Retail stories

Castles Technology has opened a Melbourne hub as its Pacific headquarters, targeting fast-growing Android payments across Australia and NZ.

UiPath and Talkdesk are teaming up to fuse agentic AI, streamlining document-heavy healthcare contact centre workflows and cutting errors.

Intel launches a Canada laptop guide from CAD $399.99 to CAD $2,199.99, bundling select gaming models with a free blockbuster PC title.

Gen Z’s ‘Returniture’ habit of sending back bulky furniture bought online is soaring, leaving UK retailers to shoulder rising costs and complexity.

Yorkshire’s Apollo3D launches Infinity Virtual Tours, turning Matterport scans into guided, data-rich journeys for retail, venues and estates teams.

Infobip logs 12.2 billion Cyber Week interactions as retailers drive a 277% Black Friday surge in rich messaging such as RCS and WhatsApp.

One in three Australians are ready to let AI shop on their behalf, but fears over fraud, control and bad purchases still loom large.

Melbourne-based Bodd raises AUD $15 million to fuel global rollout of its 3D body scanning tech across defence, aviation and healthcare.

By 2026, AI, social commerce and immersive physical retail experiences will transform how consumers interact with brands both online and in stores.

AI and predictive analytics are set to transform retail supply chains in 2026, enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency.

84% of Asia-Pacific shoppers will pay more for brands they trust with personal data, highlighting growing concern over digital privacy and customer experience.

By 2026, AI will transform customer service with firms mandated to disclose AI use, boost transparency, and balance trust and security in interactions.

Over two-thirds of retailers expect agentic AI to boost efficiency by 2026, but only 8% have fully integrated it into their operations so far.

UK shoppers favour AI for delivery tracking and returns but insist it should support, not replace, human customer service roles in retail.

Black Friday exposed how rising demand strains UK retailers' customer service, revealing challenges caused by complex systems and ageing processes.

Retailers in Australia and New Zealand must act like technology firms, using real-time data and strong security to thrive during peak shopping seasons.

Topsort secures investment from W23, backed by major grocers including Tesco, to expand its AI-driven retail media platform for global grocery retailers.

Around 60% of UK adults plan to shop this Black Friday, as retailers brace for rising cybercrime targeting fast-paced online sales and AI-driven bots.

UK shoppers and retailers brace for a spike in cyberattacks this Black Friday as criminals exploit rising online spending with advanced scams.

UK SMEs are increasingly using fast-track finance to meet surging Black Friday demand, with applications rising nearly a third ahead of the festive season.