Online shopping Stories

Global Stories

Online shopping stories

US accounts for 53.5% of global bot traffic, says Decodo

Bots now generate more than half of web requests worldwide, with AI-driven browsing pushing automated traffic up 7,851% in 2025.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Yesterday

Software-as-a-Service

WP Engine & Commerce launch BigCommerce for WordPress

Mid-market brands can now upgrade eCommerce without rebuilding WordPress sites, preserving URLs, traffic and search rankings during the switch.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Yesterday

Customer Experience

Target rebuilds product discovery on Google Cloud Spanner

The retailer said the overhaul cut infrastructure maintenance by 50% and improved product recommendations, ratings and Gift Finder responses.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Yesterday

Fintech

Cloudflare launches wallets for AI agents & payments

Online sellers may gain a way to verify AI agents and cap their spending as autonomous browsing and buying spread across the web.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Yesterday

Digital Transformation

The Hidden Cost of Identity Friction in Retail

Cart abandonment and support costs climb when shoppers are blocked by clumsy sign-ins, resets and verification during checkout.

By Bobby Joseph • 6 min read • Yesterday

Phishing

Gen launches global cyber risk index for consumers

Consumers can now track scams, identity risks and cyber threats by country through a new global index that monitors daily changes across 245 countries and territories.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • 3 days ago

Customer Experience

Holiday shopping starts before Black Friday, Attentive says

Holiday season spending is shifting earlier, with 71% of shoppers planning to start before Black Friday and value-driven buying under pressure.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • 3 days ago

Data Protection

How to prevent fake signups on your Shopify store

Fake addresses are inflating discount redemptions and weakening email deliverability, costing merchants margin and trust in their data.

By Edmund Ng • 6 min read • 3 days ago

Digital Transformation

Amazon retail growth boosted by grocery & AI shopping

Amazon reported growth across retail, grocery, pharmacy and AI shopping as it expanded product selection and accelerated delivery speeds.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • 3 days ago

Crypto

MoonPay launches PayBox for Claude & ChatGPT payments

Users can now approve AI-initiated payments in-chat, as MoonPay tries to make Claude and ChatGPT commerce safer and more seamless.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week

Data Analytics

AI assistants reshape Black Friday shopping choices

Retailers risk missing Black Friday shoppers as AI tools increasingly narrow product choices before customers reach a website.

By Mark Tarre • 7 min read • Last week

Data Protection

AI recommendations reshape UK shopping but not spending

AI tools are increasingly steering UK shoppers to products, but most still buy through retailer sites, stores and human advice.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last week

Stories from Other Regions

Online shopping stories

Software-as-a-Service

Markable launches AI video & 3D tools for creators

Creators can now turn raw clips into shoppable videos as social commerce firms race to capture a market forecast to top USD $100 billion in 2026.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Today

Wearables

Apple Pay launches in the Philippines for shoppers

Shoppers in the Philippines now have access to Apple's contactless payment service across stores, apps and websites, with banks and merchants on board.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Yesterday