Online shopping Stories

Global Stories

Online shopping stories

WhatsApp GhostPairing attack gives intruders access

Attackers can stay inside WhatsApp accounts after a single fake device approval, exposing messages, calls and contacts without alerts.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Yesterday

eCommerce

UK eCommerce parcel volumes flat as electronics surge

Electronics and DIY orders helped offset falls in fashion and food, leaving UK eCommerce parcel growth almost unchanged in Q2.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Yesterday

Malware

Akamai warns commerce is top target for AI bot attacks

Nearly half of commerce traffic across Akamai's network came from AI bots by late 2025, raising fraud and DDoS risks for retailers.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Yesterday

Customer Experience

Constructor tops three Gartner search & discovery use cases

Retailers may get more personalised search tools after Constructor was ranked first in three Gartner use cases, ahead of Google and others.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last week

Data Protection

Agentic AI traffic surges as bots dominate the web

Businesses may need to rethink bot blocks, as Decodo says automated systems now make up 57.4% of web requests and shape product discovery.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last week

eCommerce

Amazon Ads names L'Oréal Paris sponsor of Prime Video's Elle

Streaming ads are being tied more closely to sales as Amazon links Prime Video's Elle to shoppable campaigns for L'Oréal Paris and Swisse.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last week

Customer Experience

Spreetail marks 20 years after USD $9 billion in sales

It has built a global eCommerce operation by expanding beyond used computers into bulky goods, while navigating supply chain shocks and tariffs.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Last week

Digital Transformation

Digital wallets top online payments in New Zealand

New figures show shoppers are increasingly choosing digital wallets and BNPL, even as cards still dominate spending across New Zealand.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last week

Stories from Other Regions

Online shopping stories

Fintech

Businesses warned of traffic surge at England half-time

England's semi-final could send shoppers online in a half-time rush, with slower sites risking lost sales and checkout failures.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Today

Data Protection

HSBC UK & Visa test AI shopping with live payments

Customers could soon shop and pay through AI assistants, after HSBC UK and Visa completed a live end-to-end card transaction online.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Yesterday

Data Protection

AI literacy & cyber safety vital for young workers

Employers are being urged to make AI literacy and cyber safety core training, as young workers face a tighter labour market and rising online threats.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Yesterday

Fintech

BNPL use among PayPlan customers rises 3,793% in UK

Awareness of new rules remains low even as PayPlan customers increasingly use buy now, pay later to cover everyday household costs.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • 3 days ago

Data Protection

UK shoppers back personalisation but resist AI data

A survey of 2,000 consumers shows UK retailers face a trust gap, with 43% unwilling to share browsing data or AI histories.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • 3 days ago

Fintech

Zip finds Australians use AI to guide shopping choices

Nearly half of Zip's Australian customers now use AI to compare and research purchases, but most still want to make the final call themselves.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • 3 days ago

Data Protection

Hong Kong shoppers embrace AI, but not at checkout

While discovery is already mainstream, 45% of Hong Kong shoppers still balk at letting AI complete purchases, the survey found.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week

Digital Transformation

UK shoppers wary of AI making purchases, survey finds

Trust remains the main hurdle as nearly two-thirds of UK adults say they are uneasy about AI making purchases for them.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last week

Fintech

Animoca launches Visa pilot for AI shopping agents

Users in Hong Kong can now let approved AI agents find Visa card perks and complete purchases at selected merchants under preset spending rules.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last week

Biometrics

Mastercard unveils Singapore payments innovation circuit

Financial institutions across Asia Pacific are being shown how AI agents, digital identity and tokenisation could reshape secure payments in coming years.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last week