1301 articles
Cross-border payments have become a core need for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), but providers face a serious loyalty challenge. More than one-quarter of active cross-border businesses are willing to switch providers, with settlement speed, currency coverage and localized support emerging as decisive competitive factors.
TikTok Shop has shifted from a peripheral channel to a core channel receiving formal budget allocations from brands, alongside Amazon and Walmart. Large brands are increasing investment through agencies, highlighting significant improvements in the platform's logistics and conversion capabilities.
Amazon is opening its AI shopping assistant technology to external retailers, aiming to improve shopping experiences and conversion efficiency across the industry through technology.
Cross-border payments have become a core operational need for small businesses. Competition among providers is shifting from traditional bank incumbency to settlement speed and localized support, increasing the risk of customer churn.
Logistics provider ENorth Logistics is expanding its North American supply-chain network, offering flexible warehousing and fulfillment support to growing cross-border sellers without minimum volume requirements.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has formally launched an investigation into eBay's $1.2 billion acquisition of fashion resale platform Depop. The regulator will assess whether the merger could substantially lessen competition in the UK market. The CMA plans to announce its Phase 1 review decision by August 6, 2026. The move reflects continued regulatory attention to concentration and competition in the secondhand ecommerce market.
Amazon has signed a multibillion-dollar long-term agreement with specialty glass manufacturer Corning to provide critical fiber-optic and connectivity technologies for its rapidly expanding data centers. The deal secures hardware supplies for Amazon’s cloud infrastructure and will support local employment through expanded production in North Carolina. For sellers, it reflects Amazon’s continued heavy investment in AI and cloud services, further strengthening its underlying capabilities as a global e-commerce and cloud-services giant.
Amazon and fiber-optics giant Corning have reached a large-scale supply agreement to support infrastructure for Amazon’s AI data centers. The move strengthens Amazon’s cloud infrastructure strategy, creates significant employment through expansion in North Carolina, and highlights its continued investment in the AI computing race.
Amid concerns that AI could lead to layoffs, Walmart has stated that AI will serve as an employee-support tool. It has also launched an AI certification program for all employees to improve productivity through technology rather than simply replace human labor.
Amazon and Corning have entered into a multiyear, multibillion-dollar partnership to produce optical fiber for data centers. The move strengthens Amazon’s U.S. supply chain and reflects its continued investment in infrastructure, indicating further reinforcement of the platform’s underlying technology support for cross-border sellers that rely on Amazon’s cloud services and logistics network.
Amazon has launched an AI-generated product image feature in its shopping app. When a user’s search description is inaccurate, the system automatically generates multiple visual options for the user to select, helping match more precise search results.
AI e-commerce startup Wassist has completed a $1.1 million seed round. The company provides a no-code platform that helps merchants deploy AI agents on WhatsApp for automated customer service, product recommendations, and payment processing.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has formally launched an antitrust investigation into eBay’s $1.2 billion acquisition of second-hand fashion platform Depop. The regulator will assess whether the merger could substantially reduce competition in the UK market. The investigation could delay approval or lead to additional conditions on the deal.
At its annual employee meeting, Walmart emphasized that AI would serve as a tool to improve efficiency rather than as a means of cutting jobs. The company has launched a nationwide AI skills certification program to empower frontline employees and address concerns that automation could cause job losses.
Amazon and materials-science giant Corning reached a multibillion-dollar long-term cooperation agreement to strengthen infrastructure. The project is expected to create 1,000 jobs in North Carolina, further consolidating Amazon’s position in logistics and technology infrastructure.
eBay announced the appointment of Brian Sharples to its board of directors. The move is intended to bring in an experienced industry expert and strengthen decision-making on ecommerce strategy, technological innovation, and market competition as global ecommerce competition intensifies.
A recent report says the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) now depends less on policymaking and more on operational mechanisms such as payments and logistics. The convenience and settlement speed of cross-border payments will directly determine the commercial viability of cross-border ecommerce in African markets.
At Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam, the financial industry focused on regional payment interoperability and digital-asset compliance. The industry is shifting from conceptual technologies toward deploying automated financial operating systems to address global macroeconomic and regulatory pressures.
Newegg has scheduled its annual summer sale, FantasTech, for June 22–28. To improve conversion, the platform has relaunched its price protection program, allowing consumers to order before the promotion and automatically receive the difference if prices fall during the event.
Walmart is expanding its express-delivery ecosystem by integrating Subway food delivery into its app. Consumers can combine restaurant meals with grocery and daily necessities in one order, with delivery available in as little as 30 minutes. The move aims to increase user retention through a one-stop shopping experience.