Retail Control Systems

Shopify has opened its checkout system to browser-based AI agents, according to TechCrunch. The move means autonomous shopping assistants could complete purchases on merchants' stores on behalf of users, rather than only browsing. It signals a shift in e-commerce toward agentic commerce, where software agents search, select and pay for goods directly, raising questions about merchant control, fraud prevention and how retailers adapt to agent-driven traffic.

Retail Control Systems has introduced a new commerce platform designed specifically for thrift retailers. The offering aims to give secondhand stores modern tools for selling across physical and online channels, a segment that has been growing as resale shopping gains mainstream popularity. The company says thrift operators have distinct inventory and pricing needs that generic retail software does not address well.

Retail is being warned that USB drives and other removable media remain a major blindspot in connected store environments, despite growing cyber security investment across the sector. As retailers connect more tills, kiosks and back-office systems, uncontrolled removable devices can bypass network defences and introduce malware or enable data theft. Security commentators say stricter device control policies are needed.