Commerce stories
Agency strategists are feeling more upbeat, even as AI, consolidation and tougher growth conditions raise pressure to prove their commercial worth.
Core India operations stayed profitable as the payments firm expanded overseas and pushed into AI, even after a USD $10 million net loss.
The move signals WPP's push to join up its creative agencies more tightly as clients demand fewer silos and more integrated services.
Merchants could gain more visibility in AI search and recommendation results as Commerce's new enrichment tools restructure catalogue data for machines.
The hire comes as clients seek advice on moving AI from trials into core operations and proving returns on investment.
Banks want to prevent AI-driven shopping from eroding customer control, privacy and security as agentic commerce moves closer to everyday payments.
Banks on Backbase's platform will gain access to Mastercard's AI tools as lenders race to turn experiments into production systems.
Businesses in the preview can use the model for real-time coding, support and trading tasks, with responses up to 14 times faster.
Customers can now use a single interface to query live commerce and order data, with model choice designed to reduce dependence on one AI provider.
Small service firms could get a single platform for websites, bookings, marketing and payments if the tie-up is rolled out as planned.
Trade customers can now order 45,000 pool and water products online as Waterco replaces phone and email purchasing with self-service tools.
The filing could open fresh branding options for businesses and creators if ICANN approves the first major expansion of internet suffixes since 2012.
Senior payments executives will weigh who carries risk when shoppers use AI assistants to start purchases but still finish them elsewhere.
Eligible firms will be able to link stablecoin balances to Visa cards in over 100 markets as StraitsX expands beyond Asia.
The shift towards agentic commerce could force merchants and payment providers to prove AI tools stayed within customers' agreed limits.
Retailers using the platform have reported lower violence rates, as the New Zealand-founded company expands across the US market.
The new tools could automate up to 80% of service workflows, letting retailers handle orders, returns and refunds without manual handoffs.
Merchants could cut payment processing costs by an average of 60% as Sionic pushes bank-to-bank checkout across Microsoft's cloud tools.
Regional trade messaging for ASEAN 2027 will be handled by a new agency team as Singapore prepares to lead the bloc's economic agenda.
The publisher is stepping up its digital push as Bruce Levine takes charge of technology and product to speed new audience services.
