B2C stories

Payhawk survey finds 45% of self-described AI leaders in finance lack minimum use rules, exposing a wider gap between ambition and control.

Minor Hotels teams up with Google, Salesforce, OneTrust and Deloitte on an AI-led data platform to sharpen guest service across 640 properties.

OpenAI secures USD $122 billion in funding as Amazon, Nvidia and SoftBank back a rapid expansion in compute, enterprise tools and product plans.

Hyperlayer names Chief Operating Officer Louise Chan and investor Barry O'Callaghan to its board after a GBP £30 million fundraising drive.

Mercurius Media Capital fires first shot in safety tech with USD $1.5 million deal to boost LifeSafe's US consumer push.

Gumtree introduces verified badges and stricter checks for business sellers in the UK, aiming to boost user trust and deter fraud.

Zendesk to buy AI agent platform Forethought in its biggest deal in nearly 20 years, betting on self-improving automation in customer service.

AI 'leaders' in finance rush to pilots but lack rules, data and governance to scale tools into core, high‑accountability workflows.

Paxon names Ranjit Singh Nagra Business Development Manager to spearhead UK expansion and target growth in auto spares and eCommerce logistics.

North West mid-sized firms plan to ramp up apprentice hiring in 2026 after GBP £725 million reforms scrap training costs for under-25s.

Language learning platform Preply secures $150 million to boost AI tools and global growth, valuing the business at $1.2 billion.

Preply secures USD $150m Series D from WestCap at a USD $1.2b valuation to scale its human-led, AI-backed language learning platform.

Staci wins Waldencast Brands fulfilment deal to support B2B and DTC growth as the beauty group scales across the UK and EU markets.

Talkdesk unveils Commerce Orchestration and Consumer Goods Experience Cloud to coordinate AI-driven retail journeys end to end.

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

Clean B2B data boosts marketing, sales and compliance; profiling, validating and standardising records cuts waste and sharpens decisions.

AutoStore and Arvato expand Hams Hall automation, boosting UK warehouse capacity over 30% and lifting peak throughput to 26,000 orders daily.

Hyvä has made its Magento front-end solution free and open source, aiming to help smaller retailers worldwide access advanced eCommerce technology.

Manchester's PushON Commerce has acquired Pixel Kicks, merging expertise to expand digital marketing and eCommerce services across multiple sectors.

Manchester-based digital agency PushON appoints three senior developers with over 50 years' experience to support growth and enhance eCommerce platforms.