Payments technology and Open Banking leader, Waave is bringing biometric security access to its Pay by Bank payment method, in a first for Australia. Waave’s Pay by Bank was launched in early 2023 in response to costly merchant fees for businesses which are often passed onto consumers as surcharges or higher prices. Waave’s Pay by Bank is Australia’s first account-to-account payment method powered by Open Banking and the New Payments Platform (NPP) to give consumers a free, secure and instant payment experience that bypasses card payments – at a fraction of the cost to the merchant. In additi ..read more

SAP Emarsys is delivering a new AI Product Finder tool to transform how brands recommend products and personalise customer experiences. Alongside its AI Subject Line Generator, this marks the beginning of a series of AI-powered solution updates to Omnichannel Masterclass, the company’s virtual event for marketers on June 12.    The AI Product Finder enables intuitive search of a brand’s extensive product catalogue, allowing marketers and retailers to quickly locate and incorporate the most suitable products into their campaigns. Provided as an out-of-the-box solution for email marke ..read more

PayPal Australia has extended its naming rights sponsorship of the Melbourne Fashion Festival for an additional three years, continuing its commitment to the growth and evolution of the Australian fashion and retail industries. The announcement follows the 2024 Festival, which featured over 100 unique events and almost double the number of featured designers year-on-year. With 2024 marking its 28th year, the Festival is Australia’s largest, most culturally significant consumer fashion event. In line with PayPal’s ongoing support of the Australian fashion industry, the contract renewal, first ..read more

Australian content commerce pioneer, Vudoo is now on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Partner Network (APN), allowing AWS partners to access its in-stream checkout technology that turns content and ads into directly shoppable assets. Vudoo founder and CEO, Nick Morgan said, “We’re thrilled to be a part of the AWS Partner Network. This relationship marks a milestone achievement for Vudoo and cements our credibility as a leading e-commerce specialist and technology provider. It is a thorough selection process and we’re looking forward to working with AWS customers to create shoppable videos on our ..read more

Leading global ecommerce and marketplace accelerator, Pattern has unveiled new inventory and supply chain technology for unparalleled visibility and control of products across ecommerce and wholesale channels. Incorporated within Pattern’s ecommerce acceleration technology suite, Shelf technology helps brands create supply chain efficiencies, while also improving inventory accuracy, real-time tracking and enhancing demand forecasting. Shelf surpasses traditional inventory and warehouse management solutions through an integrated approach to inventory and marketplace management, along with conn ..read more

Snapchat has announced a first-of-its-kind AR try-on experience to celebrate Cartier’s 100th anniversary of The Trinity Collection. The Cartier Trinity Ring lens allows customers to discover the collection, try on the Classic Trinity Ring and shop wherever, whenever. Snapchat’s new ring try-on technology, coupled with Ray Tracing and Hand Tracking, makes it more precise and life-like as the ring follows hand movements.   This technology was developed exclusively with Cartier. It uses machine learning to predict the 3D hand surface to better understand the shape of each individual hand. I ..read more

Thoughtful Agency has announced its latest venture, Perform Retail, in collaboration with Next Athleisure CEO, Darren Todd. This joint venture introduces a specialised management consultancy service tailored for founder-led businesses, focusing on omnichannel growth and operational excellence. With over 20 years of experience in retail and fashion at companies including Woolworths and Country Road, Todd brings insights into omnichannel growth opportunities for founder-led enterprises. “At the heart of our approach lies strategic collaboration with brands, equipping them with the necessary too ..read more

The top challenge for many industries right now is undoubtedly the quest to be victorious in the battle for sales talent. This is substantiated by recent reports from PricewaterhouseCoopers and Development Dimensions International, who emphasise the urgency of this concern. Attrition spells significant financial setbacks for any team but a salesperson’s turnover is even more so. In addition to the normal costs of non-sales roles, turnover hurts sales teams greatly because whilst the roles sit empty or aren’t replaced, existing client relationships aren’t nurtured or are even neglected. When s ..read more

Written by Jaquie Scammell. Leadership is even harder now than it was in the past. There’s been a shake-up of brand and channel loyalty in response to post-pandemic life, and financial results are under constant pressure as customers feel the pinch and shift spending patterns. Clever leaders need to innovate and change their offers to meet customers’ needs. But there are other factors that are putting leaders at risk of burnout and of missing their financial targets – and it’s all related to the people stuff. Grumpy customers and ultrasensitive staff Customers are grumpier, and staff are ultr ..read more

American Express is expanding its Backing International Small Restaurants grant program, with venues in Melbourne now eligible to apply in addition to Sydney. Run in partnership with the International Downtown Association (IDA) Foundation and supported by Mainstreet Australia, small restaurant owners are being invited to apply for one of 10 grants each valued at $21,500 to put towards expenses or improving their business. In its first two years in Australia, Backing International Small Restaurants has provided $240,000 in financial support. The program, founded by American Express, recognises ..read more