Retail Stories

Canadian Stories

Retail stories

Human analysts still handle 46% of brand interactions

Brands are still relying on people for nearly half of social interactions, highlighting the limits of automation in customer-facing moderation and replies.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last week

Global Stories

Retail stories

Data Protection

Agentic AI-facilitated spending to hit USD $3.35tn by 2030

Household budgets are set to be reshaped as AI agents steer purchases worth USD $3.35tn by 2030, WARC and PHD say.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Last week

Digital Transformation

2026 holiday predictions: The evolving customer journey

Rising fraud, shipping costs and AI-driven shopping are set to squeeze retailers' margins this holiday season unless customer data improves.

By Edmund Ng • 4 min read • Last week

Software-as-a-Service

Therabody unifies global operations on Oracle NetSuite

The wellness brand has cut technology costs by 45% after replacing disconnected systems with a single cloud platform across finance and supply chain.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Last week

Data Protection

AI leaders urge pragmatic adoption beyond the hype

Adoption is stalling where firms lack clean data, strong workflows and guardrails, raising risks in retail, healthcare and IT.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • This month

Manufacturing

AI investments face tougher scrutiny over returns & risk

Boards are demanding clearer strategy and proof of savings as manufacturers and retailers move AI from pilots into core operations.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 5 min read • This month

Data Protection

AI day prompts focus on data, fraud & infrastructure

Boards are being urged to fix data quality, fraud controls and infrastructure before AI adoption numbers start to matter.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • This month

Stories from Other Regions

Retail stories

Customer Experience

UK shoppers face more stock shortages, survey finds

Supply chain disruption tied to Middle East tensions is leaving 54% of UK shoppers facing poorer shelf availability, a survey found.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last week

Data Protection

UK firms embed AI in workflows but keep human control

Most UK enterprises now see AI boosting productivity, but 78% are keeping human approval points and guardrails in place.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last week

Software-as-a-Service

Prophet grows 309% as brands rehearse ad decisions

Marketers are under pressure to prove returns sooner, driving demand for tools that test ad spending before budgets are committed.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last week

Fintech

Afterpay finds more Kiwis earn from multiple sources

New Zealand retailers may need to rethink payday-driven sales as 40% of employed workers now draw income from multiple sources, Afterpay found.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week

Data Analytics

ATO tax debts lift insolvency risk for Australian firms

More than 35,000 Australian businesses now face heightened failure risk as ATO debts above AUD $100,000 coincide with rising defaults.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 5 min read • Last week

Digital Transformation

Australian finance leaders push AI agents despite gaps

Governance is lagging as Australian finance chiefs race to deploy AI agents, with many under pressure to prove ROI and explain errors.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Last week

Customer Experience

AliExpress boosts air conditioner stock as heatwave bites

Heat-driven demand has lifted cooling appliance sales 382% year on year, as rival sites report stock shortages and buyers seek fast delivery.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last week

Data Protection

UK data leaders face rising AI & governance pressure

Rising AI and governance demands are leaving many senior data executives overstretched, with 40% saying they are close to burnout.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last week

Customer Experience

Australians want local groceries, Shopfully survey finds

Price and convenience still shape Australian grocery baskets, despite nearly half of shoppers saying local suppliers matter most.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last week

Privileged Access Management

Cyber resilience priorities diverge sharply across sectors

Critical infrastructure and healthcare lag peers on basic cyber controls, leaving essential services more exposed than financial firms and technology groups.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • This month