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04

Klarna’s AI Assistant Now Offers Chat-Based Shopping Experience

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Klarna has added a chat-based shopping experience to its artificial intelligence (AI) assistant designed to help consumers shop. The company has also added more features to the AI assistant, which is powered by OpenAI, Klarna said in a…

03

Amazon Adds ‘Grade and Resell’ Option for Sellers’ Product Returns

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Amazon now offers the independent sellers using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) in the United States a new option for managing product returns: Grade and Resell. This optional program, which was previously available only to retail brands,…

02

FedEx Tamps Down 2025 Outlook Despite Digital Transformation Efforts

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In some ways, FedEx is a bellwether of global trade and logistics. After all, global growth, inflation, fuel costs, interest rates, supply chain disruptions and competition are all elements that affect FedEx’s revenue, margins and…

Nike CEO John Donahoe to Retire, Succeeded by Longtime Executive Elliott Hill

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The Nike board of directors has announced a leadership transition that will see Elliott Hill, the company’s former president for consumer and marketplace, who retired in 2020, return to the company as president and CEO. The board also said…

01

Affirm CEO Says Retailers Aim to Attract Holiday Shoppers With BNPL

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Retailers are increasingly interested in offering buy now, pay later (BNPL) options to consumers, Affirm CEO Max Levchin said Thursday (Sept. 19). More shoppers are using BNPL to finance their spending, so retailers are willing to absorb…

Nvidia AI Platform Aims at Telecom Market

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Nvidia’s new AI Aerial platform could boost eCommerce and supply chains by transforming cellular networks into smart systems. The move signals a shift in how wireless networks operate, with far-reaching implications for retail and…

Google Facilitates the Use of Passkeys on Desktop

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Users can now save passkeys to Google Password Manager on desktop, in addition to Android devices. This new capability allows users to sync passkeys securely across all their devices, Chirag Desai, product manager, Chrome at Google, wrote…

Thursday, Sep 19

00

Apple Joins California’s Mobile Driver’s License Pilot Program

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Some California residents can now add their driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet. This capability will be rolled out as part of the California DMV’s mobile driver’s license (mDL) pilot program, which launched in 2023 and is…

Airbnb: Long-Term Stays Present ‘Huge Growth Opportunity’

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With some cities suffering housing shortages, Airbnb is eyeing long-term stays. The vacation rental company is focused on expanding its long-term rental business, meaning stays of 28 days or more, CEO Brian Chesky said at a travel…

Forward Financing Gains $450 Million Credit Facility for Revenue-Based Financing

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Forward Financing has increased its existing $250 million credit facility to $450 million to support continued growth of its revenue-based financing for small businesses across the United States. “This significant expansion of our credit…

23

Adyen Offers Cinemark Moviegoers More Payment Options

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Adyen said in a Thursday (Sept. 19) press release that it is now the official payments platform for theater chain Cinemark. The collaboration offers moviegoers increased payment options and ease of use, per the release. Adyen is powering…

Report: Disney Cuts Ties With Slack After Data Heist

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Disney reportedly plans to stop using workplace collaboration platform Slack following a recent data breach. Chief financial officer Hugh Johnston announced the change this week, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Thursday (Sept. 19),…

Embedded AI Could Reshape Commerce With Practical Solutions, Experts Say

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Forget robot cashiers and drone deliveries. The real artificial intelligence (AI) revolution in retail and logistics is happening behind the scenes, and it’s all about making shopping smoother and shipping brighter. From predicting what…

Macquarie to Pay $79.8 Million to Settle SEC Fraud Charges

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (MIMBT) will pay $79.8 million to settle fraud charges. The regulator charged the registered investment adviser with overvaluing about 4,900…

22

Ascenda Adds Uber to Grow Rewards Network

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Rewards network Ascenda says it is getting bigger with the help of Uber. The company announced Thursday (Sept. 19) that it was expanding its network to let its FinTech and banking clients’ customers redeem their reward points in…

This Week in B2B: Realizing Operational Certainty Through Payments Innovation

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The B2B landscape is full of what buyers and suppliers don’t know. In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, B2B businesses across the transaction frequently find themselves navigating uncertainty. Whether it’s the hidden costs of…

CFPB Aims to Apply Privacy Protections to Data Brokers

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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will soon propose a rule that would apply privacy protections to data brokers, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said Thursday (Sept. 19). In remarks prepared for delivery at the Aspen Institute,…

Will Walmart’s New Bank Payment Option be an Instant Hit With Consumers?

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Walmart’s scale and installed base of loyal customers may move the needle on instant payments in general, and instant bank payments specifically. PYMNTS Intelligence estimated earlier this year that as many as 30% of U.S. consumers have…

21

Capmont Launches $111 Million Fund for B2B Tech Startups

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Munich-based venture capital (VC) firm Capmont Technology has reportedly launched a $111 million fund. The company, which has raised $334 million since its founding in 2016, focuses on B2B tech startups from late seed to the Series B stage…

Yonder Raises $31 Million to Expand Credit Card Outside UK

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Yonder has raised 23.4 million pounds (about $31.1 million) to expand its credit card designed to help cardholders build good credit habits while earning rewards. The London-based company will use the new funding to grow its team, launch…

20

Cardless Enters Small Business Space With Alibaba Credit Card Partnership

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Co-branded credit card FinTech Cardless is entering the small business space. The move is designed to offer small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) financial products and rewards designed to improve their financial stability, the San…

Darden Restaurants Faces Pressure to Improve Speed Amid Declining Sales

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In an increasingly fast-paced dining landscape, Darden Restaurants is under pressure to improve operational efficiency across its diverse portfolio, which includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and fine dining establishments like The…

FCA Head Nikhil Rathi Says AI Has Benefits and Risks for Financial Inclusion

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The hyper-personalization of insurance enabled by artificial intelligence could benefit some customers but render others “uninsurable,” Nikhil Rathi, CEO of the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said Thursday (Sept. 19).…

Mastercard and Safaricom Team on Cross-Border Payments in Kenya

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Mastercard has launched a partnership with East African telecom Safaricom. The collaboration, announced in a news release Thursday (Sept. 19), is designed to boost the adoption of payment acceptance and cross-border remittance services in…

19

Amazon and Walmart Add Membership Value to Deepen Loyalty

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As retail giants Amazon and Walmart race to capture consumers’ online shopping spend, both aim to sweeten the deal for members of their paid subscriptions to drive loyalty and engagement. Amazon, for its part, is adding more offerings that…

TD Bank Executive Raymond Chun to Succeed CEO Bharat Masrani

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TD Bank Group President and CEO Bharat Masrani will retire April 10, and will be succeeded by Raymond Chun, who is currently group head, Candian personal banking. Masrani has been CEO for more than a decade and has been with the bank for…

Walmart Reportedly Teams With Fiserv on Instant Bank Payments

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Walmart is reportedly enhancing its pay-by-bank offering via a partnership with Fiserv. The retailer began offering pay-by-bank with Walmart Pay earlier this year, Bloomberg reported Thursday (Sept. 19). But those transactions, processed…

HubSpot Taps AI to Personalize Campaigns as Marketers Adopt Tech

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The marketing technology sector is shifting, with companies racing to integrate artificial intelligence (AI). HubSpot’s recent unveiling of ‘Breeze,’ an AI-powered platform, exemplifies this trend. Digital channels are increasingly…

Global Embrace of eInvoicing Targets Fraud, Improves Supply Chain Dynamics

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Businesses want to be paid in a timely manner. Governments want tax revenue. The advantages of cutting down on paper — and, specifically, paper invoices — can improve supply chain dynamics across any number of B2B verticals. Automating…

18

How AI and Blockchain Innovations Are Reshaping Cross-Border Commerce

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The bigger the connected economy gets, the smaller the effort it takes to join. In today’s increasingly interconnected world, cross-border commerce is no longer a fringe activity confined to multinationals. Small- to medium-sized…