Social commerce stories

Blackhawk Network has unveiled a Digital Wallet API that lets brands pool gift cards, refunds, loyalty rewards and promo credit into one spendable balance.

Ecommerce in 2026: AI shoppers, social sales and returns pressure push retailers to rethink data, compliance and cross-border growth.

Shoppers increasingly prefer human-led social posts over AI-generated material, with Gen Z driving brands towards micro-influencers and niche creators.

PayPal brings payment links into Canva for 265 million users, letting creators, entrepreneurs and small firms sell from designs with QR codes and checkouts.

Bazaarvoice unveils patent-pending API to help brands and retailers surface verified reviews in AI-led shopping and search results.

TikTok Shop and Bazaarvoice link up to push verified customer feedback, photos and videos onto product pages as US sales surge.

Pattern appoints ex-Amazon eCommerce Specialist David Jennison as Europe MD to spearhead marketplace-driven growth and AI-powered expansion.

Revuze now tracks TikTok Shop sales and creator performance, unifying commerce data with customer feedback in its market platform.

Ecommpay launches a free fraud guide for online retailers as UK payment fraud hits GBP £1.17 billion and AI-driven scams rapidly escalate.

YouTube sets 2026 agenda with tougher child safety tools, bigger creator payouts and expanded AI across production and viewing.

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

Exactly.com predicts AI agents, social commerce and omnichannel retail will redefine trust, convenience and control in 2026 shopping.

AI agents, circular retail and tighter rules will upend shopping by 2026, Akeneo warns, as poor product data threatens brand visibility.

Social media fuelled a Black Friday boom in the UK, as Rithum data showed global social sales soaring 152% and online spend up 27%.

AI is set to reshape eCommerce by 2026, powering discovery, emotional journeys and flexible subscriptions built on cleaner product data.

Gen Z now trust online creators over tech brands, reshaping how phones, wearables and smart home devices are discovered and bought.

By 2026, AI, social commerce and immersive physical retail experiences will transform how consumers interact with brands both online and in stores.

Q4 says that as AI reshapes CFO roles, finance chiefs are facing detailed questions on AI strategies, capital allocation, and future compliance costs.

In 2026, logistics will pivot towards proven robotics, practical AI, cloud resilience, and enhanced visibility to tackle rising complexity and costs.

AI, social media, and flexible payments like BNPL will shape festive shopping as 69% of consumers trust AI to assist their Black Friday and holiday purchases.