Global Payments

Retail shifts to lean teams, AI and physical community

At a Brand Leaders Dinner hosted by Glossy and Modern Retail with Global Payments, founders and C-suite retail executives discussed how AI, hiring shifts, and the rising cost of awareness are reshaping retail operating models. Executives described moving AI from experimental marketing use cases to core business infrastructure — including building internal intelligence platforms that connect fulfillment, paid media and customer signals — and said that automation is changing hiring needs. Participants emphasized the continuing value of physical stores, events and community for discovery and retention, and debated strategies around creator marketing, affiliate programs and discounting on commerce channels. Concerns about employee resistance, data security and trusting AI outputs were raised, and several brands reported selectively avoiding consumer-facing AI creative because of negative consumer perceptions.

10-Q Financial Filing Analysis for Global Payments

AI Analysis of 10-Q for period 2026-03-31.

Airwallex launches cross-border POS to challenge Stripe

Airwallex announced a new point-of-sale (POS) product that enables businesses to accept in-person payments across multiple countries via a single platform without onboarding local vendors in each market. The move extends Airwallex’s existing global payments infrastructure — including local banking licenses, direct connections to local payment networks, and multi-currency settlement — into the physical retail environment, positioning the company as a direct rival to Stripe, Square and Adyen. Airwallex says it is valued at $8 billion, generates roughly $1.3 billion in annualized revenue with ~85% year-over-year growth, serves more than 46,000 U.S. businesses, and processes about $100 billion in annual volume. CEO and co-founder Jack Zhang highlighted the firm’s ability to hold and settle funds locally in markets such as Japan as a competitive differentiator.