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Mastercard tests first AI agent-led payments in NZ
Fintech

Mastercard tests first AI agent-led payments in NZ

Mastercard and Westpac have trialled New Zealand's first fully authenticated AI agent-led payments for cinema tickets and hotel bookings.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • Tue, 17th Feb 2026

Global Stories

Commerce stories

eCommerce AI spending rises as leaders fear readiness gap
Data Protection

eCommerce AI spending rises as leaders fear readiness gap

Despite higher budgets, 73% of eCommerce leaders say their firms are not ready for wider AI use, survey data show.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Wed, 29th Apr 2026
Adobe names winners of 2026 Experience Maker Awards
Digital Transformation

Adobe names winners of 2026 Experience Maker Awards

Customer engagement gains, including a USD $1 billion revenue impact at Lenovo, topped Adobe’s 2026 Experience Maker Awards shortlist.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Wed, 22nd Apr 2026
Adobe launches CX Enterprise to unify AI customer workflows
Digital Transformation

Adobe launches CX Enterprise to unify AI customer workflows

Brands could gain a single governed layer for AI customer work, as Adobe links agents with partner tools across the full lifecycle.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Tue, 21st Apr 2026
Outpayce & Riskified launch airline fraud protection
Data Analytics

Outpayce & Riskified launch airline fraud protection

Airlines could cut chargebacks and manual review costs as Outpayce adds Riskified's fraud screening to its payments platform worldwide.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Thu, 9th Apr 2026
Akamai appoints Sean Li to lead Asia Pacific sales
Digital Transformation

Akamai appoints Sean Li to lead Asia Pacific sales

The move underlines Akamai's push to expand cloud, security and AI sales in a region where data rules and latency requirements vary widely.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Thu, 9th Apr 2026
OpenAI raises USD $122 billion in record AI funding
Software-as-a-Service

OpenAI raises USD $122 billion in record AI funding

Investor appetite for AI remains intense as OpenAI's new cash haul lifts its valuation to USD $852 billion and deepens its compute push.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 7th Apr 2026
Lessons from the frontlines: A woman's journey in payments and leadership
Fintech

Lessons from the frontlines: A woman's journey in payments and leadership

From hyperinflation in Sofia to leading fintech in New York, a CFO shows how resilience and risk‑taking can redefine women's careers.

By Aglika Dotcheva • 5 min read • Tue, 3rd Mar 2026
Rainforest adds PayPal to unify vertical software checkout
Crypto

Rainforest adds PayPal to unify vertical software checkout

Rainforest adds PayPal, Venmo and PayPal Pay Later to its unified checkout for vertical software, aiming to shift users from cash and cheques.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Tue, 3rd Mar 2026
Kentico reveals Site of the Year 2025 award winners
Software-as-a-Service

Kentico reveals Site of the Year 2025 award winners

Kentico crowns global winners of its Site of the Year 2025 awards, spotlighting standout Xperience-powered digital projects across sectors.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Fri, 27th Feb 2026
SAP rebrands Emarsys as Engagement Cloud for AI CX
Software-as-a-Service

SAP rebrands Emarsys as Engagement Cloud for AI CX

SAP renames Emarsys as Engagement Cloud, adding an enterprise edition to unify governed, AI-driven customer interactions across systems.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Sat, 21st Feb 2026
Wesfarmers, Microsoft deepen AI & cloud retail pact
Data Analytics

Wesfarmers, Microsoft deepen AI & cloud retail pact

Wesfarmers is deepening its AI and cloud pact with Microsoft to roll out Copilot tools, agents and data platforms across its retail brands.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Fri, 13th Feb 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Commerce stories

Visa expands AI payments testing to Canadian issuers
Data Protection

Visa expands AI payments testing to Canadian issuers

Canadian banks will test how AI agents can initiate card payments as Visa prepares issuers for new controls over consent, fraud and liability.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month
SAP finds UK brands overestimate customer experience
Customer Relationship Management

SAP finds UK brands overestimate customer experience

SAP warns UK brands drastically overrate their customer experience as consumers report disjointed, impersonal service despite AI investment.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Wed, 25th Mar 2026
Ecommpay shortlisted for three Retail Systems Awards
Fintech

Ecommpay shortlisted for three Retail Systems Awards

Ecommpay has been shortlisted in three Retail Systems Awards, spotlighting its payments innovation and in-house fraud prevention tools.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Fri, 20th Mar 2026
Co-op extends VoCoVo headset rollout to 2,300 stores
Customer Experience

Co-op extends VoCoVo headset rollout to 2,300 stores

Co-op signs five-year VoCoVo deal to roll out upgraded S5 Pro headsets to 2,300 UK stores, boosting safety and service on the shop floor.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Wed, 18th Mar 2026
Conviction 2026 to link Vietnam to global crypto scene
Digital Transformation

Conviction 2026 to link Vietnam to global crypto scene

Conviction 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City aims to shift Vietnam's thriving crypto scene towards institutional finance and global policy alignment.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Tue, 10th Feb 2026