E-Commerce

Rakuten Inc. plans to raise 242 billion yen ($2.2 billion) by selling shares to investors including Tencent Holdings Ltd., Walmart Inc. and Japan Post Holdings Co., bankrolling expansions into AI, finance and mobile.

With so many personally and financially impacted by COVID-19, consumers have made it clear that the way customers pay for goods or services can no longer follow a one-size-fits-all approach, says eBay's Alyssa Cutright.

Jumia Technologies is expanding in online food delivery as the pioneering Africa e-commerce business looks to grow beyond its main market of trading phones and electronics.

Financial services firms, from traditional banks to fintech payment processors to data companies, need to beef up their compliance teams, raise standards and improve education to ensure teams are ready to tackle the latest types of financial fraud, says ACAMS' Rick McDonell.

The shift from cash has boosted digital and called attention to the importance of standards, says EMVCo's Brian Byrne.

Best Buy is expanding its test of a new store format that reduces the space for customers to browse by nearly half to focus more on getting digital orders out the door, according to people familiar with the move.

Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com Inc. said it plans to spin off its JD Logistics shipping business in a listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The innovation recognizes inventory levels and uses machine learning and sales history to identify the ideal price point to incentivize a consumer to select the product with a limited shelf life, says Quicklizard's Pini Mandel.

As merchants navigate a rapidly evolving market, invisible payments are becoming a crucial means of offering customers the seamless, simple, and streamlined experiences they crave, says Credorax's Igal Rotem.

Machine learning and innovations such as voice assistants can give the newly mature e-commerce industry an extra push, says Qualpay's Penny Townsend.