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Ivo raises USD $55 million to grow AI contract tools
Digital Transformation

Ivo raises USD $55 million to grow AI contract tools

AI contract software startup Ivo secures USD $55 million Series B to speed contract review, as revenue surges 500% and UK expansion looms.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Wed, 21st Jan 2026
Google unveils open UCP standard for AI-driven shopping
Customer Experience

Google unveils open UCP standard for AI-driven shopping

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

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 20th Jan 2026
Google unveils AI shopping protocol & brand agents
Customer Experience

Google unveils AI shopping protocol & brand agents

Google launches a Universal Commerce Protocol and Business Agent tools as it bets on AI agents to drive the next era of online shopping.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Thu, 15th Jan 2026
Widdop launches first Softies direct-to-consumer site
Digital Transformation

Widdop launches first Softies direct-to-consumer site

Widdop launches its first direct-to-consumer eCommerce site for Softies plush toys, marking a major digital shift for the 140-year-old brand.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Mon, 12th Jan 2026
Brands shift to centralised platforms as channels grow
Digital Transformation

Brands shift to centralised platforms as channels grow

Brands are ditching fragmented martech stacks for centralised platforms as AI, richer messaging and costs expose the limits of siloed channels.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Sat, 10th Jan 2026
Linux Foundation launches Agentic AI open standards hub
Security Information and Event Management

Linux Foundation launches Agentic AI open standards hub

Linux Foundation unites Anthropic, Block and OpenAI in new Agentic AI hub to standardise tools and protocols for autonomous AI agents.

By Sean Mitchell • 6 min read • Fri, 9th Jan 2026
Study finds value for money eclipses speed & price
Customer Experience

Study finds value for money eclipses speed & price

Value for money drives online customer sentiment three times more than price, delivery speed or product quality, a study of reviews finds.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Thu, 8th Jan 2026
Freshworks adds AI tools to streamline customer service
Software-as-a-Service

Freshworks adds AI tools to streamline customer service

Freshworks rolls out new AI tools for Freshdesk to unify channels, cut agent drudgery and boost resolution speeds for service teams.

By Kaleah Salmon • 5 min read • Tue, 6th Jan 2026
Linux Foundation unveils Agentic AI standards group
Security Information and Event Management

Linux Foundation unveils Agentic AI standards group

Linux Foundation launches Agentic AI Foundation to standardise open protocols for interoperable AI agents with backing from major tech firms.

By Jake MacAndrew • 3 min read • Fri, 19th Dec 2025
IDHL launches AI incubator backed by GBP £1.5 million
Data Analytics

IDHL launches AI incubator backed by GBP £1.5 million

IDHL launches IDHL Labs, a group-wide AI incubator backed by GBP £1.5 million to fast-track automation, tooling and data-driven services.

By Kaleah Salmon • 5 min read • Thu, 18th Dec 2025
Study finds value for money trumps price in eCommerce
Data Analytics

Study finds value for money trumps price in eCommerce

Value for money, not low prices or rapid delivery, is the strongest driver of eCommerce satisfaction, Judge.me's study of reviews finds.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Thu, 18th Dec 2025

Stories from Other Regions

Shopify stories

Worldline, YouLend roll out SME cash advances in EU
Fintech

Worldline, YouLend roll out SME cash advances in EU

Worldline and YouLend launch Cash Advance in Belgium and the Netherlands, offering SMEs embedded card-based funding of up to EUR €250,000.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Wed, 21st Jan 2026
YouLend & Teya launch SME cash advances in UK, Europe
Fintech

YouLend & Teya launch SME cash advances in UK, Europe

YouLend teams up with Teya to launch flexible cash advances of GBP £1,000-GBP £2 million for more than 30,000 UK SMEs, ahead of EU rollout.

By Kaleah Salmon • 3 min read • Fri, 16th Jan 2026
Google launches open protocol to power AI shopping
Digital Transformation

Google launches open protocol to power AI shopping

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

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Thu, 15th Jan 2026
Patchworks unveils MCP to plug AI into live retail ops
Digital Transformation

Patchworks unveils MCP to plug AI into live retail ops

Patchworks debuts MCP integration layer to plug AI into retailers' live systems, promising real-time workflows beyond basic recommendations.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Mon, 12th Jan 2026
Loop Returns urges UK retailers to rethink global returns
Customer Experience

Loop Returns urges UK retailers to rethink global returns

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

By Kaleah Salmon • 5 min read • Mon, 12th Jan 2026
Villagehood app connects local mums to fight isolation
Marketing Technologies

Villagehood app connects local mums to fight isolation

Sibling-founded app Villagehood launches in beta, using geo-based meetups to help local mums tackle loneliness and build real-life support.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Mon, 12th Jan 2026
Cloud Nine automates global ops with BPA integration
Customer Relationship Management

Cloud Nine automates global ops with BPA integration

Cloud Nine streamlines global sales and fulfilment, using BPA to knit together NetSuite, Salesforce, Shopify and logistics partners.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 7th Jan 2026