Digital commerce stories

UK shoppers spent a record GBP £26.9bn online over Christmas 2025, as mobile purchases surged and AI-driven referrals leapt from 2024.

Google has launched an open Universal Commerce Protocol to standardise AI shopping flows across search, apps, merchants and payments.

eDesk names Gareth Cummings as CEO, tasking the AI veteran with leading an ‘AI-first’ expansion drive across EMEA and North America.

Check Point backs Google Cloud tools to close ASEAN’s ‘cloud gap’, promising in-band, AI-driven security without slowing digital growth.

BioCatch warns AI shopping agents will turbocharge online fraud, urging banks and retailers to distinguish helpful bots from criminal misuse.

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

AI data management is set to surge to USD $239.15bn by 2034 as cloud, streaming data and governance needs reshape enterprise data strategy.

Chargebacks surge after record online holiday sales, with USD $181 billion in returns putting retailers’ first-quarter profits at risk.

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

Ant backs Google’s new Universal Commerce Protocol to standardise how AI agents handle shopping, payments and post-purchase support.

Adobe says generative AI referrals to retailers jumped nearly 700% over the 2025 holidays, driving longer visits and stronger conversions.

Salesforce launches Agentforce 360 retail tools to unify AI across marketing, eCommerce and service, promising smoother shopper journeys.

AI is fuelling a boom in solo UK “Founder + AI” ventures as entrepreneurs favour lean, automated operations over hiring staff.

Talkdesk unveils Commerce Orchestration and Consumer Goods Experience Cloud to coordinate AI-driven retail journeys end to end.

Datec pushes all-paper eComPack to cut plastic, speed warehouse packing and appeal to eco-conscious UK eCommerce customers.

Loop Returns warns UK brands that neglected international returns risk eroding margins and loyalty as global eCommerce hits USD $6.3 trillion.

Criteo says agentic AI will add a powerful new eCommerce layer, reshaping search, retail assistants and LLM ad models without replacing shops.

Spreetail debuts True Ads causal AI tool to slash wasted eCommerce marketplace ad spend by up to 50% and boost incremental sales.

Black Friday still delivered the peak online surge, but AI-driven search stretched shopping demand across a longer November window.

Mid-market retailers are losing billions to increasingly sophisticated fraud, as outdated defences and lax checks leave gaping security holes.