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Economic downturn Stories

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Economic downturn stories

Pivoting marketing strategy in the face of a recession
Customer Experience

Pivoting marketing strategy in the face of a recession

Inflation is forcing brands to ditch blanket discounts as shoppers scrutinise every purchase and demand clearer value.

By Azadeh Williams • 6 min read • Last month
Business leaders keep betting on AI despite recession
Data Analytics

Business leaders keep betting on AI despite recession

Despite recession fears, 74 per cent of senior executives still plan to keep AI near the top of budgets, KPMG found.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month
Entrepreneurs turn to AI for efficiency, not new markets
Robotics

Entrepreneurs turn to AI for efficiency, not new markets

Entrepreneurs increasingly see AI as a tool for efficiency and cost-cutting, not a springboard to new markets or sustainability goals.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Thu, 12th Mar 2026
Explainer: The digital shock that ended Sanity's reign
Partner Programmes

Explainer: The digital shock that ended Sanity's reign

Once a 400-store giant of CDs and DVDs, Sanity has shrunk to a regional chain as downloads, streaming and rising costs reshape retail.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 5 min read • Mon, 2nd Mar 2026
AI budgets shielded as enterprises chase orchestration
Digital Transformation

AI budgets shielded as enterprises chase orchestration

Enterprises ringfence AI spend as core infrastructure, racing from pilots to orchestrated, governed systems despite economic headwinds.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Fri, 30th Jan 2026
UK & Irish SME chiefs back growth despite economic gloom
Digital Transformation

UK & Irish SME chiefs back growth despite economic gloom

UK and Irish SME bosses fear a worsening economy yet still plan to ramp up investment, betting on AI, innovation and sales growth in 2026.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Tue, 6th Jan 2026
Experts weigh in on marketing's redundancy crisis in Age of AI
Digital Transformation

Experts weigh in on marketing's redundancy crisis in Age of AI

As AI reshapes marketing teams, experts warn of a global redundancy wave-and argue human experience is now the industry's rarest asset.

By Sean Mitchell • 8 min read • Tue, 16th Dec 2025

Stories from Other Regions

Economic downturn stories

UK SMEs fear cyber attacks most, Hiscox survey finds
Physical Security

UK SMEs fear cyber attacks most, Hiscox survey finds

Sleep loss and costly cover gaps are leaving most UK small firms exposed, as 77% say they do not understand cyber insurance.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • This month
Canadian small business sales fall 4% in March quarter
Partner Programmes

Canadian small business sales fall 4% in March quarter

Cash flow is tightening for Canadian small businesses as March sales improved only slightly, while payment times lengthened and late bills rose.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last month
Australia energy shock raises insolvency risk for firms
Supply Chain

Australia energy shock raises insolvency risk for firms

Higher fuel and power costs are intensifying cash-flow strains for smaller firms, with CreditorWatch warning insolvencies may rise over 12 months.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • Last month
Atis app launch adds loyalty and direct ordering channel
Digital Transformation

Atis app launch adds loyalty and direct ordering channel

Half of atis orders are already digital, and its first app will let customers collect points, skip queues and pre-order bowls.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month
Australian confidence drops as fuel costs hit sentiment
Partner Programmes

Australian confidence drops as fuel costs hit sentiment

Households and firms are facing renewed cost-of-living pressure, with petrol prices driving sentiment to levels last seen during the GFC and pandemic.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Last month
Fuel costs push NSW firms to review staffing levels
Supply Chain

Fuel costs push NSW firms to review staffing levels

Almost half of surveyed employers are weighing shorter hours or fewer staff as higher fuel bills squeeze margins and weaken demand across NSW.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month
New Zealand SMEs hit by falling revenue & weak confidence
Risk & Compliance

New Zealand SMEs hit by falling revenue & weak confidence

Rising costs and policy uncertainty are squeezing small firms, with 63% of owners reporting lower revenue and confidence subdued across the sector.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Tue, 31st Mar 2026
UK PC retail slumps as Eurozone markets power ahead
Supply Chain

UK PC retail slumps as Eurozone markets power ahead

UK PC retail slumps with sales down as much as 26%, while Germany and France surge ahead, widening Europe's consumer tech divide.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Thu, 19th Mar 2026
Security expert links NZ retail crime spike to inflation
Surveillance

Security expert links NZ retail crime spike to inflation

A security expert says NZ's retail crime 'wave' is overstated, blaming inflation and new reporting systems rather than a crime explosion.

By Kaleah Salmon • 4 min read • Tue, 10th Mar 2026
Canadian small business sales see sharp 2025 slump
Data Analytics

Canadian small business sales see sharp 2025 slump

Canadian small business sales sank 4.1% in late 2025, the sharpest quarterly slump since 2020, as uncertainty and supply shocks hit demand.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Wed, 4th Mar 2026
AI-powered contextual service now critical in Australia
Unified Communications

AI-powered contextual service now critical in Australia

AI-powered contextual service is now make-or-break in Australia, with CX leaders warning one unresolved issue can lose a customer forever.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Thu, 26th Feb 2026