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Economic downturn Stories - Page 2

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Economic downturn stories

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
Women CFOs linked to 10% shareholder return rise, report finds
Digital Transformation

Women CFOs linked to 10% shareholder return rise, report finds

Companies appointing women CFOs see a 10% boost in shareholder returns, linked to broader experience and strategic leadership, a new report reveals.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Thu, 28th Aug 2025
Exclusive: Lightspeed on why tech and AI are 'key' to hospitality's future
Customer Experience

Exclusive: Lightspeed on why tech and AI are 'key' to hospitality's future

Lightspeed's Asia-Pacific MD Nicole Buisson says AI and smarter tech are vital for Aussie hospitality to tackle inflation, labour costs and changing consumer habits.

By Melania Watson • 5 min read • Thu, 26th Jun 2025
Economic confidence of UK SMEs drops amid uncertainties
Artificial Intelligence

Economic confidence of UK SMEs drops amid uncertainties

New research shows that economic confidence among UK SMEs has dropped sharply from 91.4 to 87.5, with many leaders fearing a further downturn ahead.

By Melania Watson • 3 min read • Tue, 1st Apr 2025
The Resilience Roadmap – Six steps to building business strength
Partner Programmes

The Resilience Roadmap – Six steps to building business strength

Amid a 50.2% rise in critical financial stress affecting nearly 47,000 UK businesses, experts outline six essential steps to bolster resilience in 2025.

By Nevil Durrant • 6 min read • Mon, 10th Mar 2025

Stories from Other Regions

Economic downturn stories

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
Why the positive sentiment despite highest insolvency rate in 15 years
Jobs

Why the positive sentiment despite highest insolvency rate in 15 years

Business confidence is improving, but 2025 still brought New Zealand's highest insolvency tally in 15 years as historic debt hit firms.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Sat, 21st Feb 2026
Plunge in business confidence
Jobs

Plunge in business confidence

Only 16 percent now have a positive outlook, as a lack of work and uncertainty threaten jobs across New Zealand's civil construction sector.

By Staff Writer • 4 min read • Mon, 4th Aug 2025
Heed the heed warning signs
Manufacturing

Heed the heed warning signs

New Zealand firms are feeling the strain as insolvencies jumped 31% in the first quarter, with construction failures up 44%.

By Staff Writer • 3 min read • Wed, 7th May 2025
Bipartisanship at Investment Summit ‘encouraging’
Data Analytics

Bipartisanship at Investment Summit ‘encouraging’

Shared support from major parties at the New Zealand Infrastructure Investment Summit has raised hopes for a steadier project pipeline.

By Staff Writer • 2 min read • Sun, 16th Mar 2025
How MDR will transform cybersecurity in the mid-market
Ransomware

How MDR will transform cybersecurity in the mid-market

Mid-sized businesses under cyber-attack pressure look to Managed Detection and Response (MDR) to bridge security and staffing gaps, navigating an evolving threat landscape.

By Innes Muir • 5 min read • Mon, 16th Sep 2024