Online shopping stories

Indosat’s AI spam shield blocked 2bn risky contacts in six months, averting scam losses of about USD $500m for Indonesian users.

Wishlist app Sortd rides holiday boom with AUD $8m in sales, 96% user growth and revenue up more than 600% across peak Q4 trading.

Affirm extends Wayfair buy now, pay later to UK and Canada, offering instalment plans on higher-ticket home purchases amid tighter scrutiny.

UK shoppers value accurate parcel tracking and honest delivery updates far more than rapid shipping promises, a new Locus survey suggests.

Criteo launches an AI-powered commerce service that plugs into shopping assistants, promising more relevant product picks from real purchase data.

Cost-of-living pressures are pushing Australians to swap traditional red envelopes for digital gift cards this Lunar New Year.

AI-powered tools are rapidly reshaping UK retail as most shoppers embrace chat-based assistants and retailers ramp up investment for 2026.

Loop integrates Sendcloud into Ship by Loop 2.0, giving Shopify merchants wider UK and EU carrier choice for simpler, label-free returns.

Self-gifting and friend-gifting are reshaping UK Valentine’s Day, lifting total spending to GBP £2.1 billion, Flowwow data shows.

Holiday refunds jumped 18.1% in 2025, with each USD $1 million in refunds costing retailers about USD $1.3 million once overheads are included.

Amazon, Temu and Shein are forcing Australian retailers to speed up delivery, fix fulfilment bottlenecks and rethink toughened returns.

Address validation on Shopify cuts failed deliveries, trims shipping costs and boosts loyalty by ensuring accurate, standardised customer data.

UK online parcels jumped 17% in late 2025 as pet care and beauty surged, even as fashion and homewares shipments slid, Scurri data shows.

E-commerce growth is shifting across Europe, with Central and Eastern Europe and the Nordics surging as returns and AI reshape online retail.

Shoppers are heading back to tech stores across Europe as complex, big-ticket gadgets push buyers towards in-person advice and demos.

AI-edited images are eroding trust in online marketplaces, with most UK shoppers blaming platforms for misleading or inconsistent visuals.

Cost-conscious Canadians now demand sharper prices, personalised tech and rock-solid data security before choosing where to shop.

Australians want high-tech retail but demand tighter data security and better value as apps, AR and digital tools reshape everyday shopping.

Shoppers turn to AI to find products, but 92% still demand reviews and real customer photos before finally clicking to buy.

Goddiva rolls out AI virtual try-on for VIPs, promising truer fit, fewer returns and a greener, more personalised occasionwear experience.