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During Consumer Week, extended installments of more than 12 times generate growth of up to 12% in sales

March 10th marks the beginning of another Consumer Week, and in retailers' fight for better results, more flexible commercial conditions can be the decisive difference between closing a good deal and losing the opportunity to the competition. Barte's clients, a fintech that offers a modular payment solutions system for medium and large companies, have a powerful tool to boost sales during this crucial retail period: installment payments of up to 24 times.

This ease is bringing significant results, with sales growth of over 12%, especially in businesses with higher average tickets (although demand for terms longer than 12 months is already beginning to be noticed in products and services starting at R$ 2,000). Often, the purchase only fits within the interested party's budget because the total cost can be spread over a longer period. An example is Cidadania4U, a client of Barte since the first quarter of 2024, which offers support services for obtaining European citizenship.

“We are sought out by families who want to emigrate to Europe. Since the services are contracted for several people within the same family group, facilitating payment is important so that a portion of our clients can make this dream come true,” explains the company’s commercial director, Jeferson Santos.

Since it started offering the 24-installment plan in the third quarter of 2024, Cidadania4U has noticed a 12.8% increase in sales. "We managed to serve a larger portion of the clients who approached us," says Santos.

Another company that benefited from the extended installment plan was Stanley's Hair, which specializes in male hair transplants and has been a Barte client since 2023.

"Our audience is mainly from classes B and C and is very focused on price and delivery time. When we started offering up to 24 installments, about 10% of our customers were already requesting this extension," says Gláucio Melo, commercial director of Stanley’s Pay, the company responsible for payments at Stanley’s Hair. "With that, we saw our sales grow by about 3%."

For Consumer Week, both Cidadania 4U and Stanley’s Hair are preparing special actions, where extended installment plans will take center stage. "He will certainly be a strong ally for the success of our campaign," predicts Santos, from Cidadania4U.

Barte started offering installment plans of up to 18 times in August of last year; the following month, it extended the terms to up to 24 months – the only one to enable this number of installments in the multi-merchant market. By the end of 2024, sales in more than 12 installments totaled R$ 67 million, while transactions over 18 installments reached R$ 21 million. Within this total volume of R$ 89 million, the average ticket was R$ 12,200 per transaction. "This ease, rare to find in the market, is just one of the ways we find to work alongside our clients and help businesses achieve the best results," says Rafael Milaré, Revenue Director at Barte.

AI and CX are the focus of a global retail event: trends should be reflected in Brazil

NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show, the world's largest retail event, held from January 12 to 14 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, highlighted the main trends and technological innovations shaping the future of the sector. With the participation of over 6,200 brands from around the world, the event provided three days of learning, collaboration, and discoveries in the retail sector, showcasing innovations that should be on the radar of Brazilian stores.

One of the main highlights of the fair was Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on retail. With the support of computer vision and smart cameras, the tool is being used to enhance personalized recommendations, optimize processes, increase security, and provide continuous assistance to customers.

Claudio Jr., Founder and CEO of RiverdataStartup developing artificial intelligence for retail aimed at increasing productivity and reducing operational losses in stores emphasizes the importance of AI in the sector in light of what was presented at the event. "Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing by enabling companies to offer personalized and efficient experiences to customers. In a post-pandemic context, where physical stores have gained even more strength, this is essential. NRF 2025 was proof of that. Industry giants like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Sephora are already adapting, and soon these transformations will need to be faced by everyone," he says.

The convergence between the digital and physical worlds was also one of the biggest trends identified, showing how brands are seamlessly integrating both worlds to create smooth and interactive experiences – preferred by 61% of Brazilians, according to Zendex – which increase personalization and customer satisfaction. In this context, digital twins to simulate physical stores, virtual fitting rooms – or even smart mirrors, according to a study presented by Sephora – and hybrid experiences are emerging as increasingly tangible possibilities.

Still within the scope of innovations provided by AI, other aspects discussed indicated another significant trend:the customer and their satisfaction, more than ever,are a non-negotiable priority. Smart carts, grab-and-go lockers, 3D body scanning, AI-powered personalization of customer service, and automated checkout are just some of the changes that leading retail companies are implementing in their operations.

According to a study presented by Macy's, AI applied to visual merchandising Dynamic can increase sales by up to 15%, corroborating the idea that a good customer experience is a relevant competitive and commercial differentiator. "The concept of putting the customer at the center was once a competitive advantage; today, it is a matter of survival. Retail companies that do not pay attention to this can expect problems in the future," says the founder.

However, beyond new features, NFR 2025 also addressed challenges and limitations of AI. "The inclusion of AI in daily operations is not easy, but it is worth it. The trends presented at the event should not be seen as threats, but as opportunities to optimize businesses and stand out," adds Claudio Jr. With the emergence of disruptive technologies, the integration of existing data, team training, and the adaptation of physical spaces are challenging processes for many companies, as they require investment and organization, but the return on such a transition is promising.

Retail market invests in hyper-personalization of online sales

With the largest global growth in e-commerce in 2024, and a 16% increase in online sales, e-commerce in Brazil is at the center of a digital revolution that continues to grow, as shown byLatin America Digital Transformation Report 2024. Today, e-commerce in Brazil represents 11% of total retail sales, demonstrating the strong digitalization of consumption in the country, but there is still a lot of opportunity for growth.

With this in mind, the retail market has been investing heavily in hyper-personalization of online shopping, and with the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), the opportunities are endless. By browsing, consumers not only find what they are looking for more easily but also receive highly personalized recommendations that make the shopping journey more intuitive and efficient. In retail, this technology is already a reality: arecent Nvidia researchpoints out that nine out of ten companies in the sector use or are implementing AI in their operations.

At Grupo Fujioka, artificial intelligence has been a key element in transforming the consumer's relationship with the platform. Frederico Godoy, the B2B e-commerce manager at Fujioka, explains that the website analyzes customers' browsing in real time to strategically suggest products. "Our AI model observes user behavior, from what they search for to interactions with different categories, and adjusts recommendations accordingly," he highlights.

The customization happens dynamically. If a customer visits the notebooks section, for example, they may receive suggestions for similar models. If you add a product to the cart, the AI understands the context and offers complementary accessories, such as mouse, keyboard, and backpacks, increasing the accuracy of the recommendation. This level of personalization allows the consumer to find what they want more quickly, reducing search time and making the experience smoother.

In addition to product recommendations, AI also assists in pricing and analyzing consumption trends. "The technology not only suggests similar items but also cross-references purchase behavior data from different users to identify market patterns and emerging trends," explains Frederico. This allows the Fujioka Group to adjust its commercial strategy more precisely, optimizing inventories and offering targeted promotions to the right audience.

The results of this strategy are already noticeable. According to Frederico, the impact of artificial intelligence can be measured in different ways, but the most visible is the increase in browsing time and sales conversion. "We noticed that customers stay longer on the site, explore more pages, and, most importantly, add more products to the cart. The conversion rate increased, and the average ticket size of purchases also grew," he states.

E-commerce of the future

For Frederico, AI will continue to evolve, making consumer interaction with platforms even more intuitive. "The trend is that navigation will no longer be done solely through clicks and will transform into a chat with artificial intelligence. Research and purchasing will be conducted through an interactive conversation, where AI understands and responds to the customer's needs in real time," it predicts.

Another major bet for the future is the integration of AI with Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). According to Frederico, this innovation will allow consumers to interact with products before purchasing. "With AI-generated 3D models, it will be possible to view an item in the real environment or try it virtually, increasing confidence in the purchase decision," he explains.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant trend – it is redefining the way we shop and interact with brands. At Fujioka and in several other retail companies, technology is becoming a strategic pillar to offer a faster, personalized, and more efficient experience, connecting consumers and products in an increasingly intelligent way.

Ebury Bank announces new leadership to drive expansion in Brazil

THEEbury Bank, the Brazilian arm of the global fintechEbury, strengthens its presence in the country with the appointment of executivesJose Estebanas CEO andDavid Britoas Country Manager. The new leaders, with solid international experience and strategic stints within Ebury itself, take on the challenge of driving the expansion of the Brazilian operation and aligning the national activity with the fintech's global vision.

Founded in the United Kingdom, Ebury was acquired by Santander Spain in 2019, and expanded its operations in Brazil in 2022 with the purchase of the foreign exchange bank Bexs, thus creating Ebury Bank – as it holds a banking license to operate in the country. In the fiscal year 2023, Ebury Global recorded a transaction volume of£ 25.5 billion (in reais, a total of 156.1 billion).

Under the leadership of Esteban and Brito, Ebury Bank aims to quadruple its active customer base in Brazil from 1,000 to 4,000 over the next two years, and increase the country's contribution to the company's global revenue from 10% to almost 30% within three years.

The strategy includes an additional focus on the agribusiness sector and strengthening trade finance solutions, facilitating payments and international operations for Brazilian companies. Currently, Ebury Bank has nearly 200 employees. In total, there are more than 1,700 people working for the global company.

Jose EstebanHe assumed the position of President Director of Ebury Bank (Brazil) after serving as CFO of Ebury (global), where he led financial optimization and expansion strategies. Before joining Ebury, Esteban built a distinguished career at Banco Santander and institutions such as BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank. "I am honored to lead Ebury Bank in Brazil and contribute to strengthening our local operation by integrating the best global practices to serve the Brazilian market in an increasingly strategic way," says Esteban.

David Brito, current Country Manager of Ebury Bank in Brazil, also brings experience in leading international operations. Previously, Brito was the Country Manager for Ebury in Portugal, where he consolidated the fintech's presence in the Portuguese market. With experience at Barclays Bank, where he managed large corporate accounts, Brito now leads the development of Ebury Bank in Brazil, strengthening ties with Ebury globally and supporting growth in a strategic market for foreign exchange services and international financial solutions. "Our strategy is to offer international standard financial solutions, meeting the specific needs of Brazilian companies and expanding our customer base," comments Brito.

New Sales Agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot

This week, Microsoft announcedtwo new sales agentsin Microsoft 365 Copilot, designed to optimize sales operations and accelerate deal closing. This includes

  • THESales Agent Convert contacts into qualified leads, allowing your representatives to close the biggest deals while the agent ensures that no lead is abandoned. He can work autonomously 24 hours a day researching leads, scheduling meetings, and contacting clients. For some low-impact leads, he may even close a sale. The agent uses their CRM, company data such as price spreadsheets, and the web — along with Microsoft 365 data like emails and meetings — to personalize each response.
  • THESales ChatHelps accelerate the sales cycle, from updating new accounts to preparing for client meetings. It provides sales representatives with practical insights from CRM data, pitch decks, meetings, and emails — so they can spend less time researching and more time selling. All that's needed is a simple and natural language prompt like "give me a list of businesses at risk of failure," "what should I know before tomorrow's meeting with this client?" or "help me create a plan to close this deal."

These agents can be accessed in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, connecting to Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Salesforce. They are adjustable to connect to each organization's specific business data, ensuring accurate and actionable responses.

Check out all the details of the adin this publication do Microsoft Source Brazil.

Cielo now offers Tap to Pay on iPhone for customers to accept contactless payments

Cielo, one of the largest and most traditional acquirers in Brazil, now allows its Brazilian customers to accept contactless payments in person with Tap to Pay on the iPhone in an easy and secure way.

Tap to Pay on iPhone accepts all contactless payment methods from Visa and Mastercard, including contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets, using only an iPhone and the Cielo app for iOS without the need for an additional payment terminal. At checkout, the customer simply holds their contactless payment method near the merchant's iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology. Tap to Pay on iPhone also supports PIN entry, which includes accessibility options.    

Apple's Tap to Pay contactless payment technology on the iPhone uses the iPhone's built-in features to keep merchant and customer data private and secure. When a payment is processed, Apple does not store card numbers or transaction information on the device or on Apple servers.

Tap to Pay on iPhone allows Cielo customers to use an easy-to-set-up and easy-to-use payment solution. Merchants will be able to unlock contactless payment acceptance through the Cielo app for iOS on an iPhone XS or later with the latest version of iOS. Merchants can simply download the Cielo app from the Apple App Store to start accepting payments within minutes.    

Tap to Pay on iPhone is also available to Cielo customers through an SDK, enabling developers who want to integrate the frictionless payment experience into their apps.

Food and beverages are among the most sought-after items on Consumer Day

With the rise in inflation, food and beverages are already among the most sought-after products in the Consumer Day promotions on March 15, according to a survey conducted by the platforms Bling (ERP), Tray (e-commerce), and Octadesk (customer service), belonging to LWSA. However, smartphones, electronics, fashion, and beauty still lead the list of buyers' preferences.

With advantageous discounts that attract buyers, Consumer Week has become an increasingly strategic date for retail. According to Thiago Mazeto, Tray's director, Consumer Week has gained importance in recent years as the first event of the year that allows for a boost in retail sales. "At the beginning of the year, consumers are still recovering from the end-of-year festivities and are faced with early-year expenses such as vehicle tax (IPVA), property tax (IPTU), and school supplies, which, of course, affects sales in some sectors. With Consumer Day, we have a sort of Black Friday at the start of the year that allows for an increase in sales," he explains.

Online SMEs, which operate through the Tray and Bling platforms, experienced an 18.3% increase in sales in March 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. "This is a strategic moment for entrepreneurs to boost sales, but it is essential that planning begins beforehand. Consumer Day, like other seasonal shopping dates, requires careful preparation to maximize sales potential," evaluates Marcelo Navarini, director of Bling.

In March of last year, the freight platform Melhor Envios recorded a volume of 1.8 million shipments sent by entrepreneurs.

Check out the most purchased products during the period:

  • Home appliances– refrigerators, stoves and washing machines;
  • Electronics– smartphones, notebooks and televisions;
  • Clothing, footwear and accessories– clothes, bags, jewelry and watches;
  • Food and drinks;
  • Pharmacy, beauty and perfumery items– cosmetics, perfumes and personal care products.

Online shopping gains ground and requires retail adaptation

Another survey, CX Trends 2025, by Octadesk, highlights that 77% of Brazilian consumers prefer to buy online, while the preference for physical stores fell 3 percentage points compared to last year, reaching 64%.

The CX Trends 2025 survey reveals that, beyond convenience, factors such as free shipping (62%), product quality (56%), and competitive pricing (53%) are key determinants in choosing a purchasing channel. The main means of acquisition include online stores (68%), marketplaces (66%), WhatsApp (30%), and Instagram (28%).

Furthermore, the personalization of the shopping experience has played a crucial role. Six out of ten consumers say that personalization and artificial intelligence influence their purchasing decisions. "Today, in addition to quality or efficiency, the consumer wants an experience that understands and connects to their needs. Technology should be used as an ally to enhance human service, not replace it," emphasizes Rodrigo Ricco, founder and CEO of Octadesk.

SEO Intensive Course opens registration and has 70% of free places for low-income students

The edtech EducaSEO promotes the first edition of the SEO Hackathon, an innovative program aimed at training new talents in the field of search engine optimization. With a strong social commitment, 70% of the spots will be allocated to low-income youth, ensuring free access to the course, as well as meals, transportation, and necessary equipment for training. The program will last 6 weeks, combining in-person and online meetings.

The Hackathon aims to prepare participants to work in the digital market by providing a hands-on immersion in SEO techniques. During the program, students will be exposed to advanced strategies to improve website ranking on search engines, a skill increasingly essential in the digital world.

The selection process for the intensive training is structured to ensure that the most engaged candidates aligned with the program's values are chosen. Initially, interested parties must fill out an application form, in which they share their motivations, background, and interest in professionalizing in the SEO field. Next, the selected candidates undergo an interview, an essential step to assess their willpower, resilience, and pursuit of learning. This process allows identifying talents with the potential to transform their realities through education and integration into the digital market.

During the program, the gamification initiative promotes a dynamic and competitive environment, encouraging participants to make weekly group submissions, attend classes, and overcome challenges to score in the ranking. Students with the best performance gain greater visibility and recognition, directly impacting their professional opportunities. Scoring occurs in two ways: individually, highlighting the best students, and collectively, awarding the best group of the week. With this system, gamification stimulates learning, engagement, and performance, creating an immersive and highly enriching experience.

In addition to intensive learning, the initiative also facilitates the participants' professional integration. educaSEO has established partnerships with companies seeking qualified professionals in the field. The best students will participate in a Hiring Fair with major partner companies, increasing their employability chances immediately after completing the program.

The project is led by Nilton Alvares, a professional with extensive experience in the sector. Born in Natal (RN), he arrived in São Paulo with few resources and overcame challenges to specialize in technology and SEO, having worked as a professor at ESPM and in companies such as Casas Bahia, Motorola, and Kabum. With more than five years of structuring and an investment of over R$500,000, Nilton created educaSEO to help young people enter the digital market.

The edtech aims to train a thousand students this year and offer more than 400 courses on its platform by December 2025, expanding access to knowledge and contributing to the inclusion of new professionals in the technology sector. The Hackathon is just one of the various educational projects of educaSEO, which aims to transform lives through digital education.

In addition to the social impact, the initiative also reinforces the importance of SEO in business growth. With the accelerated digitalization of businesses, professionals specialized in this area are increasingly in demand, making the Hackathon a valuable opportunity for both students and the market.

Registrations for the SEO Hackathon are now open, and interested participants can secure their spot through the official website. For more information, visit:https://educaseo.com.br/hackathon-seo/

Compra Agora invests in personalized communication and registers more than 10 thousand monthly orders via WhatsApp

Messaging apps like WhatsApp are among the most used social networks in Brazil. According to a study conducted by VTrends, a research hub andinsightsAccording to Vivo, 80% of Brazilians access these apps daily. For retail, this represents an opportunity: as a tool for the sector, it can ensure increased sales and customer loyalty. An example of this is the digital marketplace Compra Agora, which, through the implementation of Yalo's intelligent platform, recorded an increase in the average ticket to R$ 2,300 per retailer in 2024. Sales through WhatsApp already account for about 16% of the total transactions on Compra Agora – and 30% of these orders are completely organic, meaning without the assistance of a salesperson. The marketplace supplies around 530,000 stores in Brazil, with an annual revenue of approximately R$ 6 billion.

By using message sending and personalized promotions through WhatsApp, the company achieved over 10,000 monthly orders. The revenue from products sold through the messaging app grew by 164% compared to 2023, while orders increased by 136% in the same period. "The Yalo solutions are flexible, adapting to our disruptive business model and enabling rapid testing, accurate analysis, and continuous evolution of the solutions," assured Thaise Hagge, General Manager of Compra Agora.

Yalo's platform allows companies to manage the entire customer lifecycle through personalized, goal-oriented conversations.With this model, Compra Agora was able to transform the customer service experience into a more seamless and efficient one, using real customer data at scale to create more detailed segmentation groups.

With over 19.8 million messages on the WhatsApp channel, the intelligent agent system used by Compra Agora utilizes 150 base responses, generating more than 40,000 variations with AI. The result is a hybrid model, with 98% of interactions being resolved by the bot. "The Yalo platform allowed us to expand our shopping basket, strengthening our market position by improving proximity to the brand, direct communication, and active listening to customer needs," explained Hagge.

In order to strengthen the relationship with the company's own network of retailers, which is expanding, and to create new sales strategies, Compra Agora found in Yalo a solution to build an autonomous communication journey, with more than 68% of stores placing orders independently. In this way, she is able to operate the entire purchase journey on her own, from the first contact to the completion of the purchase. "Since 2022, we have been supporting retailers via WhatsApp through the Yalo platform, which facilitates digitalization and autonomy of orders, reducing consultation time and enabling an increase in the frequency and value of purchases," explained Thaise.

Integrating WhatsApp into the purchasing process has transformed the retailers' experience, enabling dynamic communication and providing a quick and practical tool to manage orders, access personalized recommendations, and resolve questions directly and immediately. "While browsing the e-commerce, the retailer can simply chat with the agent, tell what they need, and receive the best suggestions and promotions. It is an intuitive process that saves time and facilitates decisions, especially for small and medium-sized retailers," concluded Manuel Centeno, co-founder and General Manager Brazil of Yalo.

Envato Launches VideoGen: Revolutionizing Video Creation with Artificial Intelligence

Envato today announced the launch of its highly anticipated Beta program for VideoGen, a groundbreaking AI-powered video creation tool that promises to transform the audiovisual content production market.

The VideoGen uses Veo 2, Google's advanced video generation model, allowing users to transform simple text commands into stunning videos with just one click. This cutting-edge technology is being made available exclusively to Envato subscribers who apply for the Beta program.

"We are excited to offer our subscribers the opportunity to be pioneers in this content creation revolution," said an Envato spokesperson. VideoGen represents the future of video production, making accessible what previously required entire teams and considerable budgets.

The company emphasizes that the spots for the Beta program are limited and exclusive to active platform subscribers. Interested parties must secure their subscription to have the chance to experience this transformative technology firsthand.

For more information on how to join the VideoGen Beta program, Envato subscribers can access the exclusive area in their user panel.

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