Business & Technology
8×8 launches retail nationwide for shared store devices
8×8 has launched Retail Nationwide in the UK, a communications product for retail teams using shared devices and working across shifts.
It is aimed at stores where staff move around the shop floor rather than work from fixed desks with assigned handsets. Incoming calls can ring on all connected devices, allowing the nearest available employee to answer instead of routing calls to a single phone.
This addresses a common problem in stores, where communications systems are often designed for office use and can leave branch teams hard to reach. That can result in missed calls, uneven customer response and extra work for IT teams managing multiple sites.
Each licence supports one desk phone and up to five shared mobile or tablet devices. Configurations can also be standardised across locations, which 8×8 expects will reduce the time needed to set up communications when new stores open.
Retailers have been looking for ways to support frontline staff handling in-store customers, online orders and customer queries across channels, often with tighter staffing levels. The launch places 8×8 in a market where suppliers are tailoring communications software to the practical needs of distributed store networks rather than office-based workforces.
“UK retailers are managing more complexity with leaner teams than ever with staff helping customers, dealing with online orders, trying to answer queries across multiple channels, and so much more,” said Michelle Kelly, Retail Expert at 8×8.
“The communication infrastructure many stores are running on wasn’t built for that. It was built for a world where everyone has a desk and phone and has been shoehorned into retail, resulting in a poor employee and customer experience. Retail Nationwide changes all that and has a pricing model that reflects the retail reality,” Kelly said.
8×8 also highlighted the product’s administrative benefits for businesses operating dozens or hundreds of outlets. Standard settings across branches and support for shared mobile devices are intended to simplify onboarding and remote management for store estates with frequent staff turnover and changing device needs.
Global Telecom Networks, a channel partner working with 8×8 on the product, said retail customers had raised concerns about both access and cost under conventional licensing structures. Those issues can be more acute in sectors where large numbers of workers share devices across shifts.
“What we hear consistently from UK retailers is that their frontline teams are difficult to reach and expensive to equip,” said Vipool Umaria, Chief Operations Officer at Global Telecom Networks.
“The licensing model alone creates friction – staff turnover, licences go unused, IT has to keep pace with store changes. Retail Nationwide cuts through all of that. It’s a model built around how retail actually staffs and operates and that attention to detail in the industry is why we are working with 8×8,” Umaria said.
Broader retail push
Alongside Retail Nationwide, 8×8 is also presenting other retail-focused products tied to post-purchase support and sales interactions. These include Aftersale Assist, which uses self-service tools and one-way video support for after-purchase issues, and Sales Assist, which provides AI-based prompts and insights for sales teams.
It also offers mobile device management integration, support for shared handheld devices, centralised remote configuration across sites and a managed version of its Work app for deployments based on mobile device management systems.
These additions show 8×8 is trying to expand its retail position beyond voice and messaging by linking store communications with customer support and sales tools. For retailers, the pitch is that frontline communications, device management and customer engagement software can sit within the same supplier relationship.
Retail remains a significant test case for communications providers because store operations combine high staff turnover, multiple locations, shared hardware and the need for rapid customer response. In that environment, even small delays in answering calls or rerouting enquiries can affect service levels and sales conversion.
The UK debut of Retail Nationwide reflects pressure on suppliers to build products around how shop floors work in practice. Each licence works with a desk phone plus up to five shared mobile or tablet devices, allowing stores to cover more of the working environment without assigning a separate licence to every employee.
Business & Technology
Canva adds official PEPPA PIG templates through Hasbro deal
Canva has added official PEPPA PIG content to its platform through a collaboration with Hasbro, following more than 1.4 million searches for PEPPA PIG on Canva over the past 12 months.
The agreement brings more than 60 PEPPA PIG templates to users across 18 regions. The collection includes designs for parents and families, such as birthday invitations, reward charts, party printables and social posts, as well as materials for early years teachers including worksheets, flash cards, certificates, presentations and posters.
Canva has also introduced a UK-specific set of marathon support templates built around Daddy Pig. These include customisable posters, social media frames and cheer signs for families supporting runners.
The launch adds another entertainment brand to Canva’s library as it expands its range of licensed content. With 265 million monthly active users in 190 countries, the platform has been broadening its appeal to consumers, educators and fan communities through branded material.
The partnership follows Canva’s earlier deal with Disney, which also brought established characters onto the service. The addition of PEPPA PIG suggests children’s and family entertainment properties are part of its strategy to drive more activity around everyday design tasks.
Brand demand
User interest appears to have shaped the rollout. Searches for PEPPA PIG content on Canva passed 1.4 million in the past year, indicating an existing audience for character-based templates before any official material became available.
PEPPA PIG is a longstanding children’s brand with reach in more than 180 countries, giving Hasbro an established audience among young families and schools. By placing the character into editable templates, the collaboration connects that audience with common use cases such as birthday parties, classroom activities and milestone celebrations.
For Canva, that matters because these tasks sit at the centre of its consumer and education business. Much of its growth has come from users creating invitations, worksheets, posters and social graphics with pre-made templates rather than starting from scratch.
Morgan Selzer, Global Head Content Partnerships at Canva, said: “Canva’s goal is to make visual storytelling feel effortless for everyone – from first-time creators to seasoned teachers. This collaboration marks an exciting evolution in our content library as we continue to build out our branded content as a way to spark imagination and delight our community. Whether you’re creating something playful, sentimental or inspirational, we’re so excited to see how people bring a little PEPPA PIG magic into the world through their designs.”
Education focus
The education angle is notable. Early years teachers are among the groups explicitly targeted in the collection, with ready-made classroom materials that can be adapted for lessons and activities. That places PEPPA PIG not only in family settings but also in school environments where familiar characters can be used in learning resources.
Hasbro described the collaboration as an extension of how the brand is already used in everyday family life. The templates are intended to help parents, teachers and fans create materials that feel more personal to home and classroom moments.
Matt Proulx, Senior Vice President of Global Experiences, Partnerships and Music at Hasbro, said: “PEPPA PIG has always been about helping kids build confidence through everyday moments, from muddy puddles to big milestones, while creating opportunities for families to connect through play. Bringing PEPPA PIG to Canva is a natural extension of that. It gives parents, teachers and fans simple, creative tools to engage with the brand in ways that feel personal, whether they’re creating something for a classroom, celebrating a moment at home or just having fun together.”
Platform strategy
The collaboration also points to a broader shift in how digital design platforms compete. Access to well-known intellectual property can help attract users who might not otherwise start a design project. Familiar characters give people a clear reason to search, edit and share, which can increase time spent on the platform and open up more content categories.
Canva has been extending its offering beyond basic template design through a mix of content partnerships, workplace tools and artificial intelligence features. In this case, users can customise the PEPPA PIG templates by changing text and colours, then share or print the finished design from within the platform.
That combination of licensed content and simple editing tools reflects Canva’s effort to make branded design material part of routine consumer use. The immediate test will be whether PEPPA PIG fans, parents and teachers turn strong search demand into regular template use for family events and classroom work.
With more than 60 templates now live across 18 regions, the collaboration gives Hasbro a new digital outlet for one of its best-known children’s brands and gives Canva another recognised franchise as it works to make fandom-led creation a regular part of its service.
Business & Technology
Creditinfo takes full control of Latvian credit bureau
Creditinfo has acquired full ownership of Latvian credit bureau KIB Latvia, raising its stake from 51% to 100% after a 13-year partnership.
The deal gives the London-headquartered group full control of the bureau’s Latvian operations and deepens its presence in the Baltic market. It also ends a shareholder structure that included several of the country’s major banks.
Credit bureaus sit at the centre of consumer and business lending markets, supplying data that banks and other lenders use to assess borrowers and manage defaults. Full ownership of KIB Latvia gives Creditinfo direct oversight of a business that helps shape how credit data is shared and used across Latvia’s financial system.
Creditinfo plans to increase investment in the local market and expand the bureau’s services. This includes data products for financial institutions, businesses and consumers, as well as broader activity in business information, fraud and identity services.
Latvia is part of a Baltic banking market where lenders face pressure to strengthen risk controls while extending access to finance. Credit bureaus have become more important as regulators, banks and fintech companies place greater emphasis on data quality, identity checks and credit transparency.
Against that backdrop, full ownership gives Creditinfo more scope to align local operations with its regional strategy. The group said the move would support stronger data sharing, risk management and responsible lending practices in the market.
Satty Saha, Group Chief Executive Officer at Creditinfo, said the acquisition reflected a long-term commitment to the country.
“This acquisition reflects our long-term commitment to Latvia and our confidence in the market’s continued growth,” said Satty Saha, Group Chief Executive Officer, Creditinfo Group. “With experience across 30 regions worldwide and strong innovation capabilities, we are well-positioned to deliver greater value to Latvia’s financial services ecosystem and support better-informed decision-making for businesses and consumers alike.”
The transaction also marks a shift away from local banking shareholders. Elari Tammenurm, Regional Director for Continental Europe at Creditinfo, named Swedbank, SEB, Citadele and Luminor among the shareholders involved in the process.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our fellow shareholders – Swedbank, SEB, Citadele, and Luminor – for their constructive collaboration throughout the process. We also greatly appreciate the support of our advisors at COBALT in Estonia and Latvia. We’re excited about the future and expanding access to finance in the region,” said Elari Tammenurm, Regional Director, Continental Europe, Creditinfo Group.
Established in 1997, Creditinfo operates in more than 30 regions through credit bureau and related data businesses. Its operations span credit information, business information and risk management services for lenders, public bodies and other institutions.
The Latvian deal fits a broader pattern of consolidation and expansion among data providers serving financial markets. Companies in the sector are seeking closer control of local assets as demand rises for credit data, fraud screening and identity verification, particularly in smaller European markets where banking systems are digitising quickly.
In Latvia, the ownership change may matter most in the day-to-day operation of the credit bureau. A single owner can move faster on investment decisions, product development and regional integration than a consortium structure, especially as services expand beyond traditional credit reporting.
Creditinfo said its planned development in Latvia would include enhanced analytics, digital services and consumer-focused products aimed at improving access to credit. It also plans to keep investing in technology, staff and partnerships in the country as it integrates the bureau more closely into its wider Baltic and European business.
Business & Technology
Precision Proco installs two Canon presses to boost capacity
Precision Proco has installed two Canon varioPRINT iX3200 sheetfed inkjet presses, marking its first partnership with Canon.
The UK print provider is moving into sheetfed inkjet to increase capacity and efficiency across its operations. The presses were installed at its production facilities after the company identified a need for more output while maintaining print quality in line with customer expectations.
Formed through the merger of Precision Printing, ProCo and Prime, Precision Proco has grown into a business with annual revenue of £76 million. It supplies commercial print, personalised print and single-copy book production, serving large corporate customers as well as smaller buyers through an online upload-and-print service and account-managed work.
The two presses also fill a gap in B2-format production, allowing more jobs to flow into the company’s existing finishing lines. Precision Proco operates across nearly 250,000 square feet of production and warehouse space, with finishing capacity already in place, so getting printed sheets onto the floor more quickly can speed up the wider manufacturing process.
The company points to rising demand for faster turnaround times across print and marketing work. Designed for short-run, high-volume production, the varioPRINT iX3200 can produce up to 320 A4 images a minute, giving Precision Proco a way to move jobs through its workflow more quickly.
Waste reduction
The investment is also linked to changing customer requirements around inventory and waste. Sheetfed inkjet can support print-on-demand models, allowing printers to produce shorter runs with less setup time and reducing the need to hold surplus stock.
Precision Proco expects this to help minimise waste by printing only what customers need, when they need it. In sectors where marketing materials, personalised documents and short-run books can become outdated quickly, reducing overproduction has become a stronger selling point for print suppliers.
Canon’s technical and service teams worked with Precision Proco during the installation to integrate the new presses into the wider production workflow. This included fitting the machines into existing processes so jobs could move from print to finishing without disruption.
The shift is notable because Precision Proco had monitored the development of sheetfed inkjet for several years before deciding to invest. The purchase represents a step change in its production mix rather than an incremental addition to its existing conventional print assets.
“Moving to sheetfed inkjet was a calculated step for us. We had been watching the technology develop for several years, and when we saw the quality and speed Canon had achieved with the varioPRINT iX3200, it was a clear investment for us. The device gives us the additional capacity we need while maintaining the quality our customers expect. The support from Canon’s team throughout the installation process has been exceptional, with their engineers working closely with us to ensure the presses were integrated smoothly into our wider production environment,” said Andy Skarpellis, Chief Operating Officer at Precision Proco.
Market shift
The investment reflects a broader shift in commercial print, as providers weigh how to handle shorter runs, more personalised output and tighter delivery schedules without increasing waste or idle stock. Sheetfed inkjet has become one option for businesses looking to bridge the gap between traditional offset work and digital production.
For Canon, the deal adds a new UK commercial print customer in a market where suppliers are under pressure to show that new systems can fit into existing production environments rather than require a complete overhaul. Precision Proco’s scale and range of work make the installation a visible reference point for that approach.
Stuart Rising, Head of Graphic Arts at Canon UK & Ireland, described Precision Proco as an established operator in the sector and said the two companies would continue working together following the installation.
“Precision Proco is a highly respected print provider with a strong reputation for innovation and production excellence. We’re proud to support their move into sheetfed inkjet with the varioPRINT iX3200 and look forward to continuing our partnership as they look to expand their capabilities,” said Rising.
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