IT Brief UK - Technology news for CIOs & IT decision-makers

Returns stories

Stressed store manager with overflowing returns cctv cameras

Retailers face USD $796bn in losses from returns, shrink

Last month
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data analytics
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digital transformation
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cx
Retailers risk USD $796bn in losses from returns and shrink in 2025, with omnichannel gaps fuelling preventable fraud and abuse.
Uk rainy doorstep parcel and phone delivery progress scene

UK shoppers prize accurate updates over rapid delivery

Last month
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cx
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martech
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supply chain
UK shoppers value accurate parcel tracking and honest delivery updates far more than rapid shipping promises, a new Locus survey suggests.
European online shopper qr return parcel multi courier vans uk eu

Loop links with Sendcloud to boost EU returns options

Last month
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cx
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martech
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commerce systems
Loop integrates Sendcloud into Ship by Loop 2.0, giving Shopify merchants wider UK and EU carrier choice for simpler, label-free returns.
Matthias

E-commerce growth redistributes across Europe in 2026

Fri, 30th Jan 2026
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cx
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martech
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commerce systems
E-commerce growth is shifting across Europe, with Central and Eastern Europe and the Nordics surging as returns and AI reshape online retail.
Holiday warehouse returns overflow stressed worker declining profit

Chargebacks surge threatens retailers' holiday profits

Thu, 15th Jan 2026
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data analytics
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fintech
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cx
Chargebacks surge after record online holiday sales, with USD $181 billion in returns putting retailers' first-quarter profits at risk.
Uk cfo january q1 planning financial charts inventory office

Mid-January urged as true start for UK Q1 forecasts

Wed, 14th Jan 2026
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data analytics
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planning
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supply chain
Kaleidoscope.com urges UK firms to treat mid-January as the real start of Q1 planning, warning December forecasts are built on distorted data.
Modern living room voice shopping smart devices product returns

Klaviyo predicts AI voice shopping & smart returns

Tue, 13th Jan 2026
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digital transformation
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cx
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martech
Klaviyo forecasts 2026 surge in AI voice shopping, automated returns and connected-device purchases reshaping how consumers buy.
Ai supply chain warehouse with robots and digital dashboard scene

Blue Yonder unveils AI upgrades for retail supply chains

Mon, 12th Jan 2026
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data analytics
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digital transformation
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cx
Blue Yonder rolls out fresh AI tools to tighten retail planning, boost fulfilment accuracy and speed up warehouse and logistics decisions.
Stressed us ecommerce finance manager refunds boxes office

Retailers warned of post-holiday surge in chargebacks

Sat, 10th Jan 2026
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data analytics
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crypto
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fintech
Retailers urged to brace for early-year spike in chargebacks as mobile shopping and buy now, pay later fuel record US holiday spend.
Online shopping fair pricing balance products vs coin stack

Study finds value for money eclipses speed & price

Thu, 8th Jan 2026
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cx
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martech
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commerce systems
Value for money drives online customer sentiment three times more than price, delivery speed or product quality, a study of reviews finds.
Laptop delivery tracking timeline parcel at uk front door scene

Shoppers now prize reliable, transparent deliveries

Wed, 7th Jan 2026
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cx
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martech
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commerce systems
Shoppers in the UK and US now value reliable, transparent deliveries and returns over speed alone, new research from Locus suggests.
Uk warehouse returns december busy conveyor boxes workers crowded

Black Friday fuels record December spike in returns

Wed, 7th Jan 2026
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martech
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supply chain
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omnichannel
Black Friday splurge triggers record December returns surge as ReBound warns rapid send-backs are straining retailers' peak operations.
European warehouse robots sorting returns recommerce eco packaging

Retailers ready for AI-driven shifts in fulfilment, returns

Wed, 7th Jan 2026
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robots
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cx
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martech
Retailers brace for 2026 as AI, new packaging rules and reCommerce transform warehouse fulfilment, unboxing and returns strategies.
Online shopper comparing laptop phone deals golden value glow

Study finds value for money trumps price in eCommerce

Thu, 18th Dec 2025
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data analytics
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cx
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martech
Value for money, not low prices or rapid delivery, is the strongest driver of eCommerce satisfaction, Judge.me's study of reviews finds.
Black friday warehouse returns area cluttered boxes workers belt

Black Friday returns surge threatens brands' profits

Wed, 17th Dec 2025
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uc
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cx
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martech
Record Black Friday online sales risk hollowing out profits as soaring returns, refunds and BNPL queries squeeze retailers' margins.
Genz shopper uk apartment hallway furniture returns delivery van

Gen Z 'Returniture' trend piles pressure on UK retailers

Wed, 10th Dec 2025
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digital transformation
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cx
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martech
Gen Z's 'Returniture' habit of sending back bulky furniture bought online is soaring, leaving UK retailers to shoulder rising costs and complexity.
British retail store friendly staff digital delivery tracking illustration

UK shoppers want AI for delivery but not to replace people

Thu, 4th Dec 2025
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cx
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martech
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supply chain
UK shoppers favour AI for delivery tracking and returns but insist it should support, not replace, human customer service roles in retail.
Uk shopper reading product reviews on laptop surrounded by parcels

Peer reviews surpass influencers for UK shoppers' purchase decisions

Thu, 4th Sep 2025
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cx
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martech
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social media
Peer reviews and user-generated content now influence 65% of UK shoppers, surpassing celebrity endorsements in shaping purchase decisions, finds Akeneo study.
Robotic arms industrial machinery ai automation productivity factory

IFS acquires TheLoops to deploy AI agents in industrial sectors

Tue, 1st Jul 2025
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digital transformation
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supply chain
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ai
IFS acquires TheLoops to launch AI agents that autonomously boost productivity and compliance in regulated industrial sectors worldwide.
Modern illustration busy logistics warehouse automated robots delivery trucks digital screens ai supply chain

Blue Yonder powers supply chains for 20 Gartner top 25 firms

Tue, 1st Jul 2025
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digital transformation
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supply chain
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ai
Blue Yonder supports supply chains for 20 of Gartner's Top 25 firms, highlighting its AI-driven platform's role in digital and sustainable operations.