplesafe from ECI Partners to back its tech-enabled resilience strategy and expansion.

Five9 and Google Cloud unveil a joint AI-powered CX platform, unifying contact centre workflows and customer data across all channels.

AI-powered eCommerce delivery will top the agenda at London’s TDC 2026, featuring Mary Portas, Arka Dhar and closing keynote Richard Ayoade.

StarHub has launched a compact fast-service store at Suntec City, targeting office workers and city shoppers seeking quicker, human-led support.

Diligent snaps up AI-native vendor risk specialist 3rdRisk to sharpen third-party oversight and speed audit readiness for clients.

Google launches Universal Commerce Protocol to link AI shopping agents, retailers and payments in a new ‘agentic commerce’ push.

Over half of firms cannot hire the data and AI talent they need, with mid-sized businesses and industrial sectors hit hardest, Emergn warns.

SaleCycle snaps up French personalisation specialist BEYABLE to create a unified European eCommerce marketing and conversion platform.

Ant International taps AI-driven fintech to power over 2 billion cross-border payments and turbocharge SME growth in emerging markets.

Fluent Commerce unveils Fluent Connect, using AI to slash retail system integration times from months to days across key platforms.

UK start-up Rove has launched an AI market intelligence platform promising faster, cheaper global expansion for consumer brands.

Widdop launches its first direct-to-consumer eCommerce site for Softies plush toys, marking a major digital shift for the 140-year-old brand.

UK Super Saturday footfall slid 6.9% year on year as cautious shoppers delayed spending, waiting for deeper pre- and post-Christmas deals.

Google Cloud unveils Gemini CX AI platform to link retail and restaurant shopping, service and ordering into one joined-up experience.

APAC retailers are rapidly adopting Agentic AI to tackle mounting supply-chain volatility and tighten inventory control by 2026.

Retailers urged to brace for early-year spike in chargebacks as mobile shopping and buy now, pay later fuel record US holiday spend.

Columbus deepens Infor alliance to drive UK roll-out of M3 CloudSuites, backed by fresh hiring and a plan to double customers by 2027.

AI notebook prices across Europe have slumped by a third, pushing the tech into the mainstream as retailers juggle volume against margins.

Younger shoppers embrace digital wallets and self-checkouts as older customers stick with cards and staff, widening a payments generation gap.