There’s one big problem with chatbots, says ReplyYes CEO Dave Cotter: Customers don't want to chat with them. They do, however, he told Karen Webster, want to buy with them, especially if it’s easy and inside an ecosystem they know and use — messaging. Well, Universal Music Group replied yes — and will now make that possible for all of its artists.  Read More...

Happy National Merchant Day! We asked a bunch of innovators from around the ecosystem to tell us how they think retail should be reinvented to get us all thinking about the future of shopping and paying. And they told us. Now, you can get inside their heads. Dig into this brand new PYMNTS eBook on What’s Next In Retail. Read More...

With all the of the fun and excitement that goes with purchasing an engagement ring, many consumers don’t stop to think about where those diamonds actually came from. In an effort to bring a conflict-free alternative to market, MiaDonna was created. In this week’s Warby of X tracker, Andrew Puddifoot, GM of MiaDonna, shared how the lab-grown diamond is not only disrupting the bridal jewelry industry but also giving customers a new way to shop for a traditionally earth-mined product. Read More...